Sipping Sepharad: A Poetry Reading and Wine Paring

Come sip and savor the poetic and viticultural delights of Sepharad! In this class we will read the delicious wine poetry of the so-called Spanish Jewish Golden Age (ca. 1040-1150), while tasting a variety of kosher vintages. This class will offer participants an introductory exploration of the beautiful Hebrew poetry of medieval Iberian poets of Sepharad as well as some tips for picking and trying wines. No prior experience nor knowledge of Hebrew is necessary; come ready to read, sip, and dive into the delightful world of medieval Hebrew wine poetry!

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Sara M. Gardner, PhD, is a culinary historian and cooking instructor. Sara is a scholar of the literature, culture, and cuisine of the Sephardic Jewish community from the medieval to the modern periods. A 2016-2017 Fulbright Graduate Research Scholar, she received her PhD in Spanish and Portuguese Studies from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2026. She has presented her work at various international conferences, including the Oxford Symposium on Food & Cookery and the Dublin Gastronomy Symposium, and her scholarship has also been published in academic journals including the World History Bulletin and Brepols. Over the past decade, Sara has also taught cooking classes centered on Jewish foodways and identity from across the global diaspora. As a JArts/Vilna Shul Community Creative Fellow this past year, Sara taught Jewish cooking workshops across the Greater Boston area and hosted a culinary pop-up with Chef Noah Clickstein (Lehrhaus) and Wild Child Chocolates in Somerville exploring the flavors of the Sephardic Caribbean. Sara is also a published cookbook author; her first cookbook The Rosh Hashanah Seder Cookbook: Stories and Recipes from the Reform Jewish Community of Madrid was published in 2018. Currently, Sara shares recipes found through her research and learning opportunities through her online Jewish cooking school, Boka Dulse (www.bokadulse.com, @bokadulse on Instagram).