3 Courses to Sign Up for this Spring

Row of wine bottles are their side aging.

For as long as wine has been made, wine has been aged. From the sweet ‘straw wines’ aged by the Ancient Greeks to modern temperature-controlled cellars, ageing has always been part of wine culture. But why do we do it? The reasons for ageing wine span the chemical, philosophical and the financial. Let’s dig into them, and bust some myths along the way. Read on. 

A man with curly hair and glasses holding up a glass of red wine to his face with his around aroud a smiling woman in a toque holding a glass of red wine. They are standing in a vineyard.

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is for industry professionals as well as dedicated enthusiasts who want to develop a broader and deeper understanding of wine.
You’ll have a thorough understanding of grape growing and wine making and the factors that account for the style, quality and price of the principal still, sparkling and fortified wines of the world. You’ll learn how to use your tasting notes to make objective conclusions on a wine’s style, quality and readiness for drinking.

This 40-hour course provides in-depth and detailed understanding of how human and natural factors in vineyard and winery affect wine style, quality and price. It further develops systematic tasting and description skills. Expect to spend 50 hours of preparation and review outside of the classroom.

You’ll learn:

  • Grape varieties, wines and wine-growing regions in detail
  • The key factors in the production of wine: location, grape growing, winemaking, maturation and bottling
  • How these key factors influence the key characteristics of the principal
  • Still wines of the world
  • Sparkling wines of the world
  • Fortified wines of the world
  • How to apply your understanding to explain wine style and quality
  • How to make appropriate wine recommendations
  • How to taste wines, describe their characteristics and evaluate their quality, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT)

WSET Level 3 Award in Wines – condensed 
Date: Saturdays, April 15th – June 3rd at 10:30am – 4pm
Register Now!

Ruché: Sweet Wine, Parish Priests and an Unforeseen Comeback Story

Landscape vineyard with lush green rolling hills in Northern Italy.

The Etruscans were the first to produce wine in Northern Italy; beginning with wild varieties, they cultivated vines in Piedmont centuries before the Romans arrived. Nevertheless, it was the Romans who advanced commercial winemaking, significantly increasing the area under vine and using props, trellises and ‘Greek presses’ to dependably supply the empire’s domestic and trading needs. Learn more.

Become an Italian Wine Scholar

A bottle of wine, a glass of red wine and the Italian Wine Scholar study manuals for unit 1 on the wines of Northern Italy and unit 2 on the wines of Central and Southern Italy.

The Italian Wine Scholar is an extensive two-unit specialist certification focused on the diverse wines and wine regions of Italy. It is designed by the Wine Scholar Guild to provide current, accurate information on all of the wine regions of Northern, Central and Southern Italy, and to validate proficiency in the wines and wine regions of the country.

Unit 1 is 16 hours and covers Northern Italy and Unit 2 is 14 hours and covers Central and Southern Italy. The course provides detailed coverage of Italian wines, as well as an introduction to Italian history, geography, viticulture and winemaking. The units can be taken in any order and are sold separately

You will:

  • Develop specialist knowledge of DOC and DOCG wines of 21 Italian regions
  • Appreciate the cultural context of Italian wine
  • Consider the vineyard and winery factors that contribute to wine styles
  • Taste and assess a range of Italian wines, which illustrate regional or grape varietal typicity, as well as diversity of styles by authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructors

The course is taught by authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructors Nancy Reynolds DipWSET and Aleksandar Simic DipWSET.

Italian Wine Scholar – Northern Italy (Unit 1)
Date: Tuesdays, April 11th – May 30th at 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Register Now!

Wines of Portugal Academy Initiation Level

Bottle of wine on a pile of books with a backpack and blackboard in the background. The bottle says wines of Portugal. The blackboard says Portuguese 101, saude! and ola!

Explore the history, taste a variety of wine styles, and develop your knowledge of the native grape varietals of this great winemaking region.

This one-day course is ideal for trade professionals seeking professional accreditation and Portuguese wine enthusiasts.

Discover the most important native grape varietals, understand traditional vinification systems, tour the unique sub-regions and taste a number of diverse wines showcasing Portugal’s diverse terroirs.

You will:

  • Develop an extensive knowledge of Portuguese wines
  • Be able to recognize the iconic wines, the famous fortified wines, the 10 main grape varieties, the typical blends and the contribution of each variety in the composition of the blend for wines of Portugal
  • Be able identify and know the main characteristics of the main regions (including Beira Interior and Azores)
  • Develop an in-depth knowledge on the harmonization of international gastronomy with Portuguese wines


Upon successful completion of a test, you will receive a certificate and the title of Wines of Portugal Certified Ambassador.

The course is taught by ViniPortugal educator Sofia Salvador.

Wines of Portugal Academy: Initiation Level
Date: Saturday June 3rd at 9:30am – 4:30pm
Register Now!

LCBO Welcomes New Spirit Of Inclusion Initiative Partner to Advance Equitable Representation in the Beverage Alcohol Industry

Spirit of Sustainability

Partnership will increase access to scholarships, bursaries, mentorship, and employment opportunities for diverse women.

Through the Spirit of Sustainability, the LCBO is pleased to welcome IWEG as its newest Impact Partner under its Spirit of Inclusion Initiative. The program will fund 20 new scholarships to support diverse women who are beginning or continuing their education in IWEG’s beverage alcohol programs.

Through partnerships with Ontario education institutions, charitable organizations, and trade partners, the Spirit of Inclusion Initiative aims to identify and remove systemic barriers for diverse women in the industry. The program provides bursaries and scholarships, facilitates mentorships, and identifies co-op placements for diverse women to enter, advance, and thrive in the beverage alcohol industry. Established in 1977, and the only Canadian school to offer all qualifications of WSET, IWEG joins the roster of LCBO’s education partners from George Brown College, Niagara College, and Brock University.

“I am pleased that the Independent Education Wine Guild is joining us on our mission to increase equitable representation and further support students entering the winery, brewery, and distillery fields. As a purpose-led organization, the LCBO is proud of our commitment to enhance diversity within the beverage alcohol industry, and we look forward to the positive impact this partnership will create,” said George Soleas, President & CEO, LCBO.

“We thank LCBO for their generous gift that will help students and our community of professionals achieve their personal and professional goals,” Paul Miles DipWSET Executive Director, “The Spirit of Inclusion Initiative is so important as it provides the support to grow a sustainable and diverse drinks and hospitality sector.”

Learn more about the program and how you can apply for a scholarship.