A Structured Way to Learn

Woman with brown hair smiling with her hand to her face. She is wearing a light blue top and there are colourful lights in the background.

Bianca enrolled in the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines in the fall. Here’s her story:

Why did you sign up for the course?

I took this course out of self-interest and because my partner who also took it spoke so highly about it. I was looking for a structured way to learn about the characteristics of the most common varietals and what factors influence the wines made from them.

How does it help you in your personal goals?

My personal goal for the course was to become more knowledgeable when picking out new wines at the store and knowing what wines would go well with certain food, which I now feel more confident in doing.

Do you have advice for the next generation of students?

Reading the material ahead of the classes will you get a lot more out of the classes and tastings. Also start studying early as the books can be deceiving from their condensed size.

An Introduction to the Wines of Romania

Rows of vinyards in Romania with a tractor on a dirt road.

Romania has one of the oldest wine-producing cultures in Europe, it was shaped by the Romans, and then the monasteries and subsequently influenced by the French. Today, the Romanian wine industry has a clear focus on quality and integration with European standards. Learn more about the history, scale, regions, geography, winemaking techniques, and the future of the Romanian wine industry.

If you are ready to take your wine knowledge to the next level, the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines teaches you about 63 key wine regions in 15 different countries.

Upcoming classes:

Online
Date: Monday, February 20th – Sunday, April 23rd
Register Now!

In-class
Date: Saturdays, April 15th – June 3rd at 10:30am – 4pm
Register Now!

Drinkclusion Mentorship: Mentee Applications Now Open

Drinks Ontario’s Drinkclusion’s Mentorship Program is to promote diversity and inclusion in the beverage alcohol industry by offering mentorship opportunities and support to individuals from underrepresented backgrounds who are entering, or already established in, the beverage alcohol industry.

Mentee applications are currently open! This is a great opportunity to connect with a mentor who can offer you insight and advice as you navigate the next stage of your career.

Mentee applications are now open. The deadline date to apply is February 15th, 2023.

The mentorship program will run from March 1st to August 31st, 2023.
Click here for the mentee application.
Meet the Drinkclusion mentors.

Eligibility:

People who identify as BIPOC, LGBTQ2SIA+, and/or have an invisible or visible disability
Early to mid-level career in beverage alcohol
Based in Ontario
21 years and older as of January 1, 2023

Taste and Explore with John Szabo

Man in blue suit and blue dress shirt sitting at a table with his arms crosses gently. A bottle of wine and two glasses are beside him.

Master Sommelier John Szabo was the first Canadian to add the “MS” after his name in 2004. He holds the international Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma with honours, as well as the Canadian Sommelier Guild diploma. He’s principal critic for WineAlign.com, Canada’s premiere wine resource, and co-host and producer of the podcast Wine Thieves with a global following in the trade. He writes a monthly wine advisory for Canaccord Genuity, a global financial services management company headquartered in Canada, as well as a column for Grapevine Magazine, and contributes to many international trade and consumer publications. He’s currently co-writing on a book on wine chemistry.

On the consulting side, John builds wine programs across Canada, and is currently sourcing wines for Accor/Fairmont/Sofitel Hotels in Québec. He is a regular guest speaker at events worldwide and has delivered masterclasses for virtually every major wine trade associations and has taught countless wine courses over the years, among others, for the CMS and IWEG. He has travelled to virtually every wine producing country on earth in pursuit of fine wine and to keep on top of this fascinating industry, including two visits to New Zealand. In his spare time, he tends to his new vineyard in Prince Edward County.

Join John for tasting and exploring in 2023 at the following masterclass:

Focus on the Grand Crus of the Napa Valley with John Szabo

Imagine of a sign that says ‘welcome to the world famous wine growing region Napa Valley and the wine is bottled poetry’.

With the support of Napa Valley Vintners, join Master Sommelier and IWEG visiting instructor John Szabo for an afternoon of tasting and exploration focusing on the Grand Crus of the Napa Valley. The The masterclass will take place on Monday, May 1st, 2023 at 2pm – 4pm. Sign up now!

New Zealand Wine Week 2023

New Zealand Wine Week kicks off on January 30th until February 7th! Join us throughout the week for bitesize “wine adjacent” webinars covering research at the forefront of New Zealand wine, the wine regions and the country’s commitment to climate change. In these sessions, local producers and international trade will have conversations about sustainability, site, and Sauvignon. Take a look at the sessions and register! With the support of New Zealand Wine Growers, you can also join Master Sommelier and IWEG visiting instructor John Szabo for an evening of tasting and exploration of New Zealand Pinot Noir on February 2nd. Sign up now!