Become More Familiar with French Wines

A man with a white beard and white hair wearing a black t-shirt while holding up a French Wine Scholar certificate.

I took the French Wine Scholar as a way to increase my wine knowledge and also become much more familiar with French wines. It seemed to be a good complement to my WSET Level 3 Award in Wines studies as you get more in-depth study.

Since I am retired, taking the course was more for self interest, as it was not necessary for my part time work at a winery, though I was able to utilize what I learned at work indirectly.

I think if you have an interest in being part of the wine business, courses such as the French Wine Scholar cannot but help in increasing your wine knowledge which will make you more likely to get hired.

I found the course instructor to be very good in communicating what was important and was also very knowledgeable and responsive to any questions. – Mark FWS

Become a French Wine Scholar

Sign up for the French Wine Scholar course by March 22nd with the coupon code fws0323 to save $150 at checkout. Limited quantities available.

The French Wine Scholar is an in-depth specialist certification focused on the diverse wines and wine regions of France. It is designed by the Wine Scholar Guild to provide current, accurate information on all of the wine regions of France and validate proficiency in the wines and wine regions of France.

This 20-hour course provides detailed coverage of French AOC wines, as well as an introduction to French history, geography, viticulture and winemaking.

This globally recognized course includes a brand new textbook that was co-authored by Nancy Reynolds DipWSET. Nancy is IWEG’s lead Wine Scholar Guild instructor and will be teaching some of the French Wine Scholar classes.

You will:

  • Develop specialist knowledge of the AOC wines of Alsace, Champagne, Jura, Savoie, Burgundy, Loire, Bordeaux, Rhône, Languedoc, Roussillon, Southwest France, Provence and Corsica
  • Appreciate the cultural context of French wine
  • Consider the vineyard and winery factors that contribute to wine styles
  • Taste a range of French wines

The course is taught by authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructors Nancy Reynolds DipWSET, Caitlin Ferguson DipWSET and Danielle Chandler.

French Wine Scholar 
Date: Thursdays, March 23rd – May 18th at 6:30pm – 8:30pm

A Deeper Understanding of Wine

Bottle of port wine on a white tray with four glasses and keys.

The WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is an advanced-level course 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, sparkling wines and 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!

LCBO Spirit of Inclusion Initiative Award

Illustration of three BIPOC and/or LQBTQ women holding hands with their arms raised. Text on the image says 'Here's to infusing our industry with opportunity' and 'illustration by Rachel Joanis'.

IWEG is pleased to partner with the LCBO Spirit of Sustainability on The Spirit of Inclusion Initiative, a program designed to create opportunities for diverse women to enter, advance and thrive in the beverage alcohol industry.

The LCBO will work with IWEG to disperse 20 scholarships to diverse women enrolled in beverage alcohol programs.

Funding from The Spirit of Inclusion Initiative will support diverse women who are beginning or continuing their education in the following in-class and online beverage alcohol certification programs at IWEG:

  • WSET Level 1 Award in Wines
  • WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits
  • WSET Level 1 Award in Sake
  • WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
  • WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits

Help spread the word and learn how to apply!

The Best Ways to Preserve Wine After Opening

Practicing wine tasting without a study group is always challenging. It’s also more expensive, as you cannot split the cost between you and then you’re left with wine you understandably wouldn’t want to waste.

The clock is ticking from the moment you open the bottle, and your wine is beginning to lose its aromas and flavour characteristics.

WSET put together the best wine preservation tips to help you keep your wine at its best for a little bit longer. Read more.