Building on the Best
WSET Diploma Field Trip
IWEG’s newest WSET Level 4 Diploma students began their diploma studies with a weekend in Niagara wine country learning about viticulture and winemaking. The day was filled with tours and tastings.
Students kicked off the day at Arterra Wines Canada (Dorchester Road) with a presentation and facility tour on the topic of commercial winemaking. They then travelled to Tawse Winery to learn about organic viticulture practices and sparkling wine production. In the afternoon, they headed over to Rosewood Winery where they learned about sustainability and natural wine making practices.
We wish the best of luck to our new diploma students in their studies!
The IWEG experience
As the leading organization in wine, spirits and sake education in Canada, IWEG has offered the WSET Level 4 Diploma since 1988.
Our Diploma graduates over the years have gone on to become vital members of the wine and spirits industry in Canada and worldwide. IWEG holds the record for having the largest number of Diploma graduates in Canada!
IWEG has been offering Diploma studies for longer than any institute outside of the WSET School in London, which means we enjoy a long history of student success. Our passionate and highly qualified Diploma educators, who come from different fields within the trade, provide on-going support to help you master the analytical tasting skills and supplemental theoretical knowledge necessary to succeed.
Wines of Pays d’Oc Masterclass with Sara d’Amato
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
‘I have always had a keen interest in wine and took the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines to learn about various grapes and regions, more generally broaden my palate and maybe in the future do something related that is more than a hobby. Having an exam component was excellent as it helped focus my learning, particularly in new areas and also made reading wine labels going forward a lot more interesting. Doing practice quizzes was really crucial for the exam as well as the weekly reading. More importantly I enjoyed the course a lot (even though it was virtual) and would love to do another level and perhaps pursue something related to the wine industry in the future.’ – Calvin
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is the perfect wine course for anyone wishing to learn about a wide range of grapes and styles, as well as those seeking to build on the introductory knowledge gained with the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines. You’ll gain knowledge of the principal and regionally important grape varieties of the world, the regions in which they are grown and the styles of wine they produce.
This 17-hour course provides fundamental product knowledge and systematic tasting skills. Expect to spend 11 hours on preparation and review outside of the classroom.
You’ll learn:
- How to taste and describe wine using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®(SAT)
- How environmental factors, grape-growing, winemaking and maturation options influence the style and quality of wines made from eight principal grape varieties:
- Chardonnay
- Pinot Grigio/Gris
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Riesling
- Cabernet Sauvignon
- Merlot
- Pinot Noir
- Syrah/Shiraz
- The style and quality of wines:
- Made from 22 regionally important grape varieties
- Produced in over 70 geographical indications (GIs) around the world
- How grape varieties and winemaking processes influence key styles of:
- Sparkling wines
- Fortified wines
- Key labelling terms used to indicate origin, style and quality
- Principles and processes involved in the storage and service of wine
- Principles of food and wine pairing
WSET Level 2 Award in Wines
Date: Saturday, October 14th, Sunday October 15th and Saturday, October 28th at 9:30am – 4:30pm
Register Now!
WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits
WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits is an intermediate-level course for those entering a profession in the industry as well as for enthusiasts who wish to broaden their knowledge in a structured way. You’ll learn about the fundamental production methods, principal raw materials and how they are used to make key spirit styles. You’ll also explore the key practices and principles of serving spirits and the use of spirits in cocktails.
WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits covers the main categories of spirits and liqueurs and examines the influences of production methods on the different styles available in each category, building on the introductory knowledge gained with the WSET Level 1 Award in Spirits. Throughout the course, you’ll develop analytical tasting skills while exploring the use of spirits in cocktails.
This 14-hour course provides fundamental product knowledge and systematic tasting skills. Expect to spend an additional 12 hours on preparation and review outside of the classroom.
You’ll learn:
- How to taste and describe spirits using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine®(SAT)
- Major spirits categories and styles, as well as liqueurs, vermouth and cocktails
- The four main steps in spirits production
- What labelling terms mean
- Assessment and description skills as you sample a range of benchmark examples
- Basic principles of spirits storage and service and about cocktail equipment, ingredients, basic techniques and main cocktail families
Meet the Instructor
Alex Boyd DipWSET is a hospitality professional with more than 10 years industry experience. In his current role as Restaurant Supervisor at the Delta Toronto he is responsible for development and implementation of beverage programs in the Delta Hotel’s food and beverage outlets as well as developing and delivering educational content and tutored tastings. He has developed extensive knowledge of wine & spirits, academically through the WSET curriculum, completing the Diploma in 2018, and many years in customer facing roles, including curating and maintaining a list of more than 250 whiskies at Char No. 5, the Delta Hotel’s lobby bar.
Born and raised in New Zealand, his career in the hospitality industry has taken him from the South Island to the Okanagan and through the Canadian Rockies before landing in Toronto in 2014 as part of the opening team at the Delta Toronto. What started as professional curiosity quickly developed into personal passion after enrolling in the WSET Level 2 while living in Alberta, continuing with the Level 3 and the Diploma program at IWEG. Outside of work, he likes to spend time with his lovely wife, Coco, and their Border Collie, Pepper. While he has a particular passion for Scotch whisky, he also enjoys the creative side of cocktail bartending, working on flavour combinations and presentations inspired by experiences and flavours from exploring the world around him.
WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits
Date: Saturdays, November 4th, 11th and 18th at 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Register Now!
WSET Level 3 Award in Sake
WSET Level 3 Award in Sake is an advanced-level course for industry professionals as well as dedicated enthusiasts who want to develop expertise in this fascinating beverage. You’ll have a thorough understanding of production methods, the factors that account for the style, quality and price of sake as well its cultural and commercial importance in the Japanese and export markets. You’ll learn how to use your tasting notes to make objective conclusions on a sake’s style and quality.
This 42.25-hour course provides in-depth and detailed understanding of the production methods that affect sake style, quality and price. It develops systematic tasting and description skills, as well as the ability to make recommendations. Expect to spend 25 hours of preparation and review outside of the classroom.
You’ll learn:
- The main techniques that are used in the production of sake and how they influence style and quality
- The principal and specialty categories of sake
- The sake industry and the commercial importance of sake in the Japanese and export markets
- The principles behind the storage, selection and service of sake
- How to appreciate the historic and current cultural and commercial significance of sake in Japan and in export markets
- How to assess and describe sake with confidence, and be able to make selection, storage and service suggestions
- How to taste sake, describe their characteristics and evaluate their quality, using the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Sake® (SAT)
Meet the Instructor
Michael’s foray into wine and sake has been 25 years in the making, traveling around the world and using wine and sake as a lens for learning about the history and culture of different regions. Michael is one of 70 Sake Samurai in the world, a title bestowed by the Japan Sake and Shochu Maker’s Association at Kyoto’s 1300 year old shrine to sake, the Matsunoo Taisha. He is the co-author of the book on sake “Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth” released on March 8, 2022 and published by Tuttle. Moreover, he is a seasoned sake judge, having assessed sake in Japan, London and Hawaii for the International Wine Challenge and US National Sake Appraisal.
Michael enjoys traveling to Japan whenever he can and has worked in renowned sake breweries in Niigata, Shizuoka, Shimane and Gifu prefectures, practicing his ‘work-in-progress’ Japanese and learning from the Toji (master brewers). His experiences visiting more than 80 sake breweries throughout the country culminated in the development of the Sake Scholar Course, a course dedicated to exploring every sake region in Japan in detail. Michael is currently the Sake Sommelier for Ki Modern Japanese + Bar, where he manages the largest sake program in Canada. He is dedicated to being Ki’s ambassador for sake, educating guests and staff alike in the beauty and subtle art of sake, wine and food.
WSET Level 3 Award in Sake
Date: Saturdays, November 11th – November 25th at 9:30am – 4:30pm
Register Now!
Importing Wine, Beer, Spirits For Pleasure & Profit
Join Charles Steven Trenholme for the day-long seminar Importing Wine, Beer & Spirits For Pleasure & Profit, which provides insights into the dynamics of importing wine, craft beers & spirits into Canada. Charles Steven brings to the seminar 35+ years of experience working in various capacities including managing national sales agency, brand management, sommelier and as an educator.
Charles Steven knows first-hand that there are still hundreds of suppliers around the world actively looking for importers to represent them in Canada, providing the opportunity to develop a full or part-time career in this dynamic industry. There are also sales and brand ambassador positions available for those with certified sommelier training.
Many of Ontario’s top importers & agents started their careers after attending Charles Steven’s seminar. They readily agreed that they gained valuable insight to the ins & outs of importing beverage alcohol, as well as the operations of the LCBO.
Charles Steven has offered this seminar since 1993 receiving rave reviews from The Globe & Mail, Wine Tidings, Toronto Life, Toronto Sun, The Hamilton Spectator, Wine Access, Vines Magazine as well as CBC Radio.
The seminar will take place on Saturday, November 4th at 9:30am – 4:30pm.
IWEG students and faculty can use the promo code IWEG to receive a 10% discount.