Embark on a Journey Deep into the Heart of France

Image of logo with the words French Wine Scholar (FWS). In the background in a laptop with the image single and double guyot pruning system, the French Wine Scholar manual and a smartphone with Champagne flashcards.

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.

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 28th -May 30th at 6pm – 8pm
Register Now!

Study Wine Inside Toronto’s Largest Private Social club and Wine Cellar

Close up of wine glass with red wine being poured in. The wine glass has the Wine Academy logo.

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 – Wine Academy
Date: Tuesdays, February 20th – March 19th at 6:30pm – 9:30pm
Register Now!

Build Your Confidence When Pairing Wine with Food

Woman holding up a glass and looking at it

WSET Level 1 Award in Wines provides a hands-on introduction to the world of wine. You’ll explore the main types and styles of wine through sight, smell, and taste, while also gaining the basic skills to describe wines accurately and make food and wine pairings.

This 6-hour course provides a hands-on introduction to the world of wine and wine and food pairing.

You’ll learn:

  • The main types and styles of wine
  • Common wine grapes and their characteristics
  • How to store and serve wine
  • The principles of food and wine pairing
  • How to describe wine using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine® (SAT)

Upon successful completion of a 30-question multiple-choice exam you will receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin.

WSET Level 1 Award in Wines – starting soon!
Date: Saturday, February 24th at 9:30 am – 4:30pm
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Is White Wine the Future of Bordeaux?

Bordeaux thrived on white wine until the 1970s, when plantings began nosediving. Today, Sémillon, Sauvignon Blanc, and a handful of other white varieties cover just over 7,000 hectares: a negligible amount for a region whose vineyard size is about 20% larger than that of South Africa. Renewed enthusiasm for white-wine production, though, is palpably increasing across the region, particularly in response to people’s growing preference for lighter wines. Read on.