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Fancy Sips

Starting Soon: WSET Level 3 Award in Wines

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 of the world, sparkling wines of the world 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 
Date: Saturdays and Sundays, September 30th – October 29th at 10:30am – 4pm
Register Now!

Canada’s Largest Sake Event is Back

Canada’s largest sake event is back on September 30th!  

All sake beginners, enthusiasts and experts are welcomed. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet brewers, engage with sake agents and sake professionals and taste a wide selection of sakes which are often not easily accessible to the general public.

Experience over 200 sakes from 50 breweries at this one of a kind event, held again at the Japanese Canadian Cultural Centre (JCCC).

The JCCC is one of the largest Japanese cultural institutions in the world and a pillar of the Japanese Canadian community, offering a perfect setting to experience the extensive history, boundless culture and impressive legacy of sake, a beverage which continues to evolve and innovate over centuries to this day.

Purchase tickets

Importing Wine, Beer, Spirits For Pleasure & Profit

Join Charles Steven Trenholme for the day-long seminar Importing for 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.

Further information and registration can be found here.

Vinequity Town Hall

Green and yellow logo that says Vinequity

IWEG partner Vinequity is holding a town hall on September 27th at 7pm to reflect on their past year’s accomplishments, financials, discuss their ongoing initiatives, and share their vision for the future. It’s an opportunity for all to come together, and hear from dedicated volunteers, program enrolees, and a few of their generous partners. Sign up now.

Vinequity aims to ensure that people who identify as Black, Indigenous or people of colour (including BIPOC people who identify as LGBTQ+ or are living with a disability) that work in all aspects of the wine industry are given equitable treatment and opportunities to access, grow and thrive as visible leaders in the Canadian wine industry.

Job Opportunity: Taylor Fladgate Brand Ambassador Ontario

The brand ambassador will serve as the spokesperson of Taylor Fladgate in the Ontario market, promoting Taylor Fladgate products and building brand equity through events and communications. Working alongside the corporate sales and marketing team, the individual will communicate the brand’s messaging and values, engaging with consumers, licencees, the wine trade and media in order to generate new sales opportunities and build brand loyalty. Learn more.