Kickstart Your Career
RSVP: Wines of Greece Trade Tasting
Wines of Greece welcomes you to a trade tasting of 30 of their member wineries Tuesday, October 24th in Toronto.
Meet winery principals and explore both listed and unlisted wines alongside Greek inspired food pairings prepared by the Arcadian culinary team.
Registration is required. Attendees must be 19 years of age or older to attend and must be members of the foodservice hospitality industry, wine buying trade or food and beverage media.
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!
Broaden Your Knowledge in a Structured Way
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!
Become a More Confident Spirits Taster
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
WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits
Date: Saturdays, November 4th, 11th and 18th at 9:30 am – 4:30 pm
Register Now!
Gain a New Specialization
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)
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 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.
Why Learn About Whisky?
Ever wondered whether whisky is really a worthwhile topic for study? The Edinburgh Whisky Academy brought together a group of whisky experts and asked them why they love to learn more about whisky.
Edinburgh Whisky Academy instructors Vic Cameron and Dr Gordon Steele spoke with Fionnán O’Connor (Irish whiskey historian), Michael Walsh (Irish whiskey consultant), Jenny Karlsson (Ardnamurchan Distillery), Scott Sneddon (InchDairnie Distillery) and Andy Colman (Port of Leith Distillery). Read on.