The Honesty of Wine
Explore our new website and access free learning resources from Napa Valley Vintners
We launched our new website!
The new website provides the IWEG community with an intuitive and user-friendly experience and features a refreshed look, improved navigation and streamlined registration whether you are using a desktop, mobile or tablet. IWEG students will benefit from an unmatched learning experience and enriched course content with our new learning management system.
Check it out with free learning resources from Napa Valley Vintners.
Dig into what makes the Napa Valley America’s premier winegrowing region. Explore the unique geological formation of the valley, why it is the ideal climate to grow grapes, historical milestones and the tradition of leadership that continues today. These maps and videos will further your understanding of Napa Valley and its place within the world of wine.
Access these free learning resources!
Meet Sara our Diploma & Scholarship Manager
What drew you to wine?
The world of wine is so dynamic. You can learn about geography, chemistry, history, culture and gastronomy. There are endless rabbit holes of discovery with wine. It is such a diverse field of study, but at the end of the day, it’s still a food product. It’s something to consume and share with loved ones. There’s a tangible honesty to wine, and I think that really drew me in to study it and pursue it professionally.
How is the Diploma helping you achieve your personal or professional goals?
Whether or not you are in the wine industry, I think you can abstract some very important soft and hard skills that employers are looking for when hiring candidates. The Diploma program can be demanding, and it takes a concerted amount of self discipline and time management to stay on track of studying, tasting and coming prepared to class, all while working full-time, or taking care of a family. It shows prospective employers that you are diligent, detail oriented, and able to commit to long-term goals in a short attention span world.
I think it’s also beneficial personally, to be able to say to yourself that you stuck to something and saw a challenging goal to completion. It’s an accomplishment that helps build personal confidence, and that can have a real snowball effect on success.
What is a wine type/varietal or region you are currently excited about, and why?
Working previously in a natural wine shop, I fell in love with some biodynamic producers from Greece, such as Ktima Ligas in Macedonia. Natural wine producers from Greece are really embracing the uniqueness of their 300+ indigenous grape varieties, and are making wines that are so enigmatic, so easy to drink, and pair deliciously with food. This is a region that makes a wine for every palate, every drinking mood. Greece is a great source for amazing quality wines, at very wallet-friendly price points. You can find some pretty amazing Xinomavro to rival a Barolo at a fraction of the cost.
I am also a real Sherry lover! It truly is the most underrated Spanish wine. They are layered, nuanced and produced so distinctly from other still wines – and that pair so well with food. What more could you want than a crisp, tangy glass of Fino Sherry with some boquerones and marcona almonds?
Become a French Wine Scholar: The course starts February 10
French Wine Scholar
Thursdays, February 10th – April 21st at 6:30pm – 8:30pm. No class on March 17th. Exam on Thursday, May 5th at 6:30pm at IWEG, 211 Yonge Street, Suite 501.
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
Prerequisite: None. However, WSET Level 2 Award in Wines is recommended, and WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is preferred.
This course includes:
- A new 7th edition study manual
- A full-year access to all French Wine Scholar online resources (videos, interactive quizzes, webinars, etc.)
- Exam registration fee
- Tutored tasting of a range of French wines
- Diverse hands-on group activities designed to enhance recall and address different learning styles
In addition to classroom instruction, you are expected to spend 25 hours of preparation and review over the duration of the course outside of classroom hours.
Upon successful completion of a 100-question multiple-choice exam to be completed in 45 minutes with a passing score of 75 per cent or higher, you will receive the French Wine Scholar credential, certificate and lapel pin.
The course is taught by authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructors Nancy Reynolds DipWSET, Caitlin Ferguson DipWSET and Aleksandar Simic DipWSET.
Vinequity scholarships applications are open
IWEG partner Vinequity has open a second round of scholarship applications. In their first round, $21,150 was awarded to ten Canadian BIPOC wine professionals, including IWEG students.
Vinequity provided scholarships ranging from $250-$5000 to a range of top tier wine education programs such as the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Scholarship applicants are invited to select the monetary amount and educational resources that will best aid them in their career trajectory. Learn more on how to apply.