Wine Tasting Courses – Intermediate

• Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
• Sauvignon Blanc and Cabernet Sauvignon
• Riesling and Merlot
• Viognier and Syrah/Shiraz
• Pinot Gris and Tempranillo

A comprehensive course manual is provided.

• Northern Rhône Valley
  The Viognier grape has its finest expression here in the wines of Condrieu; elsewhere blends of Marsanne and Roussanne make fine whites to go with food. However, it is for its red wines, made exclusively from Syrah, that the region is best known. In the right hands, the vineyards of Hermitage and the Côte Rotie can produce wines of world class.
• Southern Rhône Valley
  In this Mediterranean region, the warm and spicy Grenache realises its full potential in the wines of Châteauuneuf-du-Pape. But we take a look also at the lesser-known villages such as Gigondas and Vacqueras and at the vin doux naturel of Beaumes de Venise.
• The South-West, Languedoc-Roussillon & Provence
  It has become increasingly important in recent years not to ignore the vast amount of wine produced outside of the classic regions. Languedoc-Roussillion, the Sud-Ouest, Provence, the Jura and Savoie make some very fine wine indeed, and standards have risen beyond recognition. We look at both the ‘new-wave’ wines and those which respect the traditional styles and grape varieties of their regions.
• White Bordeaux
  The under-rated dry white wines of Bordeaux have made great strides in recent years, and there are some very good Graves to be tasted. Likewise the sweet wines of the satellite villages of Sauternes.
• Red Bordeaux
  With their ability to produce some of the finest reds in the world. the Médoc, Saint Emilion and Pomerol remain eternally fascinating to winelovers. Climate and geography dictate two different styles, one based on Cabernet Sauvignon and one on Merlot. Subtleties of terroir and vintage then determine variations in style and quality.

A comprehensive course manual is provided.

• The North West
  Home of Barolo which is made from the Nebbiolo grape; its best examples are among the world’s great wines. There are other important reds in the region, Barbaresco, Dolcetto and Barbera, all of which have benefited from recent improvements in wine making techniques, and there are also a number of indigenous varieties which have been rescued from oblivion. Sweet sparkling and semi-sparkling wines from the Moscato grape are a regional speciality.
• The North East
  The Veneto, Friuli and Alto Adige produce a huge range of wine styles. The sometimes under-rated Valpolicella and Soave regions in the Veneto surprise many with the quality of their better wines and their reciotto styles are a revelation. The wines of the Friuli and the Alto Adige are not often seen in the U.K., which is a great pity because they are unusual (particularly those of the Friuli) and full of character.
• Tuscany
  Thought by many to be Italy’s finest region. Its great wines (from Sangiovese) are a perfect expression of terroir and grape variety . The addition of international varieties such as Cabernet, Merlot and Syrah has led to the creation of a number of luxury cuvées labeled as Vino da Tavola or I.G.T., but known collectively as ‘Super Tuscans’.
• The Centre
  There were always some good wines in these regions, but they were hard to find, and the general standard was fairly low. There is now a huge increase of interest in the better wines, stimulated by the advent of the ‘flying winemakers’ who have so markedly improved quality at the lower end of the scale.
• The South & Islands
  There were always some good wines in these regions, but they were hard to find, and the general standard was fairly low. There is now a huge increase of interest in the better wines, stimulated by the advent of the ‘flying winemakers’ who have so markedly improved quality at the lower end of the scale.

A comprehensive course manual is provided.

• The North West + Spanish Sparkling Wine
  In this session, we start by giving you an overview of Spain’s wine producing regions. We then look at the distinctive wines of the cool north-west or “Green Spain”, such as Bierzo, Chacoli, Rias Baixas and Somontano. In this session, you will also learn how Cava, the famous sparkling wine of Spain is produced.
• The North East
  Cataluna was the first of Spain’s wine producing regions to introduce modern methods of viticulture and vinification. You will taste wines from Alella, Costers del Segre, Monsant, Penedes, Priorat and Tarragona.
• Rioja & Navara
  Rioja is the pre-eminent wine region of Spain. We look the reasons for this, tasting examples of old and new style wines from top producers. You will also taste wines from Rioja’s eastern neighbour, Navarra.
• The Centre
  Some of Spain’s most fashinable wines are produced in hard continental climate of the centre of the country. You will taste examples from Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Toro.
• The South
  In this session you will taste wines from the inland regions of La Mancha, Valdepenas and the coastal regions around Valencia. You will also learn how the fortified wines of Jerez, Montilla and Malaga are made.

A comprehensive course manual is  provided.

• Australia – South Australia
  Australia is not a big wine producer, – it makes only 2% of the world’s total, yet it has had an enormous influence on the world of wine. We examine some of the reasons for this.
• Australia – Victoria & New South Wales
  These states produce a wide diversity of wine styles. We compare and contrast the wines of the cooler climate Yarra Valley, Mornington Penninsula, Geelong and Central Victorian High Country with those of Rutherglen and the Hunter Valley.
• Australia – Tasmania & Western Australia
  These are cool regions, by Australian standards, and this is evident in the styles of wine that they can produce.
• New Zealand – The North Island
  For a relatively small country, New Zealand produces an astonishing arrange of wine styles. This is due to the country’s elongated shape which, if transposed to European latitudes, would stretch from the Rhine Valley to Southern Spain.
• New Zealand – The South Island
  Here the climate is cooler and Sauvignon Blanc is the star. However, it is important to taste the other varieties too.

A comprehensive course manual is provided.

This course is designed to help you gain an appreciation of the wines of South Africa and the Americas.  It consists of five two-hour sessions:-

• South Africa
  The past decade has seen South Africa emerge from vineous isolation and take its place alongside the other New World produces. The Cape has a climate that is good for many other varieties apart from Chenin and Pinotage, and we take a look at some of them.
• North America – California
  California was the first serious challenger to European wine domination. Its producers are driven by a keen home market and classic varieties are important. Merlot, indeed. has been elevated to cult status. However, the region’s own Zinfandel grape is in the vanguard of competition to the classics and keeps the creative (grape) juices flowing.
• North America – Oregon, Washington State & Canada
  As the wines of these regions show, all that is best in the west doesn’t necessarily come from the ‘Sunshine State’. Oregon is particularly notes for its fine Pinot Noirs which do well in this relatively cool climate.
• South America – Argentina
  Argentina is the 5th biggest wine producer in the world. This fact always comes as a shock to British wine lovers, because Argentina does not have as high a profile in the U.K. as, say Chile or Australia or New Zealand. In the past, the emphasis was on quantity rather than quality, but the lure of lucrative foreign markets has recently led to greatly improved standards.
• South America – Chile
  ften referred to as a ‘viticultural paradise’, Chile has made the most of its natural assets and established itself as the most forward-looking of the South American wine producers.

A comprehensive course manual is provided.

This course is designed to help you gain an appreciation of the potential of the counties of central and eastern Europe.  It consists of five two-hour sessions:-

The Session topics will be:

• Austria
  The last 20 years has seen the enhancement of Austria’s wine reputation following the wine scandals of 1985. We will look at the growth of varietal wines, especially whites, with particular reference to ‘Gruner Veltliner’ together with exciting reds like ‘Zweigelt’ and ‘Blaufrankisch’.
• Switzerland
  A country where consumption far outweighs local production and indigenous varietals offer different flavours and aromatics in both white and red wines. We will look at unusual swiss grapes as well as international varietals.
• Hungary
  At the beginning of the twetieth century, the wines of Hungary were as highly regarded as any in Europe. Two world wars and fifty years of Communist rule later, the Hungarian wine industry is making up for lost time. The distinctive sweet wines of Tokaji were the first to re-gain international acclaim but now it’s the gently aromatic whites from around Lake Balaton and elegant reds from the warm southern region of Villany that are beginning to compete for medals in the most prestigious of the wine competitions.
• Northern Germany
  The wines of the Ahr, Mosel, Rheingau, Nahe, Pfalz and Rheinhessen between them offer a range of fresh crisp dry whites, delicate sweet whites and some red wines. Complicated wine labelling and wine laws will be explained during this session!
• Southern Germany
  The dry white wines of Franken, and the dry red and white wines of Wurttemberg and Baden are surprisingly good. We shall taste a range of well known varietals with interesting aromatics and flavours, attributable to the local ‘terroir’of the different regions.

A comprehensive course manual is provided.