A press release from the Wine School of Philadelphia caught my eye today. The school's founder, Keith Wallace, states that consumer interest in wine education has "exploded." Certification programs have tripled and "waiting lists are longer than our class lists."
Most wine collectors initially learn about wine through experimentation, joining a wine tasting group, and reading well-written wine books such as Karen MacNeil's The Wine Bible (see "The best-selling wine book of all time?"). Taking more formal classes, in person or online, is a logical extension of the above methods.
For those seeking an online offering, the Wine Spectator School, launched in 2002 (a year after the Wine School of Philadelphia), offers 9 online courses for consumers (ranging from $29-$195) and 3 for the trade. If "free" sounds better to you (to get started at least), you might check out two online courses from a UK wine events company called Taste of the Vine.
For the more serious collector or those who aspire to work in the wine industry and wish an independent certification, the Society of Wine Educators offers two certification programs, including the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW).
One of the highest regarded wine education providers is the Wine & Spirit Education Trust based in London. While they offer education programs targeted primarily at industry professionals, they also provide courses aimed at enthusiasts. While most of enthusiast-oriented courses are held in person at their London facilities, their site lists an online classroom and an online course available as of April 1, 2007 called Great Grapes of the World (80 GBP).
Learning about wine is an enjoyable experience that never ends so you might as well get started.
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