Wine education courses can be more than just educational...
Do you ever look at your glass of wine and wonder how the heck it got there? What is it, and, why are millions of people are so drawn to this mysterious liquid?!
(Maybe you even tap on the glass trying to figure out what's on the other side like a scene out of Interstellar).
Well, even just the basic wine knowledge can transform the way you interact with wine. It has its own spirit, its own rhythm, it enchants you and takes you to another planet.
It is art.
Why is this important?
Next time you look at your glass of wine, you will not just see a liquid that makes you feel all warm and fuzzy, but rather a delicate work of art that has been passed through many hands, enriched soil, and careful bottling.
Just to arrive perfectly assembled and ready to drink...
So, here I will showcase the little-known wine education courses, for drinkers, lovers, and makers to transform the way you interact with your glass of wine, to see it as a delicate form of art.
This post is all about wine education.
Best Wine Education Courses & Books for Wine Lovers
I will show you the best wine and winemaking online courses from basic Wine 101 to Master Sommelier. From simple to complex, there is something for wine lovers, drinkers, and makers!
Lastly, see the top wine and winemaking books to get started in wine easily and affordably.
Wine Tasting: Sensory Techniques
A simple and basic wine sensory guide, perfect for beginners! It is offered through Coursera and is free for the first week and then you have to purchase to finish the full five modules.
Oh, and it is offered by UC Davis and a UC Davis professor.
Perfect course to learn basic wine tasting notes, what kind of wine glasses to use, basic wine terminology, and more.
Want to really impress your friends or co-workers? Upon completion, you receive a certificate to use in your professional life or job applications in the wine industry.
Learn more about the course here.
Napa Valley Wine Academy
As we know, Napa Valley is home to *probably* the BEST wines in North America, and in some cases, even the world.
Napa Valley Wine Academy has a plethora of wine education courses for the beginner, intermediate, and advanced wine lovers and drinkers.
They have:
- WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) courses
- Specialty courses
- Online and in-person education
- Study tools
- In-person meet ups all around the US
WSET is a well respected wine education platform that hosts wine courses for beginners to experts. No previous experience required PLUS receive a certification upon completion. Use the certification for jobs in the wine industry, or to further your wine career.
Through Napa Valley Wine Academy, gain a prestigious and in-depth education in American wines which can lead to becoming a "Certified American Wine Expert".
Sounds pretty cool, right?!
Also, the "Specialty Courses" section of NVWA holds a vast amount of wine education courses to expand into Argentina wines, Napa wines, champagne, business of wine and more!
Click here to learn more!
Wine Folly
Wine Folly has beginner and advanced wine education courses as well.
For those looking for courses that more affordable and approachable than courses from Napa Valley Wine Academy.
Perfect for beginners (and experts) to dip their toes a little more into wine education. Much like the rest of the courses, you receive a certificate when you complete, hallelujah!
Beginner Courses Include:
Advanced Courses Include:
Wine Folly courses content ranges from under 1 hour to upwards of 5 hours of video, depending on the course you choose!
Master Sommelier
Onto some serious business: sommelier certifications. I am sure you know what a sommelier is, I won't bore you by explaining it...
The wine education a sommelier undergoes is rigorous and VERY in-depth. A master sommelier can earn upwards of $150,000... Like what?!
To bring back Interstellar... A master sommelier is like someone who can travel through their wine glass, live and travel in the wine, and come out the other side with esoteric wisdom.
Is that something you are interested in doing? Then, sommelier wine education is for you!
To learn more about becoming a wine sommelier, click here!
Wine & Winemaking Course
When I was in Napa making wine I had ZERO idea that winemakers went to school for viticulture and enology (the study of vineyards and wine)...
It somewhat blew my mind that these amazing creators studied the Earth, the soil, the root system, the vineyard canopy, and ALL the biological elements to wine.
AND they studied wine itself, and winemaking...
The craft of wine truly is a sacred and beautiful piece of art meant to be honored and treasured by whoever gets the pleasure of drinking it.
Anyways, I digress...
If you are interested in spending a bit more money for a "formal" wine education course, then UC Davis is the way to go.
Some course options include:
- Viticulture and Enology
- Wine Marketing
- Wine Business
- Sensory Evaluation
Any course you take at UC Davis can also be applied to a degree if you are interested... hint hint! (If you were looking for a sign, this is it!)
BEST Wine & Winemaking Books
If you're anything like me, you KNOW books are the quickest and cheapest way to get the information you want.
For winemaking, the online courses are few and far between. So, it is best to resort to books.
Here are some of the most popular books on wine and winemaking! From natural wine, to growing a vineyard you will surely find something that tickles your fancy.
1. Vines to Wines
First, a very popular one that relates to making wine. Even if you don't make wine it can give you a different perspective on the craft.
2. Wildcrafting Brewer
Next up, is my personal favorite. I literally would buy this book 100 times over again just for the photos themselves! They are to. die. for.
Wildcrafting Brewer is for the aspiring winemaker who is interested in using natural ingredients from your garden, the local fruit stand, etc.
10/10 recommend!
3. Wine Folly (the book)
Wine Folly has essential tips and tricks to tasting wine, identifying wine, and more so you can cut through the craziness of the wine world and be a pro.
Personally, I adore the diagrams. It makes it so much easier to digest and understand.
4. House of Mondavi: Rise and Fall of an American Wine Dynasty
As I started searching for book about wine I stumbled into this number: House of Mondavi.
If you are not familiar with Mondavi, it is a large winery in the Napa Valley well known for it's long time good wines, started by an Italian immigrant who came through Ellis island!
Yes, it's that old!
A true story tale of a long term wine dynasty in America, for my story-loving ladies out there!
5. Natural Wine
A new thing is the idea of "natural wine". Though, it is a practice that has been used for a long time. In fact, it most likely is the way they started making wine in the first place.
Natural wine is made from organic grapes with nothing added or removed during the winemaking process, and the author is well versed on the world of natural wine and why it is important in the wine world.
Obviously, there are endless books to be read on wine and winemaking! These are some interesting ones to get you started and ignite some inspiration: stories, nature-infused wine, classic wine education, and more!