Upskill your palate with an online wine class

Learn about the art of winemaking and tempt your tastebuds with something new when you do an online wine class.

Wines of South Africa online wine course

Wines of South Africa (WOSA) together with Cathy Marston, the head of the International Wine Education Centre and WSET Educator of the Year, have put together this free comprehensive course. Over six modules you will learn all there is to know about the wine industry – from varietals to grape growing and more. At the end of the course, you will receive a certificate of completion.

WSET online wine courses

The International Wine Education Centre (IWEC) offers a range of courses, but you can take the WSET Award in Wines levels 1, 2 and 3 online. Level 1 costs R3,500 and provides an introduction to the world of wine over four weeks. You’ll learn about wine styles, grape varieties, food and wine pairing, wine service, and the correct storage of wine. For those who want to continue their wine journey, level 2 costs R8,500 for five weeks and level 3 costs R13,500 for a nine-week course.

Wine Tasting: Sensory Techniques for Wine Analysis

This course requires a commitment of only one to four hours a week for five weeks. You’ll learn about wine styles, flavours and aromas, and pairings through videos, articles and quizzes. The free version gives you access to the course material but not a certificate.

World of Wine: From Grape to Glass

The University of Adelaide is offering a free six-week course through edX. Over 2–3 hours each week you’ll learn all about viticulture and oenology (or the study of grape cultivation and wines). You’ll sound extra fancy at your next dinner party once you’ve learned the formal language to describe wines and gain more in-depth knowledge of vineyards and winemaking.

Understanding Wine: A Totally Approachable Guide to Wine 101

This unpretentious wine course hosted by a sommelier promises a fun introduction to wine. For R500 you will get access to 16 downloadable resources, an hour-long video and a certificate of completion. Not only will you learn about how wine is made and what to enjoy it with, but you’ll also find out how to spot a great quality wine in a restaurant.