It's date night. You've just sat down at the best table in the restaurant, and the server hands you a weighty, leather-bound book - the wine list. What do you do? Do you nervously scan for a name that sounds familiar? Ask for a recommendation? Or simply hand it back and opt for the "house red?"
Even the most seasoned foodies can be intimidated by a wine list, but when it comes to wine appreciation, a little learning can go a long way. One of VCC's newest credentials, the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Level 1 Award in Wines, offered through wine educator Statera Academy, is the perfect starting point for gaining this lifelong skill.
Like any good VCC instructor, award-winning sommelier Keith Nicholson knows that people learn best by doing - or tasting, as the case may be. "More than half the class is spent with wine in our glasses," he says. "That's the best part."
Overall, the course teaches why different wines taste the way they do, accounting for varietal (type of grape), climate, and the winemaking process. Students in the course range from chefs, restaurant servers and wine store employees to wine-lovers from all walks of life.
"More than just a lecture, we connect the dots to what is in the glass," says Keith. "People have a lot of aha' moments in this class."
