What You'll Learn in Online Wine Classes and Courses

Back to Wine School

Now that the kids have headed back to school, let’s chat about how the adults have changed the way they learn about wine, especially with online courses. It’s a virtual world of wine learning at your fingertips.

Here with her tips is Natalie MacLean who offers Canada’s most popular online wine classes at nataliemaclean.com.

Welcome, Natalie

Great to be here!

First, tell us why online wine courses have become so popular?

Online courses offer the best of both worlds: they’re accessible to everyone no matter where you live, they’re more comprehensive than a one-off class, but not as technical and time-consuming as college courses.

Plus, there’s no drinking, then driving home, finding a babysitter and parking. Many of my students take my courses together with a spouse or partner and treat it like date night at home, no parking.

What if we want to learn about just one type of wine?

You can start with one-off classes offered online by local liquor stores or restaurants.

So for example, you might focus on the regional differences between two Sauvignon Blancs, like these two I have with me today:

Red Rooster from the Okanagan is zesty with lemon notes.

Red Rooster Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2020
Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, BC V.Q.A., Canada

Reif is juicy and mouth-watering with lime zest.

Reif Estate Winery Sauvignon Blanc 2019
Niagara River, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada

They’d both pair beautifully with roast chicken or turkey, something to keep in mind as Thanksgiving approaches.

What would you suggest if we want to learn about food and wine pairing?

Then you want to look for a more in-depth course like the one I offer, The Wine Smart Course: A Full-Bodied Framework to Taste, Pair and Buy Wine Like a Pro.

I’m online with my students via video, guiding them through the tasting and pairings, we have “live” interaction and the students also get to know wine lovers from around the world, including the really thirsty bunch here in Winnipeg! I have many students from here.

Plus there are lots of templates and checklists for every possible wine and food match you can imagine, from fast food favourites and spicy dishes to multiple courses you’d serve at a dinner party.

So for example, we might dive into which dishes pair best with low calorie wines like these:

Cupcake Vineyards Light Hearted Chardonnay
California, United States

Peller Family Vineyards Light Cabernet Sauvignon
Ontario

The Cupcake Light Hearted Chardonnay would go well with grilled salmon and the light Peller Cabernet Sauvignon with a meaty pasta. Since you’re saving on calories with the wines, you can splurge a bit on the dish.

3. What if you want to get really serious about wine and become a sommelier for example?

If you dream of working in the wine industry, you’ll want a more comprehensive program.

These courses are often full-time and take years to complete, such as the Master of Wine program. Those starting on that journey may want to warm up their palate first with a course like the one I offer and then continue on with advanced studies.

In such a course, you would be looking at the differences between two iconic California wine regions, with wines like these: