We had a lot of fun this past Sunday sipping on our favourite Ontario wines and chatting about the New Ontario Wine Specialist Certificate!
Click on the arrow above to play the video.
You can read the 138 comments here (and comment yourself).
Share your thoughts on your favourite Ontario wines and discover which wines others love that you might want to try.
Also find out how you can become a Certified Ontario Wine Specialist.
Sip with you soon!
P.S. If you click on the “Like” and “Share buttons on Facebook now, you’ll get the heads up when we go live.
Join us next the Sunday Sipper Club at 6 pm eastern right here for Oscar Wines:
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Ontario’s Brave New Wines course is now into its third successful year and IWEG continues to develop and broaden the learning experience for students and connoisseurs of Ontario wines.
In response to student demand this is now a certified program in collaboration with the Wine Council of Ontario and candidates successful in passing the final exam will hold a recognized Certificate as an Ontario Wine Specialist.
Also new for the 2017 program, we are excited and proud to introduce wine educator Dave Larocque. Dave has lived his love for wine for over 30 years, initially as a product consultant with the LCBO, then subsequently working at many Ontario wineries, and as a wine educator and trainer for Canadian winery staff, Niagara College, the Wine Council of Ontario, and staff of numerous restaurants. He recently authored a book titled ‘The Wine Appellations of Ontario’. His newest venture, Wine Culture, brings the enjoyment of wine to groups across Canada through presentations and tastings in an educational and entertaining approach.
Southbrook Vineyards
Students will attend four full days of study with each morning focusing on the wine appellations of Ontario and basic wine education, while the afternoons will present insightful tasting opportunities with a number of local winemakers, each addressing unique aspects of their winemaking style that builds on the morning studies. The final day will bring the classroom work to life with a field trip to three leading Niagara wineries.
In collaboration with the Wine Council of Ontario, these 4 sessions of learning and tasting celebrate local wines, growers and producers and give insight into the bold venture that is winemaking in Ontario.
Come and meet some of Ontario’s leading edge wine makers, enjoy their award-winning wines and learn more about how the trail-blazing Ontario wine industry is preparing for the future.
Ontario’s Brave New Wines runs Sat. Feb. 25th – March 25th; 9:30am – 4:30pm.
Henry of Pelham Winery
Day 1: FEB 25
An introduction to the Lake Erie North Shore, Niagara Peninsula, Prince Edward County appellations and their sub-appellations, and the importance of location, topography, weather, climate and soil within each appellation. Participating wineries:
Henry of Pelham (Short Hills Bench) – Paul Speck
The Grange of Prince Edward County (Prince Edward County) – Caroline Granger
Colio Winery (Lake Erie North Shore)
Two Sisters Vineyards
Day 2: MAR 4
Which wine should I choose? Discover the four fundamental classifications of wine styles; table, sparkling, dessert and fortified.
Learn about the major grape varieties of Ontario and their common characteristics. Participating wineries:
Norman Hardie Winery & Vineyard (Prince Edward County) – Claude Arsenault
Hinterland Wine Company (Prince Edward County) – Vicki Samaras
Thirty Bench Wine Makers (Beamsville Bench) – Emma Garner
Southbrook Vineyards (Four Mile Creek) – Paul DeCampo
The Grange of Prince Edward Estate Winery
Day 3: MAR 11
Learn about the basic components of wine.
Explore and discover wine and food matching principles through an interactive wine and food component tasting. Participating wineries:
Redstone Winery (Lincoln Lakeshore) – Rene Vanede & David Sider
Two Sisters Vineyards (Niagara River)
Vineland Estates Winery (Niagara Escarpment) – David Hulley
Trius Winery at Hillebrand
Day 4: MAR 25
Tour three wineries in Niagara; taste VQA wines; tour wine cellars, barrel rooms, vineyards, and sparkling wine cellars. Students will take a guided tour and tasting at the following wineries:
Trius Winery (Four Mile Creek) – Dave Larocque
Château des Charmes (St. David’s Bench)
Stratus Vineyards (Niagara Lakeshore) – Suzanne Jenke
Stratus
Write the final ‘The Wine Appellations of Ontario’ test to become Ontario Wine Certified.
Did you know??
One of the deepest of the Great Lakes, Lake Ontario’s water mass moderates air temperatures year-round. In concert with the appellation’s second notable feature, the Niagara Escarpment, this shapes the perfect climate to nurture grape vines. (VQA Ontario)
IWEG now offers an alternative to Pay Pal; to charge tuition directly to your credit card please call into the office directly 416-534-2570.
Looking for more winees class in Toronto, but perhaps having difficulty deciding where to study?
Here are the top 10 reasons to choose the Independent Wine Education Guild (IWEG):
1) Leader in Education – IWEG has been leading wine and spirits education in Canada for almost 40 years. In 1977, the IWEG became the first Approved Program Provider (APP) for the Wine Spirits and Education Trust (WSET) outside of London, U.K.
2) Depth and Breadth of Instructors – 25 certified instructors, subject-matter experts, with extensive experience in the wine and spirits industry, dedicated and passionate about education.
3) Exclusivity – The only provider in Ontario to offer all of the following: 4 levels of the WSET program, the French Wine Society’s French Wine Scholar and the Prud’homme Beer Certification.
4) Proven Results – IWEG consistently delivers higher pass rates on WSET courses compared to global providers.
5) Commitment to Students – IWEG is dedicated to the student experience and success by providing online support, workshops, customized study tools and additional education materials.
6) Something for Everyone – Courses and learning materials suitable for all levels of experience, interest, and learning styles.
7) Market and Sector Experience – Over the last 40 years, IWEG has acquired deep experience and understanding of the Canadian alcohol beverage marketplace, with a proven track record in the education sector, graduating thousands of students. In addition, IWEG is committed to fostering relationships with a community of fellow wine and spirits professionals across a variety of sectors in the industry.
8) Committed to Excellence – IWEG is committed to excellence in teaching and learning experience through constant evaluation of delivery of our programs; both by students and WSET officers, investing in training and development of instructors, keeping our curricular knowledge current, as well as pouring benchmark wines and spirits for our students.
9) Location, location, location – IWEG’s main office is conveniently located right downtown on the Yonge subway line, and at the Humber College North Campus for those travelling north or outside of the GTA. Distance Learning online courses are also available across the country.
10) Innovation – IWEG is one of six international WSET APPs to be 
awarded the privilege of delivering the brand new Level 3 Award in Sake.
11) Competitive tuition fees.
And it looks like that is our top 10 … whoops 11! If you would like to hear more please give us a call 416-534-2570 or visit the website for details on our full curriculum: www.iweg.org
IWEG Drinks Academy
211 Yonge St. Suite 501
Toronto, ON
M5B 1M4
