The Academy of Wine

In-person programs include a complete range of courses designed for all levels of wine and hospitality professionals. Our extensive programming offers something for everyone, from wine and dining room service to business management and courses in tasting technique and food & wine pairing.

It is our goal to provide everything you need to improve the quality of service that you offer your customers. If you don't find what you're looking for here, please don't hesitate to contact us and we can work to custom design a program that meets your needs.

These courses can be assembled in any number of combinations to provide you with practical, proven skills and solutions that you can immediately apply to your business.

• Brand-Related Presentations
• Finding Opportunities through Effective Tasting
• Hospitality, Retail Sales and Service
• Special Applications in Food and Wine
• Viticulture, Vinification and other Production-Related Subjects
• World Wine Regions

Our brand-related presentations are designed for distributors, brokers and restaurant-industry professionals who will benefit from a heightened understanding of any or all of our brands. Created to accommodate your time schedule and educational requirements, these presentations can be a brief overview or a more comprehensive course.

We offer the following formats for all Icon Estates and VineOne brands.

• 101 Seminars : 15-minute introductions to the featured brand
• 201 Seminars : 45- to 60-minute seminars offering a more in-depth look at the featured brand, including tastings
• 301 Seminars : Hour-plus, comprehensive seminars that include tasting and ample Q&A time

World Wine Regions

These courses cover the basics of wine-related geography and the rules and regulations that govern wines within each region. Our intensives offer an overview of the specified country and/or region and an in-depth exploration of its grapes, appellations, styles and role in the world of wine. Each course can include a tasting at your desired level and depth.

New World Wine Regions
Wines of America
Wines of California (select a specific region(s))
Wines of Central Coast
Wines of Napa
Wines of Sonoma
Wines of Washington (overview or select region(s))
Wines of Argentina (overview or select region(s))
Wines of Australia (overview or select specific region(s))
Wines of Canada (overview or select specific region(s))
Wines of Okanagan
Wines of Niagara Peninsula
Wines of Chile (overview or select specific region(s))
Wines of New Zealand (overview or select your specific region(s))
Wines of Marlborough
Wines of South Africa (overview or select specific region(s))
Old World Wine Regions
Wines of Austria
Wines of France (overview)
Wines of Alsace
Wines of Bordeaux
Wines of Burgundy
Wines of Champagne
Wines of the Languedoc
Wines of the Loire Valley
Wines of Provence and Southwestern France
Wines of the Rhone Valley
Other wine regions of France (Savoie, Jura. etc.)
Wines of Germany (overview or select specific region(s))
Wines of Italy (overview or select specific region(s))
Wines of Tuscany
Wines of Portugal (overview or select specific region(s))
Wines of Spain (overview or select specific region(s))
Port, Sherry and other fortified wines
Champagne & Sparkling Wines of the World

Viticulture, Vinification and other Production-Related Subjects

These courses address how grapes are grown and wines are made, the factors that influence what ends up in the bottle, and why it's important for all levels of the wine and hospitality industry to understand the winemaking process. Several courses include tastings of topic-specific wines in various stages of production.

Viticulture
Vinification of Still Wines - White and Rosé
Vinification of Still Wines - Red
Vinification of Sparkling Wines
Fortified Wine Production (pre- and post-fermentation styles)
Oak, Barrels and the Impact of Wood Aging
Fermentation Techniques (malolactic, carbonic, whole cluster, barrel, etc.)

Hospitality, Retail Sales and Service

The keys to successful sales and service are offered here, with in-depth examinations and practical solutions that work for restaurant staff, brokers and distributors interested in increasing sales, improving customer care and learning how to best communicate with customers at all levels of the on-premise industry.

Staff Development
Selling in the Real World
Wine Service
Management Development
Professional Development
Maximizing Your Incentive Programs
Management Retention: How to Keep Good Talent
Staff Training - Comprehensive Overview
Maximizing Beverage Wine Sales
Wines by the Glass: Still Wines
Wines by the Glass: Sparkling Wines
Wine List Construction and Evaluation
Creative Wine List Ideas
Twenty Turn-key Concepts to Grow Your Wine Sales
Selling Champagne and Sparkling Wine
Pushing the Envelope: Challenge Your Existing Wine Program Goals
Improving Catering Sales
The Catering Sales Advantage (can include matching your menu with wines)
Focus on Hotels: A Fresh Approach
Creative On-premise Marketing

Special Applications in Food and Wine

Our food and wine courses provide all levels of the wine and service industry a concrete and essential understanding of food and wine pairing, from a broad overview to more advanced intensive training.

The Marriage of Food and Wine (as a lecture only or including food and wine)
Cheese and Wine
Stickies and Sweets
Ethnic Foods and Wine
Champagne/Sparkling Wine with Food
Pan-Asian and Wine
(Courses may carry a surcharge if provisions of corresponding food and wine are required.)

Finding Opportunities through Effective Tasting

These tasting courses, geared toward all levels of the industry, cover the essentials - from improving basics such as training the palate and correct tasting techniques, to more comprehensive overviews on specific styles, varietals and countries. Classes are divided between the introductory "101" series, more focused "151" options, and advanced "201" level.

Appellations, Can You Taste the Difference?
The "Super Palate"
The "Big Eight"
Varietal Immersion
Wine Styles: Sparkling
Wine Styles: Stickies