Capstone Level 2
The intermediate Level 2 course builds on Level 1 with a more in-depth online course and an additional tasting of 16 wines. For the theory, you will cover important events in California’s wine history timeline and identify key figures who helped shape the state’s wine industry. You will also learn about important geographical factors in major California regions, as well as taking a deeper look at California’s key grape varieties. You will build understanding about the annual life cycle of the vine, winemaking fundamentals, and the region’s different AVA’s.
The Level 2 online course consists of several chapters covering history, lore, geography, climate, soils, grapes, viticulture, vinification, aging and maturation, wine laws, official classifications, producers, vintages, and the business of wine.
About the Course
Price: 125€
Online course: 1st April – 4th November
Learning time: 20 hours
Maximum participants 15 students
Minimum participants 8 students for the tasting to be held
Tasting: 5th November
Instructor: Tom Murray Willis, Thirsty Bear Wine
Included: Access to the online course and a 3 hour guided tasting of 16 wines
Subjects
- Key events in California wine history and identification of key figures who helped shape the state’s wine industry.
- Geographically important factors and phenomena that affect winemaking in the region, such as rivers, mountain ranges, including the Coastal Range, Mayacamas Mountains, Vaca Range and Santa Cruz Mountains.
- Deep dive into seven of California’s most important grape varieties with a focus on site and distinct flavour profiles.
- The Year in the Vineyard; the annual life cycle of the vine and review of related terms, flowering, bud break, véraison, trellis, pruning, green harvest, harvest time, etc.
- The basics of winemaking, barrel binding (French vs. American vs. other European oak) and how the wine style is affected by the choice of oak.
- Deep dive into California’s historic AVA’s in the Lodi and Sacramento Deltas; Mendocino County, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo County, Monterey County and the Santa Cruz Mountains.
