Wine Education Classes
Martignetti Companies is pleased to provide a series of wine education classes to its employees and trade professionals. Led by our Corporate Wine Educator, Brad Fichter (Advanced Sommilier), these courses and certification are designed to further empower our team, supplier partners, retail store and retaurant owners and their employees, regardless of their current wine industry knowledge.
Below is a summary of our different course levels and certifications. Please contact your Martignetti Sales Representative concerning participation.
Wine Basics Course
The purpose of the Basics Class is to make one totally wine literate. Although no prior knowledge is required, virtually every aspect of wine will be discussed, with an eye to sales and marketing. This course has eight sessions, each consisting of an hour long exploration of a wine related subject such as wine and food matching, viticulture, and restaurant wait staff training, as well as in-depth discussions on specific wine regions followed a wine tasting from that region.
All classes are taught by our Corporate Wine Educator, Brad Fichter, Certified Advanced Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Class Schedule
Collegiate Wine Course
This course is specially designed for those who have completed the Wine Basics class and have a desire to expand and update their knowledge. We will use the excellent Exploring Wine 3rd Edition, an 800 page tomb recently updated. We will use this text as a springboard to launch into discussions of major wine regions and topics.
Classes will meet no more than once a month and be approximately three hours in duration.
Class Schedule
Master Class Series
In response to the overwhelming demand from those graduates of the Collegiate Class for an even more in depth exploration of specific regions (as opposed to countries) we are embarking on a series of classes to do just that. This sequence of classes will focus on wine regions or sub regions (such as Champagne, Chablis, Cote d'Or, etc.) in an exhaustive manner. We will cover wine styles, trends, obstacles (both commercial and vinous), as well as changes in laws and regulations, culminating with an extensive tasting including some of the best and most unusual wines of the area, drawing from all divisions of the corporation. The class will be limited to the first twenty students to respond.
Class Schedule
Society of Wine Educators Certifications
The Society of Wine Educators was founded in 1974 by wine professionals at UC Davis. A non-profit educational organization with the mission of advancing wine education through professional development and certification, the organization has grown to over 2,600 members in 13 different countries with headquarters in Washington D.C.
The Society of Wine Educators currently has three different levels of certification, the CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine), CSS (Certified Specialist of Spirits) and the CWE (Certified Wine Educator).
The Society of Wine Educators will begin a series of online classes for those studying for the Certified Specialist of Wine this fall.
The Certified Specialist of Wine designation is attained by taking a multiple choice exam which comes entirely from the extensive and often updated Society published Study Guide. The Certified Wine Educator exam questions can come from any published source. In addition, it also involves an essay as well as a practical tasting section session, which consists of wine identification as well as the recognition of specific wine faults.
For more information on the Certified Specialist of Wine Online Program visit Certified Specialist of Wine Study Course.
For more information on the prepping for the CSS exam, visit Spirits Education Classes.
The Society also hosts a yearly conference with seminars conducted by Masters of Wine, Master Sommeliers and various wine luminaries.
Advanced Wine Class
Many of you have approached me concerning classes at an even higher level. If there is interest, we will start a new session of the Advanced Wine Class. This involves several textbooks and a serious commitment to attend all scheduled classes. All of the tasting for this class is done blind. No prior blind tasting experience is required. The first class will be entirely dedicated to blind tasting methodology and techniques. The class will meet once a month.
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Italian Wine Scholar Program
Italian wine continues to be the most important import segment in the US market and requires in-depth understanding. Created by professionals for professionals, the Italian Wine Professional (IWP) Certification course was designed to increase knowledge, skills and confidence that help lead to increased sales of Italian wine.
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French Wine Scholar
The French Wine Scholar program is a study and certification program providing current, accurate and in-depth information on the wines and wine regions of France. Available via Distance Learning or in Classroom with tutored tasting at Martignetti Companies.
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