Home Industry News Releases Open Registration Begins for the 2016 ICS Chardonnay Certificate Program

Open Registration Begins for the 2016 ICS Chardonnay Certificate Program

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Led by the Cal Poly Wine & Viticulture Professors Dr. Benoît Lecat and Dr. Federico Casassa, the intensive five-session, “learn-by-doing” course will cover global Chardonnay regions, styles, trends and include systematic tastings of dozens of quality wines.

International Chardonnay 2016 920March 8, 2016 (Pismo Beach, CA) – The International Chardonnay Symposium, the world’s foremost gathering of top global Chardonnay winemakers, sommeliers, journalists, wine industry leaders, foodies and oenophiles is proud to announce that open registration has begun for its first annual ICS Chardonnay Certificate Program.

In conjunction with the Wine & Viticulture Department at Cal Poly State University, the ICS Chardonnay Certificate Program will include four intensive classes and a final written-and-tasting exam. Successful students will be awarded the ICS Chardonnay Certificate during the annual International Chardonnay Symposium, May 12-14.

The program will be taught by Dr. Benoît Lecat, wine and viticulture department head, and Dr. Federico Casassa, professor of enology and sensory analysis, both from the esteemed Cal Poly University’s Wine & Viticulture Department.

“When the International Chardonnay Symposium asked us to be involved in creating this certificate, the Wine and Viticulture Department at Cal Poly said ‘yes’ without any hesitation,” says Benoît. “The ICS is a great event and through this certificate, the ICS is championing Cal Poly’s philosophy of “learn by doing.”

Meant to provide students with an advanced working knowledge of the world’s most popular wine grape, Professors Lecat and Casassa will guide students through, among other things: Systematic tasting, Chardonnay-making techniques and the styles they produce, climatic influences, Chardonnay-based sparkling and late-harvest wines, as well as understanding and identifying the characteristics of the major Chardonnay regions of California, Burgundy, North America and international regions.

The four required classes will be held on April 22, 23, 29 and 30, from 2-5 PM, at The Cliffs Resort & Spa in Pismo Beach, CA. The final exam will be held on May 7 from 2-5 PM and will include a written test and tasting exam, which will be conducted in front of a juried panel. The ICS Chardonnay Certificate award ceremony will be held at the International Chardonnay Symposium’s VIP BBQ Celebration on May 12. The fee for the certificate program, which includes all materials and tasting of over 40 wines, is $495.

Interested applicants should submit a letter of intent, explaining in 200 words or less why they are passionate about Chardonnay and eager to learn more about Chardonnays of the world. The deadline for applications is March 21.

For more information and to apply to the ICS Chardonnay Certificate Program, please visit TheChardonnaySymposium.com/certificate.

For more information on this year’s annual International Chardonnay Symposium from May 12-14, and for tickets to the Grand Tasting or other Symposium events, please visit TheChardonnaySymposium.com. For guests attending the Symposium, schedule a stay in Pismo Beach, Avila Beach or the Edna Valley and receive a discount to panels and tastings at the International Chardonnay Symposium.

About The International Chardonnay Symposium

The International Chardonnay Symposium attracts winemakers, sommeliers, media, trade, foodies, wine enthusiasts and tastemakers from across the globe to enjoy and study the world’s favorite grape. When the discussion ends, there’s plenty of time for exploring nearby Central Coast wineries as well as the hosting seaside resort towns of Pismo Beach and Avila Beach that offer downtown winetasting rooms, pristine beaches, surfing and kayaking, hiking and biking trails, farm-to-table and seaport-inspired cuisine, boutique shopping, and more. The International Chardonnay Symposium is sponsored by Pismo Beach Conference & Visitors Bureau, Avila Beach Tourism Alliance, California Highway 1 Discovery Route, Visit San Luis Obispo County, The Tasting Panel Magazine, The SOMM Journal, Wine Enthusiast Magazine, Touring & Tasting, Greengate Ranch & Vineyard, and 805 Living.

About Pismo Beach, Avila Beach, & Highway 1 Discovery Route of SLO County

San Luis Obispo County’s Pismo Beach, Avila Beach and the Highway 1 Discovery Route destination towns are located on California’s famous Central Coast, halfway between San Francisco and Los Angeles. With miles of pristine Pacific coastline, enjoy great weather, a plethora of outdoor activities, rich wild life and nature preserves, downtown wine tasting rooms, and the neighboring world class wine producing regions of the Edna Valley, Arroyo Grande Valley, Santa Maria Valley and Paso Robles. For information on the wide variety of lodging choices, accommodating every budget and lifestyle, visit Classiccalifornia.com, VisitAvilaBeach.com, VisitSanLuisObispoCounty.com and Highway1DiscoveryRoute.com.

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