“Grape to Grain” Classes & Experiences Give a Taste of Wine, Spirits & Sake Higher Education for the Beverage Curious
Since 1969, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has overseen the education of drink enthusiasts and beverage professionals worldwide, offering globally recognized courses and qualifications through a network of Approved Program Providers (APP). In the United States, more than 40 APPs lead beginner-through-expert level classes on wine, spirits and sake in over 22 states, and to mark the growing interest in these subjects, WSET will host the first WSET Week USA nationwide the week of May 1-7, 2017. Showcasing “Grape to Grain” education across the country, WSET Week USA offers an opportunity for everyone from the “beverage curious” to the budding professional to dip their toe in the font of wine, spirits and sake knowledge and engage with the network of esteemed WSET educators and alumni across the USA.
How is bourbon made? What defines the different styles of sake? What makes the wines of Bordeaux so revered? These questions and many more are routinely answered by WSET educators. With the first WSET Week USA, Approved Program Providers will open their doors to anyone interested in these topics, to learn from WSET educators and alumni – many of whom have gone on to be leading beverage professionals in the USA. Reflecting the growing interest in drinks beyond wine WSET Week USA will provide a full calendar of experiences to explore the world of spirits and sake in addition to wine, both subjects that WSET has seen rise in popularity with double digit growth in USA candidate numbers last year.
The WSET Week USA Schedule:
- Nationwide “Grape to Grain” Education Experiences – Join in one of many activities from wine, spirits and sake tastings teaching you how to use WSET’s Systematic Approach to Tasting, to open house events giving a flavor of the suite of courses available, to live webinars with WSET certified educators. WSET Approved Program Providers across the country open their doors to the beverage world. Participating locations across the country (Monday, May 1, through Sunday, May 7). Visit the WSET Week USA event page or see addendum for full schedule.
- American Wine School IL, OH
- Atlanta Wine School GA
- Capital Wine School DC
- Florida Wine Academy FL
- Forum Food & Drink NY
- Grape Experience Wine & Spirit School CA
- Napa Valley Wine Academy CA, CO, FL, OH, TN
- Northwest Arkansas Community College AR
- Palate Partners IL, NY, PA
- Virginia Wine Academy VA
- Wine Institute New Orleans LA
- “Grape to Grain” WSET Alumni Reception – Featuring speeches by Lisa Perrotti-Brown DipWSET, MW of Wine Advocate and International Wine Critic Robert Parker, Allen Katz of Southern Wine & Spirits and NY Distilling Company, and Maggie Campbell DipWSET of Privateer Rum, followed by a panel discussion led by WSET International Development Manager, David Wrigley DipWSET, MW, on the diversification of the ‘wine list’ i.e. how consumer preferences are challenging the drinks list, how drinking habits are changing, ‘cross-drinking’ and the impact of education for change-makers and influencers. Tuesday, May 2, City Winery, 115 Varick St., New York City. (WSET Diploma graduates only)
- “Grape to Grain” WSET Blog Series (week-long) – Leaders in the USA wine and spirits industry will contribute Q&As that examine the trends in consumer beverage tastes and what is driving that interest, how Millennials are changing the way people approach wine, among other topics.
To follow WSET Week USA on social media, search #grapetograin and #WSETWeekUSA and connect with @WSETGlobal. For full details on WSET Week USA, WSET courses or to find a local Approved Program Provider near you visit https://wsetglobal.com/
FULL SCHEDULE: WSET WEEK USA APPROVED PROGRAM PROVIDER EVENTS NATIONWIDE
May 1, 2017
Atlanta Wine School at Vino Venue
Time: 7.00-9.00pm
Location: Vino Venue, 4478 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA
Details: Taste Like a Pro WSET Style! In this educational and fun class, you’ll learn how to deduce the identity of a wine in a blind tasting by using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting, powers of observation, sense of smell and other cues.
How to book: http://vinovenue.com/shop/taste-like-a-wset-pro.html Contact information: lizette@vino-venue.com
Napa Valley Wine Academy OH
Time: 6.00-7.30 pm
Location: Parker’s Downtown, 2000 E. Ninth Street, Cleveland, OH
Details: Visit the WSET Open house to mingle, meet WSET educators, learn about WSET and learn to blind taste. $10 registration fee (includes nibbles and wine tasting)
How to book: napavalleywineacademy.com/wset-week-2017 Contact: s_cartland@napavalleywineacademy.com
Napa Valley Wine Academy TN
Time: 6.00-7.30pm
Location: City Winery 609 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN
Details: Visit the WSET Open house to mingle, meet WSET educators, learn about WSET and learn to blind taste. $10 registration fee (includes nibbles and wine tasting)
How to book: napavalleywineacademy.com/wset-week-2017 Contact: s_cartland@napavalleywineacademy.com
NWACC
Time: 5.30-8.00pm
Location: Brightwater, 801 SE 8th Street, Bentonville, AR
Details: Chef and sommelier enthusiasts can join this food and wine pairing class with a hands-on cooking component and top tips to perfect wine pairing
How to book: laltimont@nwacc.edu Contact: laltimont@nwacc.edu
May 2, 2017
American Wine School
Time: 5.00-8.00pm
Location: Binny’s Beverage Depot Lincoln Park, 1720 N Marcey St, Chicago, IL
Details: Visit the WSET Open House for a welcome reception followed by a free WSET lecture and educator-led tasting as a taste of a WSET course
How to book: www.americanwineschool.com Contact information: 216-685-WINE
Napa Valley Wine Academy FL
Time: 6.00-7.30pm
Location: Epicurean Hotel 1207 S Howard Ave, Tampa, FL
Details: Visit the WSET Open house to mingle, meet WSET educators, learn about WSET and learn to blind taste. $10 registration fee (includes nibbles and wine tasting)
How to book: napavalleywineacademy.com/wset-week-2017 Contact: s_cartland@napavalleywineacademy.com
May 3, 2017
Capital Wine School
Time: 6.00pm and 7.30pm
Location: 5207 Wisconsin Ave NW, Washington, DC
Details: The Wine & Spirit Education Trust: what you can expect to learn, how does it differ from other educational wine & spirit programs, and what will it cost. $15 per person including wine
How to book: www.capitalwineschool.com Contact: jay@capitalwineschool.com
Napa Valley Wine Academy CO
Time: 6.00-7.30pm
Location: CLYDE 112 8th Avenue at Lincoln Street Denver, CO
Details: Visit the WSET Open house to mingle, meet WSET educators, learn about WSET and learn to blind taste. $10 registration fee (includes nibbles and wine tasting)
How to book: napavalleywineacademy.com/wset-week-2017 Contact: s_cartland@napavalleywineacademy.com
Napa Valley Wine Academy
Time: 5.30-6.15pm
Location: Live Webinar
Details: Join the WSET Webinar info session to meet WSET educators and hear about the courses How to book: napavalleywineacademy.com/wset-week-2017
Contact: s_cartland@napavalleywineacademy.com
May 4, 2017
American Wine School
Time: 6.00-7.00pm
Location: Heinen’s Downtown Cleveland, 900 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH
Details: WSET Alumni Bring a Friend Night: WSET Alumni are invited to bring a friend for a wine tasting reception to learn about WSET
How to book: www.americanwineschool.com Contact: 216-685-WINE
Florida Wine Academy
Time: 12.00-4.30pm, 5pm and 6pm
Location: Miami Culinary Institute Food and Wine Theater, 415 NE 2nd Avenue #9104 Miami, FL Details: Visit the Open House from 12-4.30pm to learn about the WSET courses. Take a free class and taste wine (5pm) or spirits (6pm) like a professional, using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting. Register for the courses with 10% off during WSET Week USA.
How to book: www.floridawineacademy.com Contact: alessandra@floridawineacademy.com
Forum Food & Drink
Time: 5.00-8.00pm
Location: Kings County Wines, 1205 Cortelyou Rd., Brooklyn, NY
Details: Forum Food & Drink will be hosting an information session and wine, spirits and sake tasting focusing on understanding the ways different grapes and grains are used in the beverage alcohol business.
How to book: N/A
Contact: jim@forumfoodanddrink.com
Napa Valley Wine Academy CA
Time: 6.00-8.00pm
Location: 2501 Oak Street, Napa, CA
Details: Open House and alumni get together with sparkling wines and nibbles. Mingle, meet WSET instructors and alumni and enjoy bubbles and bites. $10 registration fee (includes nibbles and wine tasting)
How to book: napavalleywineacademy.com/wset-week-2017 Contact: s_cartland@napavalleywineacademy.com
NWACC
Time: 3.00-5.00pm
Location: Brightwater, 801 SE 8th Street, Bentonville, AR
Details: Learn about the Beverage Management degree plan and WSET qualifications available at Brightwater over wine and bites
How to book: laltimont@nwacc.edu Contact: laltimont@nwacc.edu
Wine Institute New Orleans
Time: 6.30-8.00pm
Location: WINO 610 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA
Details: Open House with cheese and wine and an introductory session showcasing the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting at 7pm
How to book: 504-324-8000 Contact: bryan@winoschool.com
May 5, 2017
NWACC
Time: 5.00-8.00pm
Location: Brightwater, 801 SE 8th Street, Bentonville, AR
Details: Drop in to learn about the Beverage Management degree plan and WSET qualifications available at Brightwater
How to book: laltimont@nwacc.edu Contact: laltimont@nwacc.edu
Virginia Wine Academy
Time: 9.30am–5.30pm
Location: Veritas Winery, 151 Veritas Lane, Afton, VA
Details: Visit the Open House to experience classroom demonstrations, view course materials and enjoy complimentary wine and cheese with guided tours of the winery at 12.00pm, 2.00pm and 4.00pm.
How to book: N/A
Contact: andrew.hodson@thevirginiawineacademy.com or chrisparker@thevirginiawineacademy.com
May 6, 2017
Atlanta Wine School at Vino Venue
Time: 3.00-4.00 pm
Location: Vino Venue, 4478 Chamblee Dunwoody Road, Dunwoody, GA
Details: AWS Open House: Learn what a wine credential can do for you at our open house featuring a guided tasting of our curriculum wines, WSET systematic approach to tasting pocket card, door prizes and more!
How to book: http://vinovenue.com/shop/AWS-open-house.html Contact: lizette@vino-venue.com
Palate Partners NY
Time: 12.00-4.00pm
Location: Anthony Road Winery, 1020 Anthony Rd, Penn Yan, NY
Details: Grape Expectations: An afternoon of mini seminars on all things grape. Learn how to evaluate wine using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting, engage in a guided, comparative tasting of grape spirits – Cognac, Pisco & Grappa and hear a Winemaker Forum led by Peter Becraft of Anthony Road Winery. Tickets $10
How to book: www.palatepartners.com/wset Contact: Rob@dreadnoughtwines.com
May 7, 2017
Palate Partners PA
Time: 4.00-6.00pm
Location: Palate Partners, 3401 Liberty Ave, Pittsburgh, PA
Details: An opportunity to meet WSET Alumni from the alcoholic beverage sector and get an introduction to the array of courses offered by Palate Partners and WSET. (Wine, Spirits & Sake) How to book: www.palatepartners.com/wset
Contact: Rob@dreadnoughtwines.com
For anyone who missed the events during WSET Week USA, Grape Experience is hosting an Open House event to wrap up the schedule on May 11, 2017.
Grape Experience Wine & Spirit School
Time: 6.00-8.00pm
Location: Holiday Inn, 1500, Van Ness Ave, San Francisco, CA
Details: WSET Open House event presenting WSET wine, spirits and sake courses along with a tasting of some great wines using the WSET Systematic Approach to Tasting. Participants will be able to meet instructors, see materials and even sign up for an upcoming course.
How to book: http://www.grapeexperience.com/classes/wset-open-house Contact: adam@grapeexperience.com
About the Wine & Spirit Education Trust
WSET is the largest global provider of qualifications in the field of wines and spirits. WSET qualifications are formally recognised by the UK Government and have a strong reputation worldwide. In the last academic year (2015/16) 72,171 people sat for a WSET qualification. Courses are available in 19 languages and 72 countries, and are open both to industry professionals and interested enthusiasts. Since 1969 more than half a million individuals have completed a WSET qualification. We currently offer nine qualifications, from one-day beginner courses through to a specialist level diploma.
For more information about WSET, please visit the new fully responsive website: www.WSETglobal.com
