The Wine Scholar Guild, an international study and certification organization focusing on the wines of France, Italy and Spain, has expanded its offerings to include three new dynamic educational series under the direction of award-winning wine journalist, Andrew Jefford. All are free for WSG members.
Meeting of the Minds
The WSG “Meeting of the Minds” webinar series brings together a panel of experts and insiders to explore a single topical issue within the wine world.
On July 22, 2020, Andrew Jefford, speaking from France, will moderate a panel of gifted wine tasters and an academic sensory expert to discuss the nuances of wine evaluation. The “World of Tasting Methods” panel includes Barry Smith, a UK-based professor who not only directs the Institute of Philosophy at the School of Advanced Study at London University, but is also founding director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses/CenSes, which pioneers collaborative research between philosophers, psychologists and neuroscientists. Sommelière (and former philosophy student) Pascaline Lepeltier MS, speaking from New York, grew up and studied in the French tradition of wine appreciation but has spent much of her working life talking about wine to Anglophones. UK-based Matthew Stubbs MW is one of the wine world’s most experienced and popular educators, teaches on his own behalf and for WSET and IMW around the world. Finally, joining the panel from Nanning in China is Julien Boulard MW, a recent MW graduate and a wine educator in China whose fluent Mandarin has helped him gain unrivalled insights on wine evaluation in Asia, especially China.
The next “Meeting of the Minds” panel discussion will take place on September 30, 2020. Jane Anson, Decanter journalist and Bordeaux expert, will moderate a distinguished panel on the current trends in Bordeaux.
WSG Live
The “WSG Live” interview series introduces listeners to internationally renowned wine professionals, exploring the minds, personalities and stories behind some of wine’s most celebrated over-achievers.
The first of the series takes place on July 29, 2020. Andrew Jefford will host Jancis Robinson MW, the most acclaimed wine writer, thinker and authority active in the wine world today. Her books are the foundation of every wine library: Vines, Grapes & Wines, The Oxford Companion to Wine, The World Atlas of Wine (written by Hugh Johnson, but revised and co-written by Jancis from the fifth edition in 2001 onward) and Wine Grapes (with Julia Harding and José Vouillamoz, 2012).The copious awards she has won include six James Beard awards, the Grand Award of the OIV, an Honorary Doctorate from the Open University, the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Mérite Agricole in France and the Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the UK.
The next WSG Live event will take place on October 21; invited guest to be announced shortly.
The Great Debate
The WSG “Great Debate” series presents two diametrically opposed points of view on critical issues within the wine world argued at length… with the gloves off! This series is in written form and adheres to only two rules: polite respect – and passionate espousal of a particular point of view.
The first of the series debuts as a blog article on August 3, 2020. Wine writer, Kevin Day moderates as Jefford dukes it out with fellow award-winning wine and drinks writer, Simon J. Woolf, on the subject of Natural Wines. Simon, author of Amber Revolution and a leading authority on the natural-wine world, defends the wines and the practices he champions and loves. Andrew, by contrast, is a nuanced sceptic, though the angles of his attack, and the issues on which he gives ground to Simon, may surprise many.
Ensuing “Great Debate” Topics will include Minerality (the key to terroir and a sensorial reality – or pure projection and nonsense) and Appellations (a precious property right and the small grower’s friend – or freedom-stifling red tape?)
About the Wine Scholar Guild:
The Wine Scholar Guild (www.winescholarguild.org) is the leading provider of specialized certification programs on the wines of France, Italy and Spain for the professional development of wine industry members and committed students of wine.
WSG membership provides an array of benefits including educational webinars, panel discussions, online learning games, blank wine maps for study, pronunciation exercises and discounts on wine-related items and WSG study programs.
