What a month January has been, it seems to have disappeared in a flash but it’s all good news at The Wine Academy. Read on to find out what we have been up to and what’s happening in February and March.
Master of Wine Bootcamp
In January I spent an intensive week at The Austrian Wine Academy (no link) in Rust on my first year Master of Wine Bootcamp. The attendees were drawn from all over Europe, India and Canada with a few well known faces among them. The days stated with an 8.15a.m. twelve bin blind tasting and just to get us in ‘the zone’ on day 1 we started with a dry Furmint and Grüner Veltliner, who knew!! Certainly not me, I had the rich, full bodied, oak aged Furmint down as a Portuguese Encruzado and the Grüner as an Albarino. However by the end of the week my strike rate was improving as I started to relax and enjoy the tastings. Thankfully I passed the end of week exam which has given me the motivation to get my head down and study for the First Year exams in June. Afternoons were spend on activities as varied as a lectures on SO2 and pruning vines in one of Willi Brundermeyers top quality vineyards.
The week ended with a blind tasting (what else!) of fine and rare wines at Palais Coberg in Vienna where there is an estimated £25M of fine wines stored in the very secure cellars including 140 vintage of Y’Quem. My favourite was a 1961 Nipozanno Chianti which still had bags of fruit and acidity at a sprightly 51 years old, I hope I still have as much vigour at that age.
WSET Awards
After Rust I was looking forward to a rest and some time with my family, but had a three line whip to attend the WSET Annual Awards in London on my way home. All I really wanted was a good sleep and a hot bath, but no-one argues with Ian Harrison the Chairman of the WSET. His cajoling was all worthwhile as I was awarded the ‘WSET Wine Educator of the Year’ award by Jancis Robinson, I’m still in shock. I was the only individual nominated and there were some fairly big hitters on the short list including Enotria and Matthew Clark Wines.
But after all that excitement it’s back to work with a plethora of interesting tastings, courses and events around the county.
Events and Courses February and March
Courses
We still have a few spaces on the following courses:
WSET Level 1 Foundation , 27th March £140 fully inclusive
A lovely gentle ‘done in a day’ course in Leeds for complete beginners.
The March WSET Level 2 course is fully booked but I do still have some spaces on the course which starts on April 17th in Leeds. It runs for 3 consecutive Tuesdays in Leeds.
Course Fee £295 fully inclusive of all books and exam
Level 3 – Advanced
I have just 4 spaces left on the Level 3 course which starts in Leeds on February 20th and runs for 6 consecutive Mondays. Course Fee £590 fully inclusive.
If you can’t commit 6 weekdays to the Level 3 course we have another course starting in Leeds on Saturdays, starting May 5th for 6 weeks. Course fee £590 fully inclusive.
Events
If you fancy learning about wine without the pressure of an exam you may be interested in one of our regular wine dinners and Masterclasses around the region.
February 3rd – Germany and Alsace Dinner at Chapters Hotel Stokesley
An elegant evening of light, fragrant Riesling, full bodied spicy Gewurtztraminer and Pinot Gris as we explore the Grand Cru vineyards of Alsace and Erste Lage of Germany.
To book call 01642 711888 £47.50pp
February 7th – Bon Coeur Fine Wines are hosting a dinner and masterclass of Domaine Barons Rothschild Wines showing wines from Los Vascos, Bodegas Caro and Chateau d’Aussieres.
Book direct with BCFW on 01765 688200, £39.50
February 23rd – Wines of Chile evening at Meltons Too in York. Explore the best that Chile has to offer over dinner £35pp inclusive of wine and dinner. Call 01904 62922 to book
February 24th – New Zealand Masterclass at Harvey Nichols Leeds, £20pp book directly with Harvey Nichols on 0113 2048000
For anyone who wants to treat themselves or a foodie friend I’m delighted to be hosting a food, foraging and wine course at The Pheasant Hotel in Helmsley from the 13th- 15th March.
The course includes B&B at the Pheasant Hotel, all food and wine tuition, vineyard visit, lunch at the Star Harome, dinner on both evenings and lots more…. For more details contact The Pheasant Hotel on 01439 771241 or email reservations@thepheasanthotel.com
As ever if you would like any more information on any events or courses or just to let me know about a wine you have particularly enjoyed, please do get in touch. I look forward to hearing from you.
