The more you know about wine the more you will enjoy it. In one short session your experience will be enhanced by learning three basic things: 1. Why a wide range of wine styles taste like they do 2. How to judge the quality of a wine 3. How the Australian system of regional classification and labelling suggests quality and value. You will then be more confident in choosing a wine for any occasion and be able to explain why you like a particular wine. As well, you will enjoy the cheerful no nonsense approach of the tutor. Sponsored by Tomich Wines.

Know Your Wine – Enjoy Your Wine

Course Description

Wine is for pleasure. We enjoy the sensory experience of wine as an aperitif or with food, or as a social icebreaker, or simply to taste. 

We can enjoy wine even more if we know how to appreciate it, if we know whether we are drinking a quality wine, or if it is worth the cost. 

It is actually better for our health if we take more time to appreciate the wine in our glass, because then we tend to drink less. As well, quality wines have more to appreciate! 

Good wines have an intensity of flavour which lasts longer in the mouth, so again we tend to drink less. We may pay a bit more for a quality wine, which again, depending on our budget, may lead us to drink less.  

However, less expensive quality wines can be found if we know what to look for. 

So, if we know how to evaluate wines and how to find quality wines, we can enjoy wine more. 

Please note that students must be aged 18+ to attend this course.

Please do not drink and drive.

Course Structure

In this session we will learn about:

• Australia's quality system, including geographical indications, and a quality scale.
• Medals and awards, including a comparison of the 20-point and 100-point judging systems, plus things to be aware of with medals and awards. 
• Evaluating red and white wines – the Tutor will demonstrate and then students will apply their learning through tastings. 

Course Learning Outcomes

After attending this course students will have:

• A greater appreciation and enjoyment of wine 
• A better understanding of the Australian quality system 
• Some knowledge of how to evaluate the quality of wine 
• A greater confidence in selecting wine 
• An increased vocabulary for talking about wine.

Your Tutor is David Crossman

David Crossman BA, Grad Dip Ed, Cert IV WTA has been teaching at WEA since 1994. 

David has a background in secondary school teaching, with a long-term interest in wine. While spending six months in France experiencing their wine culture, he developed an even greater enthusiasm. He was even invited to judge French wine at the Concours Agricole de Paris!

Since returning to Australia David has been involved in secondary education, adult education and wine activities. He has completed an Advanced Wine Studies course at TAFE, and has experience in wine sales as a wholesaler and retailer. He also has experience as both a teacher and administrator in adult education, and has taught the TAFE competency ‘Wine Evaluation’.

David truly believes that wine is made to be enjoyed, so his wine courses are designed to be enjoyable too.