You have probably asked yourself why wine has to be so difficult and complicated.
An aura of mystery surrounding certain bottles (being vaguely French is enough and a single bottle will set you back well over €100) is all well and good but, at times, it is just over the top.
But, it also happens that just when you think you have got a handle on the subject, like, white wine goes with fish and red wine with meat, then some smart-aleck comes along saying:
“Well, actually, young reds are a perfect match with fish”.
Young reds? Whatever …?
And this is just the tip of the iceberg; we could go on and on giving you hundreds of examples and anecdotes that you were unaware of and never dared utter in front of other people for fear of saying something really stupid.
So, here is the bottom line; many people, although fascinated by this world, rich in history and stories, culture, and taste, abandon it because they find it inaccessible.
At times, people feel that they do not make the cut; they are not sufficiently motivated to take a sommelier course; they do not have enough time to see it through, or they do not want to spend a lot of money on something that is just a hobby.
Okay, so becoming a sommelier is not your secret wish, or perhaps you would like to probe the wine world first before making a commitment to studying it for real.
Have we guessed where you are coming from?
Good. Because VINHOOD Academy has been created for people like you, who are eager to learn, who want to become familiar with and approach the wine world in a laid back way.
So, here is a fairly priced course, without too many lessons that do not take up too much of your time: it is time to take the leap.
The fun-filled sessions will provide you with a good general grounding that will help you move confidently around the wine store shelves and avoid those long silences while staring at the restaurant wine list. And you will be looking cool in front of your friends!
Seriously, VINHOOD Academy offers you this and much more.
Our aim is to teach you a simple and fun approach to wine and to provide you with the tools and notions that will allow YOU to be fashioners of mind-blowing combinations or discoverers of unusual labels.
Yes, because we will teach you to choose according to the #Carattere (#Character) of your palate!
Yes, that is right, we will give you our tips – it is no coincidence that we are the Taste Experts – but we will also reveal the secrets of the trade that means you, too, will feel a little bit more of an expert.
Why? Because we are convinced that this is the best way for you to get the maximum enjoyment from a glass of wine!
HOW IS THE VINHOOD ACADEMY SET UP
The digital course is entirely held on the Zoom platform where participants will have face-to-face lessons live with our sommeliers: Daniele Sironi, Master sommelier Alma Ais and Giuditta Padoan, wine expert and Fisar sommelier.
There will be five sessions of which four dedicated to lessons where one or maximum two bottles of wine will be opened and tasted together each time.
The final session is given over to a special activity!
All course participants will have the option of taking part in a WINE QUIZ, a compelling and interactive end-of-course game for testing your newly acquired knowledge, and recognizing the best course student.
The sommeliers will guide you through wine-themed games during engaging challenge quiz bouts, theatrical improvisations, and many other activities where you will be able to show off your new skills! In short, it is going to be the most fun test you have ever taken.
CALENDAR
- LESSON 1: Wednesday, June 10 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm “The #Carattere (#Character) white wines”
- LESSON 2: Wednesday, June 17 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm “Are you #Saggio or #Rilassato (#Sage or #Laidback)? Let’s discover red wines”
- LESSON 3: Wednesday, June 24 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm “Look at the bubbles! The #Caratteri (#Characters) of sparkling wines”
- LESSON 4: Wednesday, July 1 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm “Dulcis in fundo: get to know #Affettuosi (#Affectionate) wines”
- WINE QUIZ: Wednesday, July 8 from 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm “The test was never so much fun”
WHY IT IS INNOVATIVE
For around four years, we have been working on simplifying the tasting world, believing that more direct and intuitive systems are needed to communicate wine and other products like coffee, liqueurs, and beer.
We created a new way of classifying and talking about wine that dispenses with using technical jargon but rather focuses on simple taste-related language. This is how our #Caratteri (#Characters) originated.
We have identified a universe of 14 #Caratteri (#Characters), within which we can classify all wines, both Italian and foreign, white, red, sparkling, and sweet.
The #Caratteri (#Characters) were selected with wine attributes in mind, the sensations that wines may arouse, and the potential ideal time for drinking them.
Each #Carattere (#Character) corresponds to a group of wines classified using an adjective that describes a human trait.
Why choose this approach? The #Caratteri (#Characters) allows a wine to be described in minimal terms while conveying an idea about the taste of a bottle even before actually tasting it. And without needing to be an expert.
In addition, we believe that wine is sharing and passion before being a beverage and this is the reason we enjoy passing on our know-how and enthusiasm, exploiting game techniques also used in adult teaching systems.
WHAT WILL YOU LEARN
During the course, you will learn to understand what lies behind a bottle and you will be able to decipher the taste, creating the best accompaniments for your recipes.
You will have an overview of wines and the most important growing areas in Italy and you will gain an understanding of how climatic factors influence the taste of different wines.
But, above all, you will learn to taste wine in a totally new way, making the experience more empathetic and fun by using our #Caratteri (#Characters)!
WHO THE COURSE IS FOR
The course has been created for wine lovers who are looking to approach this world in both a fun and educational way.
People who want to know what lies behind a label and learn how to appreciate a lot more than just the beverage they are drinking.
But the course will also appeal to people who are curious to discover our innovative learning system approach, sector professionals, and operators who would like to discover a new language and method for communicating wine to their customers.
WHAT THE VINHOOD ACADEMY INCLUDES
A six-bottle, 0.75 l wine box featuring wines from Italian winemakers selected by our sommeliers
- 5 sessions on Zoom, each lasting 90 minutes:
○ 4 face-to-face lessons with a Sommelier and Wine Expert during which 1-2 wines will be tasted per lesson
○ 1 Wine Quiz, a compelling and interactive end-of-course game for testing newly acquired knowledge and recognizing the best course student
- Sharing of slides and tasting sheets discussed during the lessons
- 4 multiple-choice tests that will be shared at the end of each session
- Course Attendance Certificate issued at the end of the course
COST
A special launch course price is being offered at €150.00 instead of €200.00!
In addition, we have also created a promotion for couples: the second person only pays €80 difference and you get to share the wine box!
Friday, May 29th is the last day for enrolling!
HURRY UP AND ENROLL. THERE ARE ONLY 30 PLACES AVAILABLE!
Tastings over time: when sipping becomes an opportunity to uncover exceptional vintages, anecdotes, and a wealth of passion.
Not all of us are sommeliers, but with a few tricks, wine bottles will have no more secrets.
Recent months have been a nightmare for many Italians and it is important not to forget the efforts we made. However, we want to focus on the positive vibe that is part of Phase 2, by recalling the best wine projects and events that came out of those dark months. And, of course, we have some news too!