WSET Diploma Dry Tasting Workshops via Zoom Join Certified Educators Andrew Shelly DipWSET and Elizma Myburgh Venter DipWSET - Weinakademiker as they guide you through the complexities of the WSET Diploma tasting exams. Format Andrew and Elizma have developed a series of exercises specifically for Diploma students, designed to hone exam tech...

The WSET Discussion - Cap Classique in South Africa We were privileged to host South Africa’s leading Cap Classique rock star winemaker, Pieter Ferreira from Graham Beck Wines to talk us through all the processes of making traditional method sparkling wines. Pieter has more than 30 years experience at the very top of his field – no-one knows more a...

  Breaking News! We are delighted to announce that we will be running WSET Level 2 in Wines as an online course over the weekend 16/17th May 2020. This course will be offered live via Zoom, the online conferencing platform, with qualified lecturers taking you through all the normal materials. As with all WSET courses, the examination must be t...

  Boutique wine estate Bouchard Finlayson is delighted to announce the creation of a new scholarship enabling a wine student in South Africa to further their education by means of a Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 3 scholarship worth R13,500. Passionate believers in wine education, Bouchard Finlayson have teamed up with Africa’s...

For the past few years, the CWG have generously organized a blind tasting of their Auction wines for a few lucky journalists (I feel I hardly qualify as a journalist these days but this is clearly one of those occasions where you just ‘lick up the honey and ask no questions’). Why is a blind tasting of these wines so important? Because this is a pa...

Having completed a work placement practical at wine.co.za last year (2018) while completing her studies with the Pinotage Youth Development Academy which included completing WSET Level 1 and 2, Jamie-Lee thoroughly enjoyed working with the team and this lead to her year long learnership with wine.co.za from December last year.   When did you f...

Nic van Arde is a WSET Level 3 graduate and winemaker at Oldenburg Vineyards. Nic shares with us how his wine journey started in tasting rooms and took him around the world, including India. He also shares how his WSET training has helped him in his career.   When did the wine bug bite? I remember teasing my brother when he tried to be serious tast...

As we look back on the past year, we have so much to celebrate. From another group of amazing Pinotage Youth Development Academy graduates to two of our lecturers attending the Wine and Spirits Education Trust Educators course. In no particular order, here are six of our favourite moments from 2018.Cathy Passes Her Masters Of Wine Year 1:In June th...

My Level 3 course with The Wine Centre was held at Glen Carlou wine estate in Paarl 2015. It has been the foundation on which I have been building my knowledge of the world of wines. Passing my Level 3 propelled me into my career as a wine professional. The WSET certificate course gave me the skill set and confidence to become a sommelier at Mosaic...

Nicolò Pudel is a WSET Level 3 graduate and is currently finishing his WSET Level 4 Diploma. Nicolò shares with us how his WSET education has helped him with running online wine site Port2Port. How has your WSET education helped you with running your own online wine business?The WSET courses I took, especially Diploma which I am currently busy with...

With a career that started with a Masters in Marketing from Toulouse Business School, Cyril Meidinger, a WSET Level 4 student, tells us how he came to South Africa by accident and fell in love with the region and its wines. This then lead to him representing South Africa this year at the Blind Tasting World Championship in Beziers, Languedoc.   Wha...

With a career centered around writing, Malu Lambert, freelance writer and WSET Level 3 graduate, tells us about discovering wine as a waiter and how her interest in wine grew into a career.Tell us a bit about your journey on becoming a journalist.Since 2006 I have written features on food and wine. I was previously employed by Good Taste magazine a...

With a career deeply entrenched in the South African wine industry, Carolyn Martin, co-owner and marketing director at Creation Wines, tells us about her journey in wine and how the WSET courses have helped both her and her staff. Tell us a bit about your journey in wine.I suppose one could say that I’m ‘to the manner born’ – quite literally – as I...

With a career steeped in broadcast journalism, Guy McDonald, Breakfast Host at Magic 828 AM radio and WSET Level 2 graduate, tells us what sparked his interest in wine and how he’s incorporated his passion into his career. Tell us a bit about your journey to becoming a radio DJ.It all began with performing Puppet shows behind the washing-line for m...

The problem with the Cape Winemakers Guild, quite apart from an elusive apostrophe which grates me every time, is that as a group of people, they’re just too darned nice. You really have to taste their annual Auction releases as blind as possible so you can judge the wines without thinking ‘oh but he’s such a lovely guy’ or similar and scoring the ...

Well, what are the holidays for if not for idle speculation and random musings? This year, my thoughts have turned to world domination and I have decided to let rip about some fundamental things wrong in the world of wine. Not the product (although you can stop making those fruit flavoured wine coolers right now if you like. And the low alcohol win...

To all Johannesburg Wine Clubs In welcoming the Wine Societies to the 27th Juliet Cullinan Standard Bank Wine Festival we outline your benefits exclusively for wine club members below: The special offer for the Club members     Discounted rate of R165 to your members.  Public pay R200 online and R220 at the door.    Bookings should be co-ordinated ...

© Cape Times Friday 18th November 2016 As I write this in the wake of the American elections, I can think of no more fitting wine style to talk about than a Cape Blend. The world is still processing the implications of a Trump and Republican victory which has divided the US and polarised the rest of us. So it is with something of relief that I turn...

Japan, and especially the Katsunuma valley we were visiting, prides itself on their local grape varietals, mostly so Koshu & Muscat Bailey A. Having sampled mass-produced examples of both on the lead up to our visit, we were anticipating some more diverse offerings from the small-scale wineries on our itinerary. As a bit of history, Koshu is a ...

After the trials of planning & executing a wine tour in China (all well worth the effort in the end, however) - planning for Japan was a dream! Detailed brochures & maps of our selected area, Yamanashi, prepared just the year before by the tourism department gave us a good steer. These were supported by many suggestions & bits of advice...