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Get Wine-Smart

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Based on 1,218 ratings
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John Boyer

You can find a million books and articles, thousands of websites, and hundreds of courses on the topic of wine…and all promise to "give you a set of new skills" or "get you tasting like a wine expert" or "prepare you for the “rigors” of wine tasting" or even to train you to do a proper "sensory evaluation"…

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You can find a million books and articles, thousands of websites, and hundreds of courses on the topic of wine…and all promise to "give you a set of new skills" or "get you tasting like a wine expert" or "prepare you for the “rigors” of wine tasting" or even to train you to do a proper "sensory evaluation"…

Um…what? Taste wine like an expert? Learn how to do a proper sensory evaluation? Who the hell cares about that. What about us real people? I'm not trying to be a professional wine judge, nor a snobby wine critic, or even a master sommelier, whatever the hell that is. I just want to enjoy wine to the fullest, and be able to walk the walk, and talk the talk of wine, at least to know enough to totally diss those country-clubber types. I just want to drink this stuff and not look like a goober doing it. And I want to do it right now.

That's what Professor Boyer and this course is all about. Real talk to real people about the real deal of this most awesome beverage. This is a truly practical and tactical introduction to the enjoying and understanding wine. Wine is the beverage of moderation, of education, of socialization, and of civilization—and that is no exaggeration. A radical move from beer and hard spirits to wine is underway here in the US, and is creating a younger generation of drinkers that enjoy wine as part of their diet, social interactions, and lifestyles. And they are thirsty for the wine knowledge. Stop dipping your toe in the water, let's get wet…with wine.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Drink a wide variety of wines with confidence in all social situations
  • Think about wines critically, and express your opinions about wines confidently
  • Understand the dynamics of opening, buying, storing and serving wine
  • Instinctually recognize the major grape varieties and wine styles
  • Build a wine vocabulary which in turn heightens your senses and palate for wine
  • Master a structural approach to wine that allows you to build your wine knowledge for the rest of your life

Syllabus

An Intro to Drinking
Introduction to the Course

In this lecture you will learn about:

  • 3 Major steps in making wine
  • 3 major types of wine
  • 3 generic wine terms
Read more

In this lecture you will learn about:

  • 3 Major steps in making wine
  • 3 major types of wine
  • 3 generic wine terms

This quiz is on the intro video and wine basics part 1 & 2

This lecture is on:

  • The different sizes of wine bottles
  • The types of wine bottle enclosures
  • Box wines
  • Wine openers
  • How to open a bottle of wine

This lecture is on:

  • The different sizes of wine bottles
  • The types of wine bottle enclosures
  • Box wines
  • Wine openers
  • How to open a bottle of wine

In this lecture you will learn how to taste wine.

This lecture is on:

  • Different types of wine glass styles
  • What are decanters and how they work?
  • At what temperature should you serve wines at?
  • In which order should you serve wines?
  • How does it work when you order a bottle of wine in a restaurant?

This lecture is on:

  • Different types of wine glass styles
  • What are decanters and how they work?
  • At what temperature should you serve wines at?
  • In which order should you serve wines?
  • How does it work when you order a bottle of wine in a restaurant?

This quiz is on the lecture videos in section 2.

This lecture is on:

  • What do wines smell like?
  • How Do you build your wine smell vocabulary?
  • What is the wine wheel?

This lecture is on:

  • What do wines smell like?
  • How Do you build your wine smell vocabulary?
  • What is the wine wheel?

This lecture is on:

  • Does the color of wine matter?
  • What are you looking for in the color of wine?

The lecture is on:

  • What is a dry wine and what is a sweet wine?
  • How does sugar effect the wine flavor?
  • Styles of sweet wine

This lecture is on:

  • What are these terms Old World and New World?
  • How do they differ?
  • Old world regions vs new world wines

This lecture is on:

  • What are these terms Old World and New World?
  • How do they differ?
  • Old world regions vs new world wines

This lecture is on

  • How is a wine balanced?
  • What are the components that go into a balanced wine?
  • How does the body of wine effect the taste?

This lecture is on

  • How is a wine balanced?
  • What are the components that go into a balanced wine?
  • How does the body of wine effect the taste?

This lecture is on:

  • What are the most popular white wine grapes?
  • Where will you find them?

This lecture is on:

  • What are the most popular red wine grapes?
  • Where will you find them?

This is on the lectures in section 3.

This lecture is on:

  • How to store wine in your home
  • Where not to store wine
  • Ideas for a cellar

This lecture is on:

  • How to store wine in your home
  • Where not to store wine
  • Ideas for a cellar

This lecture is on:

  • Where to buy wine
  • What to ask for in a local wine store
  • Where to buy wine online

This lecture is on:

  • Where to buy wine
  • What to ask for in a local wine store
  • Where to buy wine online

This lecture is on:

  • Basic guide to food and wine pairing
  • How to pair white wines
  • How to pair red wines
  • Themes to pairing wine and food

This lecture is on:

  • Basic guide to food and wine pairing
  • How to pair white wines
  • How to pair red wines
  • Themes to pairing wine and food

Class wrap up

This is on the lectures in section 4.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Appropriate for total beginners to help them consume wine casually
Provides a strong foundation for consuming wine with confidence
Appropriate for seasoned wine consumers who want to develop advanced skills in describing wine

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Reviews summary

Practical and approachable wine basics

According to learners, this course provides a practical and approachable introduction to wine, ideal for those who want to enjoy wine with confidence in everyday situations. Students frequently highlight the instructor's engaging style and the course's success in demystifying wine topics like tasting, buying, and pairing. While many find it an excellent starting point for beginners and appreciate the useful, real-world tips, some reviewers note that it focuses primarily on the fundamentals and may be too basic for individuals seeking a deeper, more technical understanding of wine.
Quizzes are simple knowledge checks.
"The quizzes are very straightforward and seem designed just to confirm you watched the videos."
"Don't expect challenging assessments, the quizzes are quite easy."
"Quizzes reinforce the main points without much difficulty."
Covers basics well, not advanced topics.
"Excellent for an introduction, but it stays firmly in the realm of basics."
"If you already have some wine knowledge, you might find this course too superficial."
"This course is a great entry point, not a deep dive into winemaking or regions."
Helpful methods for tasting and describing wine.
"The structured approach to tasting wine really helped me understand what to look for."
"Building a wine vocabulary through the course material was surprisingly effective."
"Now I feel like I can actually describe what I'm tasting beyond just 'good' or 'bad'."
Perfect starting point for novices.
"As a complete beginner, this course was exactly what I needed to feel more comfortable with wine."
"Provides a solid foundation without getting bogged down in excessive detail."
"I went from knowing almost nothing to having confidence discussing and choosing wines."
Useful advice for everyday situations.
"Learned simple, practical things about opening, serving, and buying wine that I use regularly."
"The sections on how to order wine at a restaurant and pairing food were incredibly useful."
"Gave me confidence to talk about wine at social gatherings without feeling out of my depth."
Instructor makes complex topics easy.
"Professor Boyer has a great way of explaining things without being snobby or overly academic."
"Loved the instructor's engaging and down-to-earth approach."
"The teaching style makes the world of wine much less intimidating."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Get Wine-Smart with these activities:
Read "Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine" by Madeline Puckette.
Get a comprehensive overview of wine.
Show steps
  • Purchase a copy of "Wine Folly: The Essential Guide to Wine."
  • Read the book.
  • Take notes on what you learn.
Read "The Wine Bible" by Karen MacNeil.
Build a strong foundation in wine knowledge.
Show steps
  • Purchase a copy of "The Wine Bible."
  • Read the book.
  • Take notes on what you learn.
Watch videos on YouTube about wine.
Learn more about wine from experts.
Show steps
  • Search for videos on YouTube about wine.
  • Watch the videos.
  • Take notes on what you learn.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Practice opening bottles of wine.
Develop proficiency in basic wine-opening techniques.
Show steps
  • Gather your materials.
  • Open the bottle of wine.
  • Pour yourself a glass of wine.
Go out to dinner at a restaurant and order a bottle of wine.
Practice the skills you've learned in the course.
Show steps
  • Look at the wine list.
  • Ask the waiter for recommendations.
  • Order a bottle of wine.
  • Taste the wine.
Practice tasting wines.
Develop your palate and ability to identify different flavors and aromas.
Show steps
  • Pour yourself a glass of wine.
  • Swirl the wine around in your glass.
  • Smell the wine.
  • Take a sip of wine.
Become a wine sommelier.
Gain experience with wine in a professional capacity.
Show steps
  • Look into a certificate program for wine sommeliers.
  • Look into pairing wine with food.
  • Make sure you know the ins and outs of viticulture, viniculture, and vinification.
  • Try to participate in a wine tasting at an establishment or local vineyard.

Career center

Learners who complete Get Wine-Smart will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Wine Taster
Wine Tasters evaluate the quality of wine and provide feedback to winemakers. They may also be involved in developing new wine products. This course may be useful for Wine Tasters who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to evaluate wine quality.
Wine Writer
Wine Writers write about wine for magazines, newspapers, and websites. They may also host wine tastings and educational events. This course may be useful for Wine Writers who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to write about wine.
Wine Sommelier
Wine Sommeliers provide wine service and advice to customers in restaurants and other hospitality establishments. They must have a deep knowledge of wine and be able to recommend wines that will pair well with food. This course may be useful for Wine Sommeliers who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to provide advice to their customers.
Wine Steward
Wine Stewards provide wine service to customers in restaurants and other hospitality establishments. They may also be responsible for developing and managing wine lists. This course may be useful for Wine Stewards who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to provide wine service to their customers.
Wine Consultant
Wine Consultants provide advice and guidance to individuals and businesses on all aspects of wine, including selection, storage, and pairing. They may also host wine tastings and educational events. This course may be useful for Wine Consultants who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to provide advice to their clients.
Wine Educator
Wine Educators teach wine classes and workshops to individuals and groups. They may also write about wine for magazines, newspapers, and websites. This course may be useful for Wine Educators who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to teach about wine.
Wine Journalist
Wine Journalists write about wine for magazines, newspapers, and websites. They may also host wine tastings and educational events. This course may be useful for Wine Journalists who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to write about wine.
Wine Maker
Wine Makers oversee the production of wine from grapes to bottling. They must have a deep knowledge of winemaking and be able to produce wines that meet the desired quality standards. This course may be useful for Wine Makers who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to make wine.
Wine Merchant
Wine Merchants sell wine to individuals and businesses. They may also provide advice and guidance on wine selection and storage. This course may be useful for Wine Merchants who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to provide advice to their customers.
Wine Buyer
Wine Buyers purchase wine for retail stores, restaurants, and other hospitality establishments. They must have a deep knowledge of wine and be able to identify and select wines that will appeal to their customers. This course may be useful for Wine Buyers who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to select wines for their customers.
Wine Importer
Wine Importers import wine from other countries and sell it to distributors and retailers in their home country. They must have a deep knowledge of wine and be able to identify and select wines that will appeal to their customers. This course may be useful for Wine Importers who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to select wines for their customers.
Chef
Chefs prepare and cook food in restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality establishments. They may also be responsible for developing and managing menus. This course may be useful for Chefs who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to pair food and wine.
Restaurant Manager
Restaurant Managers oversee the daily operations of restaurants, including food and beverage service, customer service, and staff management. They may also be responsible for developing and managing wine lists. This course may be useful for Restaurant Managers who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to pair food and wine.
Culinary Instructor
Culinary Instructors teach students the art of cooking. They may also develop and manage culinary programs. This course may be useful for Culinary Instructors who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to pair food and wine.
Food and Beverage Manager
Food and Beverage Managers oversee the daily operations of food and beverage departments in restaurants, hotels, and other hospitality establishments. They may also be responsible for developing and managing wine lists. This course may be useful for Food and Beverage Managers who wish to expand their knowledge of wine and improve their ability to pair food and wine.

Reading list

We've selected nine books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Get Wine-Smart.
This massive book is the ultimate reference guide to wine. It covers every aspect of the wine world, from history to production to tasting. It's a must-have for any serious wine enthusiast.
This is the most comprehensive wine encyclopedia in the world. It covers everything from grape varieties to wine regions to winemaking techniques. It's an invaluable resource for anyone who wants to learn more about wine.
Comprehensive guide to the world's grape varieties. It covers everything from the history of each variety to its flavor profile to the regions where it is grown.
Beautiful and informative guide to the world of wine and food. It features maps of every major wine region, as well as information on the grapes, wines, and food of each region.
This beautiful book visual guide to the world of wine. It features maps of every major wine region, as well as information on the grapes, wines, and winemakers of each region.
This comprehensive encyclopedia of the world of wine, covering everything from grape varieties to wine regions to winemaking techniques. It's a great resource for anyone who wants to learn more about wine.
Fun and interactive way to learn about wine. It features scratch-and-sniff patches that allow you to experience the aromas of different wines.

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