Crash Course on Wine - Wine 101 from Udemy

Wine is a big deal. Join celebrity sommelier, Ryan Vet as he takes you on a journey through the basics of wine in this Wine 101 course. The United States alone consumes almost 1 billion gallons of wine a year and wine consumption is growing at a rapid rate. In this wine crash course, we tackle some of the most basic building blocks of wine and answer some of the most common questions. Whether you are just exploring the world of wine or want to be a bit more educated with a few facts about vino, this course is for you.

If you want to learn wine pairing basics or figure out which glass to use for what type of wine, this course is for you. With fast paced lectures, you will learn the top 10 thing you need to know to up your wine game in a significant way. After this course, you will be equipped with some tips and tricks to buy the best bottle for your money and impress your friends with some fancy wine terms in the process. Plus, you’ll know how to pour the right wine into the right glass.

If you already have a bit of a wine foundation or if you are pursuing a wine certification such as This Wine 101 course contains basic wine tips and insights for everyday wine consumption.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Answers to common questions about wine for the wine novice
Gain insights into picking the perfect bottle off a wine list or at the store
Understand the fundamentals of the ideal food and wine pairing
Walk away with some fancy wine vocabulary and terms to use

Learn the basics of which wine glass to use for which wine and in what settings
Increase your confidence in the exploration of new delicious wines from around the globe
Obtain the fundamental knowledge to taste wine with confidence

Answers to common questions about wine for the wine novice
Gain insights into picking the perfect bottle off a wine list or at the store
Understand the fundamentals of the ideal food and wine pairing
Walk away with some fancy wine vocabulary and terms to use
Learn the basics of which wine glass to use for which wine and in what settings
Increase your confidence in the exploration of new delicious wines from around the globe
Obtain the fundamental knowledge to taste wine with confidence

Syllabus

Learn how to expand your palate and wine knowledge with these exercises

Up your Wine Game

Introduction

Upping Your Wine Game - Regions

Test your knowledge on some wine pairing.

It is so hard to know what glassware to stock your cupboards with or which wine glass you should use to serve which wine. This lesson will help you learn the secrets.

It’s time to put all of your basic wine knowledge to the test.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Provides a foundational understanding of wine, which is helpful for those looking to explore the world of wine or enhance their existing knowledge

Explores wine pairing basics, which can be useful for hosting dinner parties or enhancing personal dining experiences

Covers wine tasting techniques, which allows learners to confidently assess and appreciate different wines

Discusses the differences between Old World and New World wines, which broadens learners' understanding of wine regions and styles

Teaches how to select wine glasses, which helps learners enhance their wine drinking experience

Explores wine storage techniques, which is useful for those starting a wine collection or wanting to preserve opened bottles

Reviews summary

Crash course on basic wine knowledge

According to learners, this course provides a clear and accessible introduction to the world of wine, making it excellent for absolute beginners or anyone looking to gain comfort with wine basics. Students appreciate the practical tips offered, particularly regarding buying wine, food pairing, and choosing the correct wine glasses. The course covers fundamental topics like tasting techniques, regions (Old vs New World), storage, and serving in a concise manner. While widely praised for its approachability, some students note that the course is strictly introductory and may lack depth for those seeking more advanced knowledge or already possessing some basic understanding. Overall, it is seen as a solid starting point for navigating everyday wine situations.

Instructor makes learning enjoyable.

"Instructor was great too."

"Ryan Vet is an engaging speaker. Made learning about regions and Old vs New World interesting."

"Enjoyed the presentation style and the instructor's enthusiasm for the topic."

Good overview of key topics.

"Covered tasting, pairing, and bottle selection nicely."

"Loved learning about the different glasses and why they matter. The storage tips were also helpful."

"Made learning about regions and Old vs New World interesting."

"Solid foundational course. Covers all the essential practical aspects like buying and serving. The tasting lesson was a good intro..."

Useful advice for real-world situations.

"The tips on picking wine at the store were gold! I feel much more confident exploring wine now."

"Found the pairing section particularly helpful. Also appreciated the segment on serving temperature."

"I learned how to choose the right bottle without feeling overwhelmed and picked up useful tricks for food pairing."

"Provides useful advice for everyday wine consumption, from buying to serving."

Excellent starting point for novices.

"Fantastic intro! As a complete novice, I felt totally lost about wine. This course broke everything down into easy-to-understand chunks."

"This course is perfect for anyone who feels intimidated by wine and wants a straightforward, friendly introduction."

"Everything was explained simply and clearly, making complex topics approachable even for someone with zero prior knowledge."

"Didn't feel overwhelmed at all; the pace and clarity were perfect for getting my feet wet in the world of vino."

Focuses only on fundamental concepts.

"It's definitely Wine 101, so don't expect deep dives..."

"Okay course. It covers the absolute basics but felt a bit too surface-level for me."

"Too basic. I was hoping for a bit more depth, maybe on specific varietals or regions beyond the very general."

"Good starting point but definitely needs supplementing if you want to learn more than the bare minimum."

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 Crash Course on Wine - Wine 101 with these activities:

Review Wine Regions

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Strengthen your understanding of key wine regions before diving into the course. Knowing the major wine regions will help you understand the nuances of different wines.

Browse courses on Wine Regions

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Identify the major wine regions of the world.
Research the climate and soil of each region.
Note the primary grape varietals grown in each region.

Read 'Wine Folly: Magnum Edition'

Show steps

Supplement your learning with a comprehensive guide to wine. This book will provide a solid foundation for understanding the course material.

View Wine Folly: Magnum Edition on Amazon

Show steps

Read the sections on grape varietals and wine regions.
Review the tasting techniques described in the book.
Take notes on key concepts and terms.

Wine Varietal Identification

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Practice identifying different wine varietals to improve your palate. This will help you better understand the nuances of different wines and improve your tasting skills.

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Gather a selection of wines from different varietals.
Blind taste each wine and try to identify the varietal.
Compare your notes with the wine labels.

Four other activities

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Wine Tasting Notes

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Create a wine tasting journal to document your experiences. This will help you develop your palate and improve your ability to describe wines.

Show steps

Purchase a notebook or create a digital document.
Taste different wines and record your observations.
Include details such as aroma, flavor, and finish.

Explore 'The World Atlas of Wine'

Show steps

Deepen your understanding of wine regions with a detailed atlas. This will help you visualize the geography and terroir of different wines.

View Hugh Johnson's Pocket Wine Book 2026 on Amazon

Show steps

Browse the maps of different wine regions.
Read the descriptions of the climate and soil in each region.
Note the key grape varietals grown in each region.

Create a Wine Pairing Guide

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Solidify your knowledge of wine pairing by creating your own guide. This will help you apply the principles learned in the course and develop your own recommendations.

Show steps

Research different food and wine pairings.
Experiment with different combinations.
Document your findings in a guide.

Wine Presentation

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Prepare a presentation on a specific wine region or varietal. This will help you consolidate your knowledge and share it with others.

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Choose a wine region or varietal to focus on.
Research the history, climate, and key characteristics.
Create a presentation with visuals and tasting notes.
Present your findings to friends or family.

Career center

Learners who complete Crash Course on Wine - Wine 101 will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Sommelier

A sommelier is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, typically working in fine dining restaurants, and is responsible for all aspects of wine service including curating wine lists, pairing wines with food, and guiding guests through the wine selection process. This course can help someone looking to become a sommelier by providing a foundation in tasting, serving, and pairing wine, as well as differentiating between Old World and New World wines. A sommelier is expected to have a strong vocabulary of wine terms, and this course provides that. Additionally, the lessons on how to pick out a bottle of wine for the best value may be useful for building the wine list.

See salaries and explore the career path for Sommelier

Wine Sales Representative

A wine sales representative works with distributors or wineries to sell their products to retail stores and restaurants. This role requires an extensive understanding of different wines, including their tasting notes, regions, and pairings with food. This course provides a foundational knowledge that a wine sales representative can use to speak confidently about their portfolio, and to make informed recommendations about wines to their clients. The wine tasting lessons in this course will help a wine sales representative describe the nuanced differences between wines.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wine Sales Representative

Restaurant Manager

A restaurant manager is in charge of the day-to-day operations of a restaurant, including the management of staff, inventory, and customer service. Often, a manager is responsible for curating the restaurant's wine list and ensuring that servers know how to present and serve the wine properly. The wine pairing and wine storage portions of this course can be put to use directly by a restaurant manager. The ability to speak eloquently about wine, as this course intends to teach, may help in training servers to offer the best experience.

See salaries and explore the career path for Restaurant Manager

Beverage Director

The beverage director or beverage manager is responsible for overseeing all aspects of a restaurant's beverage program, including wine, beer, and spirits. This involves creating drink menus, training staff, and managing inventory. A beverage director should have an excellent knowledge of wine, including regions, varietals, and food pairings. This course may be helpful for a beverage director who wishes to increase their knowledge of wine fundamentals. The lessons in this course on tasting, storing, and serving wine may provide valuable insights.

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Food and Beverage Writer

A food and beverage writer creates content focused on culinary arts and hospitality, either for publication in magazines, newspapers, websites, or blogs. This kind of writer will often discuss wine trends, conduct restaurant reviews, or provide advice on wine pairings and selections. This course may be helpful for a food and beverage writer to build a foundation in wine, and to learn new vocabulary and to increase their confidence. Because they should have some knowledge of proper wine tasting, the exercises in this course might offer insights.

See salaries and explore the career path for Food and Beverage Writer

Wine Educator

A wine educator teaches others about wine, perhaps in a formal setting like a school or at informal tastings. This role requires both deep knowledge of wine and the ability to teach concepts to others. This course may be useful for laying the groundwork to becoming a wine educator. The ability to answer common questions about wine, the emphasis on learning vocabulary and terms, and the basics of wine tasting are all useful to a wine educator. This course helps establish confidence in talking about wine.

See salaries and explore the career path for Wine Educator

Event Planner

An event planner is responsible for organizing and coordinating a variety of events, including weddings, corporate functions, and private parties. A good event planner has some knowledge about the best ways to serve food and wine at such events. An event planner may benefit from this course in order to select the appropriate wines for events based upon the particular foods being served. A course like this is especially helpful for the lessons it provides about selecting wine glasses and serving wine.

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Catering Manager

The catering manager is responsible for overseeing the planning, preparation, and execution of food and beverage services for events, parties, and other occasions. This may involve selecting wine pairings for menu items, as well as ensuring the appropriate glasses are available. A catering manager may find this course useful in selecting wines and ensuring that they pair well with the food served, and to learn best practices for serving wine. The wine storage methods covered might come in handy as well.

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Tour Guide

A tour guide leads groups of people on tours of various attractions, which can include wineries or vineyards. A tour guide who can speak about wine and winemaking practices may be able to lead a more engaging and informative tour. This course may be useful in developing the vocabulary needed to speak with confidence about wine. Specifically, the lessons about wine regions and the differences between Old World and New World wines are important for this role. Also, knowing basic wine etiquette will help.

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Food Stylist

A food stylist is responsible for the visual presentation of food and beverages in photographs, videos, or other visual media. They work with photographers, chefs, and production teams to create appealing compositions. Food stylists should know proper wine etiquette. This course may be useful for learning about proper wine serving techniques, which can inform the way that wine is displayed in their work. The lessons about different varietals may also help them coordinate the visual appearance of the wine with other elements.

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Chef

A chef is responsible for planning and creating menus, preparing food, and managing kitchen staff in restaurants or other food service establishments. Chefs should be knowledgeable about wine pairings and how they can enhance the dining experience. This course may be useful for expanding a chef's knowledge of how different flavors work together. The lessons about wine storage and choosing varietals may also help a chef curate a more appealing menu. This course may help them to better work with a sommelier or wine staff.

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Bartender

A bartender prepares and serves alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages in bars, restaurants, and other establishments. While bartenders are more often associated with cocktails, many also serve wine and should know the basics of wine service. This course may be useful for bartenders who want to expand their knowledge of wine, especially the selection of appropriate wine glassware and wine pairings. The section on wine regions may provide useful background on the wines they are serving.

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Travel Agent

A travel agent helps clients plan and book travel itineraries, including flights, accommodations, and activities. A travel agent who has some knowledge of wine may be better equipped to recommend wine-focused tours, or advise clients about wineries in a travel destination. This course may be useful in helping a travel agent to offer more options, including locations known for particular varietals, and tours that focus on wine tasting. This course can help them understand their customers' needs.

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Brand Ambassador

A brand ambassador represents a particular brand, building awareness and promoting products to potential clients. A brand ambassador who works for a wine company should be able to answer common questions about the wine and speak confidently about its terroir and history. This course may be useful to a brand ambassador who is new to wine and needs a foundation in its basic principles. The wine tasting and wine vocabulary portions of this course will be quite valuable in that regard.

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Food Blogger

A food blogger creates content about food and recipes, often sharing their personal experiences and recommendations with their followers. This role requires some understanding of how flavors work together. A food blogger may find that this course helps to improve their ability to pair food with wine and to provide better recommendations to their followers. The vocabulary and wine tasting lessons offered in this course may be useful for anyone who wishes to write about food and wine pairings.

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Crash Course on Wine - Wine 101

What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Crash course on basic wine knowledge

Activities

Career center

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