-
Pages
-
Categories
-
Archives
- December 2024
- November 2024
- October 2024
- September 2024
- August 2024
- July 2024
- June 2024
- March 2024
- February 2024
- November 2023
- May 2023
- January 2023
- October 2022
- July 2022
- May 2022
- February 2022
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
- August 2008
- July 2008
- June 2008
- May 2008
- April 2008
- March 2008
- February 2008
- January 2008
California Wine Appellation Specialist CWAS Course
I have had my share of wine classes. The first class I took was a tasting class through the local community college. At the time the class was a bit intimidating. Then I took the intermediate level of the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. These classes I would group in the social sciences. I switched disciplines for two online winemaking courses I took through Washington State University. I believe what made those classes valuable was the wine I was making at Vint Hill Craft Winery in Vint Hill, Virginia. I was able to utilize what was taught in the class in the lab and winery.
It has been awhile since I took a formal wine class in either the math/sciences or social sciences disciplines. I was invited to take the California Wine Appellation Specialist CWAS course offered through the San Francisco Wine School. Since I live in Maryland, I took the ten week online version of the class. A decade ago I taught online classes at Towson University. I wish that then, I had the use of Canvas, the online platform that this wine course is using. As an online class, the Canvas portal makes everything easy to use and is user friendly.
Homework Roederer Estates Brut (Mendocino County) vs. Mumm Napa Brut (Napa Valley)
Class Structure
Of the ten classes that make up the course, eight are content classes that focus on different wine regions of California and their appellations and sub-appellations. The first class is an orientation class that focuses on the wine tasting method, general information about California wine and wine law. The tenth class is the final exam.
The class content is made available on Canvas (via the Internet) on Monday. You have a week to complete the class, however one assignment is due on Wednesday. It is expected that you will spend several hours per week on the class. I’ve been spending about eight hours, in part because I find the discussions so interesting that I check back daily to read what others in the class have written.
My first task on Monday is to read the announcement the instructor made. I then read the discussion assignment that is due on Wednesday. I usually work on that on Monday and post it in the discussion area of Canvas on Monday. Throughout the week I read what others have posted and comment at times. We are required to make two comments during the week.
For one homework assignment I opened the 40th Anniversary of Caymus Cabernet Sauvignon.
I then read the wine assignment. For each of the eight content classes there is a requirement to taste two wines from the region studied. Our instructor varies what we are to do. I had to evaluate the wines for one week, compare the wines to previous wines on another week, discuss how easy/difficult it was to find wines in a local wine store during one week and another week made a video convincing people to buy the wines. After I figured out what to do about getting the wines, I make a journey to my wine cellar, local wine store or Total Wine a bit of a longer trek.
My next task is to view the week’s objectives and the presentation that covers the content for the week. I make flash cards to quiz myself on the content; can use them in the future for a California wine party. I finish the week taking the quiz. I’ll add additional flash cards if there is a quiz question that I did not have a flash card about. This rarely happened. My first quiz took me over ten minutes, subsequent quizzes have been in the five-minute time frame.
Opinion of the Class
This class is fun. Perhaps this is due to the homework. How many opportunities is there to have homework that requires you to taste wine? I also like the discussions. This particular course session has several media people in it and discussions are often lively and always interesting. Of course it does help that I have visited five of the eight wine regions that are covered in the course content. Wine travel is a road that leads to wine knowledge. The quizzes reflect the objectives. This is educationally sound. The final WSET exam that I took was disconnected to the book and course content, not a good educational practice.
Recommendations
Our instructor gives our wine assignment on Mondays. I wish I had all the wine assignments at the beginning of the course. It would be easier to select the wines at one or two times rather than making a trip to a wine shop every week. I went to a Costco in Santa Maria while I was in Santa Barbara County this week. They had a good selection of Santa Barbara County wines from different appellations. Since I do not know the particular wine assignment when we learn about that region, I did not pick up any of the Santa Barbara County wines. Our Costco stores in Maryland do not sell alcohol so that resource is lost.
I enjoy making the flash cards. It would seem to be a good resource to provide a text document of the flash card questions/answers and have the students print them. That way they are definitely covering what you want them to learn.
If you like California wine, work in a wine shop or restaurant that sells California wine or are just interested in wine, this course is for you. The structure is well thought out, the discussions are entertaining and informative and homework is delightful. Find out more information about the course at the San Francisco Wine School. The next session begins on August 4th with orientation beginning July 28th.
Cheers,
Terry