Capstone California

Melbourne Wine School in collaboration with Capstone California uncorks the secrets of The USA's largest wine producing region.

Discover the rich history and diverse flavours of some of America’s finest wines with the Capstone California courses, taught by Melbourne Wine School and now available in Melbourne for the first time.

The California Wine Institute

Capstone California offers four levels of knowledge, from novice (no wine knowledge required) to expert.

Each level builds upon the previous one and covers history, geography, climate, soils, grapes, viticulture, vinification, aging/maturation, wine law, official classifications, terminology, producers, vintages and the business of wine.

Capstone California's goal is to create an accessible course for as wine enthusiasts and professionals as possible all over the globe!

Course Details and Information

Who is the California Wine Institute?

Wine Institute (WI), established in 1934, is the leading advocate for the California wine industry. Founded shortly after the repeal of Prohibition with just 42 members, WI is now an association of over 1,000 California wineries and wine-related businesses that initiate and advocate public policy. 

Notable recent successes include: opening up most states for direct-to-consumer wine shipments, creating the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance and growing California wine exports. Underlying all WI activities is the need to educate both the trade and the public at large. This website and companion certification program are part of that long-standing educational mission.

Description

The Capstone California Level 1 is an introductory wine course about the wines of California and no previous knowledge is required.

What's Included?

This 3(ish) hour relaxed session includes the history, wine styles and grape varieties and culture of California with each class including a tasting of premium Californian wines.

Syllabus

• Major eras in the history of California wine, including the Mission era, post-Gold Rush, Prohibition, and modern times.
• Learn how California's geography, the Pacific Ocean, and mountain ranges affect viticulture and wine styles.
• Acquire fundamental knowledge of grape-growing practices, including the ability to identify and describe the important grape varieties grown in California.
• Receive an introduction to the American Viticultural Area (AVA) system, including the world-famous AVAs of Napa Valley, Sonoma County, and Santa Barbara County.
• Explore California's iconic wineries.
• Learn about the key statistics for California wine in global production, consumption, and exports.

Certification & Exam

Theory Examination, 50 multiple-choice questions

Passing grade: 60%

Entry Requirements

All attendees must be at least 18 years of age.

There are no other requirements for this course.