Taste and Talk All Things Wine at This Dublin Wine Appreciation Course
Love wine and want to know more about this fascinating tipple?
Join Castleknock Community College for an 8-week wine appreciation course where you will dive into the world of wine, learning about world-renowned regions, popular grape varieties and how to choose wine when shopping or in a restaurant. Each week you will taste wines from around the world, learning the stories behind the labels, and how to pair your favourite bottles with food.
The course begins on the 25th of September and will run each Wednesday from 19.00 – 21.00 for 8 weeks.
Perhaps you’re a wine drinker who wants to expand your knowledge or a wine novice who doesn’t know their Chablis from a Sancerre, this course is the perfect way to flex your wine-tasting skills. Here you will learn about wine in a fun and engaging way- no wine snobbery here! Wine is for everyone, and it should be enjoyed and savoured without any intimidation. After this course, you will be able to pick out the perfect present for friends, choose the best bottle for family gatherings and showcase your wine-tasting skills like a sommelier.
Week 1–An introduction to everything wine! Explore how red wine is made versus white wine, discover the differences between Champagne and Prosecco, learn the most popular grape varieties and how to taste like a pro.
Week 2–Discovering France
Week 3–Exploring Italy, Spain, & Portugal
Week 4–A trip around the rest of Europe
Week 5–Uncovering The New World
Week 6–Hidden Gems– Grapes and countries to watch
Week 7–Sparkling Wines of the World
Week 8- Sweet wines and course recap
Enrol now at this link https://castleknockcc.ie/adult-education/
Course materials included. Not included: wine glasses- you can purchase a set of ISO wine-tasting glasses, or simply bring two wine glasses from home. Each week you will be invited to bring everyday food items you’ll find in your home and learn how to pair them with the wines tasted.
Your host for this course is wine specialist Sinéad Smyth, a Dublin native who works as a freelance wine consultant. She holds a WSET Level 3 in Wine, a Spanish Wine Specialist Diploma and a Cheese Academy Level 1 certification. Sinéad is the chairperson of Wine Spirit Women, a grassroots organisation that aims to strengthen women's voices in the drinks trade through education and mentorship. Wine Spirit Women was founded in 2019 by Lynne Coyle, Master of Wine and Justine McGovern, joint trade director of the California Wine Institute UK and Ireland. After inviting Sinéad to join the committee, the founders asked her to take on the responsibility of running the organisation.
Her food and travel writing background has allowed her to meet and work with some of the industry's top chefs, producers, and professionals. After embarking on her WSET course in 2019 she realised her passion for all things wine and decided on a career in the drinks industry. Her favourite thing about working in wine is the fascinating people she meets, learning the stories behind the bottles and the network of inspiring people she now calls friends. Sinéad holds a BA in Culinary Arts from TU Dublin, where she wrote her thesis on Botrytis cinerea and its role in sweet winemaking. She holds an MSc in Insight and Innovation from DCU, where she was a part of Bord Bia’s talent programme, and her thesis subject was sustainability and innovation in winemaking.
In 2022 Sinéad was awarded a scholarship to attend the MAD Academy in Copenhagen, where she completed their Environment and Sustainability programme. The MAD Academy is a school founded by 3 Michelin star restaurant Noma founder René Redzepi to train hospitality professionals worldwide. This past June she was invited to attend the prestigious Champagne Academy 2024 in France, where she spent a week in the region learning about all things Champagne. Sinéad is also one of the Irish Times 50 people to watch in 2024 and was listed in Char Magazines “10 Female Innovators Leading Dublin’s Food Scene”.
Connect with Sinéad on Instagram.