Course Information
Why Choose the Italian Wine School?
The Italian Wine School offers the Italian Wine Maestro course. The only global Italian Wine course operated by Certified Educators and Ambassador having qualified through the rigorous Vinitaly International Academy program.
This course will guide students through the tricky world of Italian native grape varieties and regions that are fundamental to understanding and enjoying Italy’s complex and fascinating wines. Theory classes will be complemented by guided tasting sessions, to give the best possible understanding of the fantastic country and it’s wines.
Lead by charismatic and passionate VIA Educator Stefano Campanini, this course is the ideal next step on your journey into Italian wine.
Who Is This Course For?
This course is suitable not only for those working in the wine industry as sommeliers, buyers and educators, but also for the Italian wine enthusiast. Whilst it is rigorous in its approach, it also aims to be enjoyable and pass on our enthusiasm.
The complete course consists of 24 hours of lessons and tastings and is divided in 8 sessions of 3 hours each. At the end of the course, the students will have a deep and complete understanding of Italian wines.
What is Italian Wine Maestro?
Italian Wine Maestro is a course offered around the world by Certified Educators who have qualified through the Vinitaly Internatational Academy Education Programme. These Educators must also first be an Italian Wine Ambassador, and therefore you are being taught by an elite group of educators who really know their stuff!
The Italian Wine Maestro course offered by the Italian Wine School provides a scientific focus on the native grapes of Italy and the regions with which they are associated. Each session is designed to explore the wines and regions of Italy in a logical structure, and is aided by guided tastings using benchmark wines.
Following the course students will take the Italian Wine Maestro Exam, and if successful will be designated with the title “Italian Wine Maestro.”
The Sessions Are Divided In:
Session 1: Introduction, families and groups & focus on Italian sparkling
Session 2: Piedmont’s native grapes
Session 3: Native grapes of Veneto & Valle d’Aosta
Session 4: Native grapes of Friuli-Venezia Giulia & Trentino-Alto Adige
Session 5: Native grapes of Liguria, Emilia-Romagna, Tuscany & Umbria
Session 6: Native grapes of Le Marche, Abruzzo & Puglia
Session 7: Native grapes of Lazio, Campania & Calabria
Session 8: Native grapes of Sicily & Sardegna
The sessions are complemented by the wine tastings, led by our instructors as well as some of the producers and the representatives of the leading appellations.
During the classes, we will taste over 85 wines, exclusively chosen from the most important producers of each and every region and we will taste some of the highest scoring wines.
How Is It Assessed?
At the completion of the Italian Wine Maestro program, students will take a written exam consisting of 50 questions in one hour. There will also be a tasting component consisting of one white and one red wine in 20 minutes.
Students who achieve a score of 75% or higher will be granted the Italian Wine Maestro certificate.
Levels Of Certification
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Italian Wine Maestro
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Italian Wine Ambassador
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Italian Wine Expert (VIA’S highest qualification level).
Course Study Materials
Required Texts
Stevie Kim, Geralyn Brostrom, Lingzi He, Michele Longo, Michaela Morris, and JC Viens. Italian Wine Unplugged Grape by Grape. Positive Press, 2017
Attilio Scienza and Serena Imazio, Sangiovese, Lambrusco and other vine stories, Positive Press, 2019
Strongly Recommended Texts
Ian D’Agata, Native Grapes of Italy, University of California Press, 2014
Additional Useful Resources
Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Maestro Certification Course Study Guide and Syllabus
