Wine 101 Foundation

with Natalie Breaux

We’ve designed the Wine 101 Foundation Online course to provide you with a comprehensive introduction to wine. Your instructor Natalie Breaux will share her experience as a Certified Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator to help you gain more in-depth knowledge of all aspects of wine. Throughout this course, you will come to understand why a wine tastes the way it does as you learn about how the major grape varieties, wine regions, and winemaking processes shape a wine’s character. And, maybe most importantly, you will be given the tools to become a better wine taster and learn how to pair wine with food more effortlessly. 

This course is divided into 4 main modules and is designed to build your foundation of wine knowledge as you progress. (see the course outline below)

Whether you are already acquainted with wine or have just been bitten by the ‘wine bug’ and are eager to learn more, this course will deepen your appreciation for wine while giving you a broader perspective and an expanded vocabulary. After successfully completing this course you will be able to select, store, and enjoy wine with greater confidence and ease. Who knows you might even want to continue your wine education journey and think about a career in wine.

Please note your course starts immediately upon enrollment and you will have 6-months of course access.

Check out the outline below for an overview of the course curriculum.

Key details about the Wine 101 Foundation online course:

  • 100% Online
  • Self-Paced
  • 24/7 Availability
  • 6-months of access from the time of registration
  • Start your course anytime 
  • PC & Mac Compatible
  • Android & iOS Friendly

Course curriculum

  • 1
    GETTING STARTED
  • 2
    1 | INTRODUCTION TO WINE
  • 3
    2 | THE INFLUENCE OF SITE, GRAPE VARIETIES, & WINEMAKING
    • Introduction
    • 2.1 | The Influence of Site
    • 2.2 | The Influence of Grape Variety
    • 2.3 | The Influence of Winemaking
    • Review & Quiz
  • 4
    3 | THE PRINCIPLES OF WINE REGIONS OF THE WORLD
    • Introduction
    • 3.1 | Wine Labels
    • 3.2 | Old World
    • 3.3 | New World
    • Old World vs. New World - Handout
    • Module 3 | Review & Quiz
  • 5
    4 | WINE TASTING, STORING, SERVING, AND PAIRING
    • Introduction
    • 4.1 | Tasting Wine
    • 4.2 | Proper Storing & Serving Techniques
    • 4.3 | Wine Pairing Basics
    • 4.4 | Ordering Wine
    • Module 4 | Review & Quiz
  • 6
    WRAP-UP
    • Course Review
    • Feedback
    • Wine 101 Final Exam

Testimonials

Julio Martinez

Excellent!

Julio Martinez

Thank you. I enrolled into Wine 101 couple of months ago and so far the experience has been fascinating and thrilling. Moreover, today Saturday July 27 I participated at my first ever wine tasting at Camp Humphreys Army Post South Korea. The experience was breathtaking not only for the selection but for the fact that I was able tp speak with confidence about the texture, style, regions, etc of each wine that was assigned to me. Even though I haven’t finished my course in its entirety; but with just two modules I was able to explain the flavors of the regions, styles of grapes, proper pronunciation, difference between regions, flavors and other details. This is all thank to your wonderful modules of teaching. I find the new system unique, very useful and best of all fun. Our next events are to be set in September at Osan AFB and Yongsan AB respectively. I cannot wait to finish my modules and bring more to the table so that customers can appreciate the story behind every grape that makes up this great beverage.
John P.

Wonderful Experience

John P.

This course was a wonderful experience and I wanted to thank you! I spent half of my life in fine dining starting as a waiter, and moving all the way up to Restaurant Manager in a 3-star restaurant in Vail, CO. I left that life and went into food sales, and currently in retail. In March, I turned 50 and told my wife “I need a change.” I want to go into Wine.

Great resourceSarah M.

Thank you very much for creating this course! This has helped me figure out that I do, in fact, wish to continue with my wine education. Very informative and a great resource for anyone dipping their toes into the world of wine!

About the Instructor

Natalie Breaux, Certified Wine Educator

‘Nat’, as her friends call her, has always had a passion for writing, editing, and teaching. She has been fortunate enough to work on projects for Jancis Robinson MW, Tom Stevenson, The Society of Wine Educators, and The Sommelier (now SOMM) Journal. Natalie passed the Master of Wine practical exams in 2017 on her first try, and subsequently passed the theory portion of the Master of Wine exam in 2018; she is currently working on her research paper to complete the MW certification. Natalie is also a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and a Certified Wine Educator through the Society of Wine Educators; she earned the prestigious Banfi Award for achieving the highest score in her cohort when she passed the CWE exam on her first attempt. When she isn’t obsessing about wine, you can find Nat creating in her kitchen, relaxing in her garden, or watching tennis with her wine nerd husband, Nathan.

Natalie Breaux was born in Cajun country and spent her formative years in various locations throughout the southern United States. Fresh out of culinary school she moved to Denver in 2004 and took an interim job stocking shelves at a wine shop. She quickly rose up the ranks and became wine manager in less than a year. Since then, her aptitude and passion for wine and food have guided her in roles as wine director for an iconic farm-to-table restaurant, as adjunct beverage instructor for Johnson & Wales University, and now as a key instructor for Napa Valley Wine Academy.

Why you will LOVE taking this online certification class!

Receiving recognition is a pivotal moment for you. Once you have successfully passed the exam we will send you your certificate and badges.

  • Digital Certificate

    Our digital certificate and badges are designed so you can share your achievement with a single click. You can share to 100+ social media platforms, and it's easy to add your achievement to LinkedIn.

  • Share Your Success

    Any digital certificates can easily be saved as a PDF with all of your certificate information in place. You can print your achievement and hang it on your wall if you really miss having a traditional paper certificate.

  • Build Your Reputation

    You can even embed your digital certificates and badges into your email signatures or website to share your achievements with their colleagues and clients.

Your certification your way

you control where, when, and how to share your success

Each certificate is protected by blockchain, meaning that you are protected from anyone fraudulently copying your certificate and entering their name. After all, you worked hard for it!
Get Started Now
Your certification your way

FAQ

  • Is there a book with the course?

    No, the course is entirely online. However, you have access for six months, and there are downloadable elements in the course that are yours to keep.

  • Is there any wine tasting involved?

    Tasting the wines during the course is a great way to get the full measure of the course material, but it is not required. There is no tasting component to the final exam.

  • What is the final exam like and what do I get if I pass?

    At the end of the course, there is an optional final exam. The exam is taken online at your convenience. There is no additional cost for this exam. Students who pass the exam will earn a badge and certificate of completion. Most importantly, after completing the course, you will be able to select, store, and enjoy wine with greater confidence and ease.

  • How does this course complement other wine courses?

    This is a great jumping off point for your wine education journey and will set you up for success for many of our other online courses.