Wine making and drinking is a cornerstone of civilization, an accomplishment of advanced society, a fine art mastered by the few and the dedicated. To many of us who enjoy drinking wine, the inner workings are marginally or completely lost on us. Like fine art, many of us don’t know much about wine other than what we like. Some of us are red wine drinkers, others white or rose, and for most of us, this knowledge will suffice. But for those of us who want to know more, we need to know where to start. There are many types of wine education to be had, information and knowledge about wine to be obtained whether you would like to start a vineyard, open a restaurant, become an accomplished sommelier, or simply hone your skills as an expert drinker of wines.

Many restaurants or purveyors of fine wines will offer wine tastings or wine lessons for the average drinker and these wine lessons and tastings are attended by the growers themselves, who can explain the origins of the wine, the complexity of the process from growing to bottling, and can help those of us with limited knowledge know at least enough to know what we like and why we like it. A basic wine lesson will teach you how to identify the type, age and quality of a wine by examining its color, aroma and taste.

The more avid student may want to attend wine lessons provided by a reputable wine grower or restaurant owner, and while such an endeavor will be more expensive, you as the student will gain more knowledge than the basics of wine drinking. For example, a lover of Italian wines may want to enroll in a wine lesson that includes a tour of Italy itself, allowing the student to take in the culture and heritage of the country and therefore heighten their own appreciation of the wine they love so much. A tour such as this would also be a great way to learn the basics if one was interested in growing and bottling their own wines.

For some, wine lessons are required, if one wishes to work in the restaurant or wine business, or to gain the much-desired helm of sommelier, or wine steward. In many cases, a culinary school would be the best place for one wishing to go this route, with classes or a concentration in wine serving. Otherwise, many a restaurant (especially with 4- or 5-star ratings) will provide the necessary training to turn a waiter into a well-informed server of wines to a sophisticated clientele.