Wine Knowledge
- Types of Alcoholic Beverage
- Wine Making Process
- Tasting & Evaluating Wines
- Must Know Fun Factors About Wine
- Monthly Wine Blog
- Wine Courses
Wine
Spirits
Sake
What should I do with my unfinished half bottle of wine?
Wines get oxidized easily with oxygen. When you have any glassware that is around 375ml, you could pour the remaining wine into the glass bottle, seal it and chuck it into the fridge. The wine can keep for another 2-3 days.
What is a "Corked" wine?
Remember the 4 steps of wine tasting? A cork wine will smell like wet carpet, wet cardboard or mouldy. In the wine world, these cork-taint is caused by a fungal metabolite of 2-4-6 Trichloroanisole. The effect of these cork-taint will mute the fruity aromas and gives a mouldy and wet carpet liked smell to the wine.
Is Serving temperature important for all wines?
Temperature is particularly important to the balance of the wine. The sweetness of the wine will be enhanced by warmer temperature as our tongue perceive sweetness better at warmer temperature; the heat sensation of alcohol will be further enhanced by warming up the wine such as the big Zinfandel or Gewurztraminer. On the other hand , a big, full-bodied red wine will taste more “elegant” when it is served at the relevant temperature compared to a slightly warmer temperature say 28 or 30 degrees Celsius. Therefore it is highly recommended that to serve our wine at the best temperature.
WSET Level 1: Award in Wines (QCF)
This qualification was initially created for the front-of-house staff within the on-trade sector. It has grown into a course with global appeal, providing basic product knowledge to first time employees in the wine industry and the interested consumer alike.
Programme Outline
- The main styles of wine
- The WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine
- The characteristics of the common grape varieties used to produce wine
- Service of wine
- Health, safety and legal issues
- The pairing of food and wine
- To gain the qualification students need to successfully pass a multiple-choice paper of 30 questions
WSET Level 1: Award in Wine Service
This qualification provides an introduction to front line staff wishing to gain basic wine service skills. It can be seen as a quick way to cover the basics for wine service and is ideal for people preparing for their first job in wine service, or those wishing to make a transition to wine service. Please note that to gain this qualification students must also successfully pass the Level 1 Award in Wines or the Level 2 or 3 Award in Wines & Spirits.
Programme Outline
- Introduction to sommellerie
- Key elements to enhance customer service
- How to correctly care for and handle equipment for wine service
- How to serve wines
- How to store wines
- To gain the qualification students are assessed by a role-play exercise
WSET Level 1: Award in Spirits (QCF)
This qualification aims to provide the basic product knowledge and skills in the service of spirits to help prepare a person for their first job in hospitality or in other sectors of the spirits industry. This course may also appeal to the interested spirits consumer.
Programme Outline
- The main categories of spirits
- Process of distillation
- Factors affecting the flavour of spirits
- The WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting Spirits
- Health, safety and legal issues
- Service and sales of spirits
- To gain the qualification students need to successfully pass a multiple choice paper of 30 questions
WSET Level 2: Award in Wines and Spirits (QCF)
This qualification is popular with wine and spirit employees and will give students excellent all-round product knowledge. The course is also suitable for the interested consumer.
Programme Outline
- How wine is made and other factors influencing the style of wine
- Key white grape varieties
- Key black grape varieties
- Wine-producing regions of the world
- Sparkling wines
- Sweet wines and fortified wines
- Spirits and liqueurs
- Label terminology
- Food and wine pairing
- The WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine
- To gain the qualification students need to pass a multiple-choice paper of 50 questions
WSET Level 2: Award in Spirits (QCF)
This qualification underpins the skills needed in all areas of the spirit trade – customer service, hospitality, retail and wholesale. The course is also appropriate for students who are not employed in the drinks industry and wish to broaden their knowledge of spirits in a structured way.
Programme Outline
- The Spirits market
- Production
- Brandy
- Scotch whisky
- Whiskey
- Rum
- Vodka
- Tequila
- Gin and other flavoured Spirits
- Liqueurs and fruit spirits
- The sale and service of spirits
- The WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Spirits
- To gain the qualification students need to successfully pass a multiple choice paper of 50 questions
WSET Level 3: Award in Wines and Spirits (QCF)
This qualification is open to students who hold the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits or can demonstrate the equivalent level of knowledge. It is recommended that students complete the Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits before progressing to the Level 3 Award.
It is a prerequisite for candidates planning to study for the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits qualification.
Programme Outline
Unit 1 – Wines and Spirits of the World
- Production of Wine (location, viticulture, vinification, maturation and bottling, labelling regulations)
- France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Central and South Eastern Europe, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, North America, South and Central America
- Sparkling Wines
- Fortified (Liqueur) Wines
- Spirits and Liqueurs
- Information and Advice for Customers and Staff
- This unit is evaluated by a multiple choice paper of 50 questions and a question paper requiring short written answers
Unit 2 – Tasting and Evaluating Wines of the World
- WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting – how to taste wines and evaluate the quality, style and price
- This unit is assessed by a blind tasting paper of two wines
Please CLICK HERE for the application form.
Others: Corporate Wine Tasting Class
MBL provides customized corporate wine tasting events from small group of a few people to large scale wine appreciation class and lectures. Our Sommelier and the professional team will arrange everything including catering service to your event as part of our one-stop service.
Others: Private Group
MBL also provides private wine tutoring, specialty tasting, varietal (grape variety) tasting, food and wine matching classes or any kinds of theme tasting. Our Sommelier and the professional team are ready to provide a customized program for you at the best value.
- Junmaishu
- Tokubetsu Junmaishu
- Jumai Ginjoshu
- Junmai Daiginjoshu
- Hhonjozoshu
- Tokubetsu Honjozoshu
- Ginjoshu
- Daiginjoshu