The Art Of Appreciating Wine

For many, the world of wine holds a certain mystique - a cheap bottle of plonk can taste just as good as a rare and prized vintage that can set you back thousands of dollars for a single bottle. Understanding the art of wine opens the door to new appreciation.

Wine tasting is considered an art and the taster, of course, is an artist. Beyond understanding the technical information of grape varieties, winemaking, and regions on every bottle of wine, it’s the process of contemplating, evaluating the aroma, taste as well as appreciating the winemaker’s dedication to the profession. Thus, to become a real artist and to dive into its magic world would take more than just some sips. It requires enthusiasm, commitment and plenty of practice.

BECOME A REAL ARTIST, WHY NOT?

Despite being a new concept in Vietnam, courses to master the art of wine have long been sought after in various countries. And among prestigious wine education programmes, it is impossible not to mention the WSET certificate (Wine and Spirit Education Trust). WSET is the sole wine and spirit organization that is recognized in the UK as a national awarding body of vocational qualifications. Since its foundation in 1969, WSET has gained the reputation of the world’s best international wine education & qualification provider with a selection of globally well-received wine and spirits education programmes.

Working with a network of 650+ course providers known as APPs (Approved Programme Providers) in 72 countries, WSET set foot in Vietnam in 2017 and since then has become the perfect programme for those who wish to have a strong first start in the journey of wine exploration. A Quality Management system has been put in place to guarantee that service providers across the globe meet the high quality and standard set out by the WSET organization in the UK.

EXPLORE THE WINE WORLD WITH PROFESSIONALS IN VIETNAM

Red Apron & Celliers d’Asie Wine School is one of the official WSET Program Providers in Vietnam. At Red Apron Wine School, all wine educators have a strong passion for wines and spirits and many years of experience in the industry. They include certified Sommeliers and those who have completed WSET’s programmes with distinction. The class is facilitated and arranged according to the standards of London, England with white walls, tables, chairs, and the appropriate lighting and temperature. This is necessary for students to observe the true colors of the wines and to feel their accurate flavors and smells.

With 3 different levels for students to register, ranging from easy to difficult levels to meet particular needs, wine tasting classes at Red Apron are not merely about theory. Indeed, the number of wines used for practice in the courses ranges from 10 (for the basic class) to over 70 (for the advanced class), from globally renowned brands to family estates and old castles. Students can experience both New World and Old World wines and are able to find out how grape variety, climate, and soil affect the style of wine from each winery.

Achieving WSET certifications is considered a great segue into understanding and mastering the art of wine. There is no doubt that the WSET training is the perfect programme for those who wish to have a strong first start in the journey of wine exploration.

“Vietnam is now witnessing a rapid growth of the wine market. No longer limited to the world of high-class cuisine, wine has become a popular choice for different classes thus the need to learn about wine has also increased significantly. It’s my pleasure to spread profound wine knowledge and share the passion for taste with Vietnamese wine lovers.” - Mr Daniel Henderson - a global WSET wine educator.