Tasting Classes in San Francisco, CA

Can you create perfect pairings or are you paralyzed by the rules? Learn pairing theories and exceptions and the progression of flavors in multi-course meals. Come play with your food and wine as we taste 36 combinations and discuss each student's impressions and preferences.  Challenging food ingredients will also be reviewed and how to overcome...

Get answers to all of the questions you have been afraid to ask and learn the basics of wine, from how it's made, decoding wine labels, how to taste & talk about wine, storage, service and food pairing.  The tasting of 5-6 wines will focus on the structure of wine, various styles and main grape varieties. This workshop may be taken...

San Francisco Wine School Intro Series classes are the perfect way to dip your toe into wine education and learn the basics of tasting, pairing and the world's most important regions.  Start with these 8 essential classes designed for entry level students.  SYLLABUS Wine 101 Intro to World Wines Intro to Blind Tasting...

Do you know the difference between viticulture and enology? Learn the species and varieties of grapes used in winemaking and the difference between clones, crosses, hybrids and grafting. Study the physical structure of the vine, the annual lifecycle and the metabolic processes.  Learn about terroir and sustainable farming. Next our studies take...

Learn how to navigate the 3-tier distribution system successfully. Explore the workings of distributors, brokers and winery direct sales, how to decide what vendors to use and how to maximize the relationships.  Discuss options and strategies for an efficient buying process. Learn how to effectively utilize vendor provided training, 3rd party...

In this workshop, our Industry Leading Instructors help students learn and practice flaw identification using the Society of Wine Educators’ Faults and Imbalances Exam with the same samples and ratios presented for the Certified Wine Educator level. Master Glancy will also teach students exam preparation and test-taking strategies to help students...

Wine Dojo is a focused, efficient 90-minute session for tasting skill development and feedback. This ongoing blind tasting workshop offers students an opportunity to do a timed blind analysis of 6 wines then compare and discuss their analysis with Master Sommelier David Glancy. This is a must for any student looking to prepare for an upcoming certification...

Join us in unraveling the mysteries of the EU labeling scheme and compare it with the rest of the world. We will look for global patterns touring the world in a glass. Take in the highlights of France, Italy, and Spain, plus various New World regions.  The tasting of 5-7 wines will focus on New World vs Old World and examples from various climates...

Our Industry Leading Instructors will coach students to develop their own varietal markers for the most important international white grape varieties. Profile the similarities and differences in the varietals. Global wine regions are also considered as students learn to decipher the differences between regional and varietal influences.  This...

This Napa Valley workshop provides students with an in-depth exploration and significance of the world-famous Napa Valley.  Learn more about the amazing geography, history, and climate ideal for grape growing, as well as the importance for understanding the region’s impact on the state of California and its significance within the world of...

Learn about the physiology of taste and how to evaluate acidity, tannin, residual sugar (RS) and other structural elements of wine. Start building your wine description vocabulary. Attend this fun session to gain confidence in knowing what kind of wines you like and how to describe them. Or use this as the start of your journey in preparing for entry...

Our Industry Leading Instructors will coach students to develop their own varietal markers for the most important international red grape varieties. Profile the similarities and differences in the varietals. Global wine regions are also considered as students learn to decipher the differences between regional and varietal influences. This workshop...

Fermented grain is the focus this session as we present the origins of beer, ingredients, production and styles. We discuss the international standards and the rise of the craft beer movement.  Taste the spectrum from pilsner to stout and lambic to Trappist then dive into multiple parallel fermentations with the production and styles of sake....

Join us in unraveling the mysteries of the EU labeling scheme and compare it with the rest of the world. We will look for global patterns as we tour the world by glass. Take in the highlights of crisp wines from cool climates from Germany, Austria, Northern Italy, Northern France, Oregon and New Zealand.  The guided tasting of 6-8 wines will...

Sonoma County will never accept second place to Napa. We explore the amazing diversity of Napa’s neighbor toward the coast. This dynamic workshop will provide students with the background necessary to understand its distinction and reputation in the wine market. With a variety of climate and soil conditions and a recently expanded number of AVAs,...