TELEVISION
About
Whether you're a novice, an enthusiast, or something in-between, the best way to learn about wine is from an expert. Join a certified Master of Wine to learn to speak the language of wine; explore the wine-making process; survey the characteristics of particular wines; tour great wine regions; and learn practical tips for tasting, food pairing, gift giving, and more.
Related Subjects
Episodes
1. Why Learn about Wine?
30m
Ms. Simonetti-Bryan answers this question in an engaging introductory episode that sets the stage for the subsequent episodes. Survey the millennia-old history of wine, discover what kind of wine consumer you are, explore wine culture in America, and more.
2. A Taster's Tool Kit
30m
Wine tasting can seem like a mysterious ritual, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Here, learn how to properly perform the five steps of tasting: seeing, swirling, sniffing, sipping, and savoring. Also, make sense of wine-related terminology, including full-bodied, crisp, length, balance, and finish.
3. Winemaking- From Vineyard to Harvest
30m
The sensation of drinking a good or bad wine relies on what happens to its source grape in the vineyard. This episode takes you through the first half of the wine-making process and reveals how climate, altitude, weather patterns, and other factors play a critical role in shaping a wine's flavor and quality.
4. Winemaking- From Harvest to Bottle
30m
Continue your look at winemaking by focusing on the grape's journey from the vine to your palate. When are grapes ready to be picked? What is the difference between wine fermented in steel and in oak barrels? Why is there heated debate over filtering wines? Discover answers here.
5. The Whites- Riesling to Chardonnay
30m
In the first episode on the Noble grape varieties (used in those wines you see most often), focus on the most captivating varieties of white wine: Riesling, Sauvignon Blanc, and Chardonnay. As you explore each wine's unique characteristics, you'll strengthen your ability to compare it with other wines and grape varieties.
6. The Reds- Pinot Noir to Cabernet
30m
Experience the Red Noble grape varieties, specifically Pinot Noir, Syrah/Shiraz, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon. Studied together, these varieties will expose you to the fascinating range of red wine grapes: from the light-bodied and aromatic to the full-bodied and tannin-rich.
7. Champagne and Other Sparkling Wines
30m
Venture into the world of sparkling wines, one of the least-understood but highest-quality wines in the world. Ms. Simonetti-Bryan reveals how wines like Champagne, Cava, and Prosecco originated, how they're produced, and how they taste. She even shows you the correct way to open and serve your favorite bottle.
8. Port, Sherry, and Other Fortified Wines
30m
Fortified wines: wines whose alcoholic strength has been fortified: are the perfect accompaniment to the beginning or end of a meal. Here, learn more about these wines as you taste your way through the distinctive characteristics of ruby port, sherry, and Madeira.
9. What to Drink with Dessert
30m
Sauternes; Tokaji; Ice Wine; Vin Santo: wines go great either with or as dessert. Survey the range of dessert wines, paying particular attention to three ways these wines can be produced: the process of noble rot, the harvesting of frozen grapes, and the drying of grapes.
10. French Regions- Bordeaux and Loire
30m
French wines are the benchmarks of quality, which makes France the perfect place to begin your tour of some of the world's greatest wine regions. You explore the powerful reds and delicate whites of two wine-producing regions, learn how to read a wine label, and gain insights into how chateaux in Bordeaux are classified.
Extended Details
- SeriesGreat Courses
- Closed CaptionsEnglish