academie du vin 2018 & 2019
The original Académie du Vin Paris wine school was founded by Steven Spurrier in 1973 and gained worldwide renown when, on 24th May 1976, Steven organised the Judgement of Paris – a blind tasting between France and California that is widely regarded as being one of the seminal moments in the emergence of Napa Valley wines onto the world stage.
When Steven first approached me about bringing the Académie du Vin to London and hosting a series of events, I felt incredibly honoured that our Club would be the one to pioneer an institution that has played such an important role in the world of wine.
As such, it is with great pride that I invite Members to the first London edition of the Académie du Vin in the form of a series of tutored tastings curated by Steven and Nancy Gilchrist MW, and conducted by four Masters of Wine over four and six weeks.
The Masters of Wine that make up the Académie du Vin team have been chosen not only for their breadth and depth of knowledge, but also for their engaging delivery; you can be sure that these will be not only informative but also highly enjoyable evenings.
It is a pleasure to give details of the courses below.
We will welcome:
Richard Bampfield MW (RB)
Beverley Blanning MW (BB)
Nancy Gilchrist MW (NG)
Peter McCombie MW (PM)
Académie du Vin 4-week course
A very accessible course, approximately WSET Level 2:
Please note these classes cannot be booked individually.
2018:
Monday 17th September – Chardonnay & Pinot Noir: Burgundy & beyond (NG)
Monday 24th September – Cabernet & Friends: Bordeaux & beyond (RB)
Monday 1st October – Rhône & Mediterranean grapes (PM)
Monday 8th October – Cool Pioneers: Cool climate grapes (BB)
2019:
Monday 21st January – Chardonnay & Pinot Noir: Burgundy & beyond (NG)
Monday 28th January – Cabernet & Friends: Bordeaux & beyond (RB)
Monday 4th February – Rhône & Mediterranean grapes (PM)
Monday 11th February – Cool Pioneers: Cool climate grapes (BB)
St James’s Room
18:00 apéritif on arrival
18:30 Masterclass to begin
20:30 Masterclass to end
£399.00 per person (for the full course)
Académie du Vin 6-week course
A series of mini-masterclasses pitched between WSET Level 3 and 4:
Please note the following classes can be booked individually.
2018:
Monday 29th October – The reasons for the interactions of food & wine: Soft chemistry for the gourmet taster (NG)
Monday 5th November – Terroir: What makes a vineyard Premier Cru? (RB)
Monday 12th November – Sweetness and acidity: two sides of the seesaw (BB)
Monday 19th November – A question of Oak. From acorn to barrique and everything in between (NG)
Monday 26th November – Quality: what is it? (PM)
Monday 3rd December – All about bubbles: Champagne & Sparkling Wines (NG)
2019:
Monday 4th March – The reasons for the interactions of food & wine: Soft chemistry for the gourmet taster (NG)
Monday 11th March – Terroir: What makes a vineyard Premier Cru? (RB)
Monday Monday 18th March – Sweetness and acidity: two sides of the seesaw (BB)
Monday 25th March – A question of Oak. From acorn to barrique and everything in between (NG)
Monday 1st April – Quality: what is it? (PM)
Monday 8th April – All about bubbles: Champagne and Sparkling Wines (NG)
St James’s Room
18:00 apéritif on arrival
18:30 Masterclass to begin
20:30 Masterclass to end
£750.00 per person for the full course
or £125.00 per tasting