A comprehensive study and certificate program on the wines of Bordeaux (Program starts March 1, 2011 - registration is now open)

This is Bordeaux as you’ve never seen it presented! Twenty live webinars conducted by experts in their field, online study modules, reading and tasting assignments, interactive Q&A with instructors, plus an opportunity to review course content in a live classroom environment with tutored tasting!

This is, in scope and design, the most comprehensive wine study program on Bordeaux bar none. Through this program, students will acquire a profound knowledge of the region and develop a greater sensory understanding of its wines.

The Bordeaux Master-Level Program was developed by the French Wine Society in conjunction with lead instructor Dewey Markham Jr.

Mastery is conferred to candidates who successfully finish the curriculum and pass the final exam.

Take three months and visit Bordeaux from the comfort of your own office or home computer.

Delve into Bordeaux with the insight of Bordeaux resident, Dewey Markham Jr., lead-instructor and author of “1855: A History of the Bordeaux Classification”.

Study with the masters:

• Roger Bohmrich, MW
• Joel Butler, MW
• Charles Curtis, MW
• David Glancy, MS
• Doug Frost, MS, MW
  

Learn about the cultural history of Bordeaux through the masterful story-telling of Paul Wagner, Balzac Communications.

Your moderator and program coordinator will be Lisa M. Airey, CWE, FWS, Education Director, French Wine Society.

To learn more about our instructors, click on the bios navigation button above, left.

Who should enroll?

Anyone who wishes to understand Bordeaux from the ground up:

• Wine professionals
• Advanced Students of Wine
• Serious wine hobbyists

What are the prerequisites?

A strong wine background is suggested. Nevertheless, preparatory reading and e-learning modules are immediately accessible upon enrollment for those who need to brush up.

You will be provided with all the materials you need to enter the program from a position of strength:

• The French Wine Scholar Study Manual’s Bordeaux chapter
• Online access to the French Wine Scholar’s Bordeaux e-learning module and review quiz
  

 What does the program include?

• Preparatory reading, e-learning module and quiz in advance of the core curriculum
• A comprehensive series of 20 live webinars
  
• Access to the video recording of the webinars for on-demand review
• Written study materials in timed installments
• Monthly review quizzes
• Instructor Q&A as well as student community forums
• Optional tasting assignments
• Suggested reading
• Additional e-learning modules to supplement webinars
• Exam registration

Want to learn more? Download the list of the 20 thematic webinars with their detailed abstracts.

Why study online? 

• E-learning is flexible and available “on demand”. Your programing is delivered to your computer at your convenience,  regardless of traffic or weather.
• E-learning makes the world smaller! By going online, this program allows students to have access to a pool of talented educators from France and the USA.
• E-learning is accessible, convenient, and affordable.  No traffic jams.  No travel. No parking costs.

What about tasting?

The choice is yours: purchase wine and work your way through the optional tasting assignments or link up with fellow students at a participating FWS program   provider for a day of review and tutored tasting.

What is the detailed curriculum?

To discover the detailed curriculum, click here.

What does the exam entail?

The exam is comprised of three separate sections: 50 multiple-choice questions, five short-answer questions and a map exercise. Passing score is 75/100.

How/where do I register?

If you would like to register for this program, you have 2 options from which to choose:

1) Register through a program provider located near you ($395)

This will allow you to register for the optional review & tasting session, connect with other students in your area and sit the exam with your program provider.

2) Register through the FWS for full distance learning and testing (extra fee applies) ($430)

If there is no program provider near you, you can still follow the program and take the exam online with the French Wine Society. While we are pleased to offer the exam online for students who do not have a program provier near them, note that you will need to have a webcam and microphone for proctoring purposes and that FWS charges an additional $35 fee due to proctoring time requirements on our end.

If you do have a local program provider near you, we highly recommend you register with them.

See the "Bordeaux Master-Level" left menu for both registration options.