Description
The WSET Level 1 Wines is a basic level introduction to wine, for those who want to start a career in the wine business or for wine enthusiasts. In this class, we taste 9 different wines and learn about major grape varieties, wine regions, storage, and the service of wine. We also do an interesting food and wine pairing.
Learn more about what we will cover during the class here: WSET Level 1 in Wines Specification (2022).
The price includes the WSET Level 1 in Wines Study Guide, tuition, all wines, printed materials, exam, certificate and lapel pin (if you pass the examination). Mailing of Study Guide and result materials (certificate and pin) to continental USA is included in the price. Classes in Fort Lauderdale include a set of 6 ISO glasses, which accounts for the difference in price between the Fort Lauderdale and Miami classes.
Class Format
In-person on Saturday, from 9am-4.30pm. Please select dates below.
The course instructors are: Alessandra Esteves DipWSET, Rebecca Hodges WSET L3 Certified, Brenda Poo WSET Certified, and Nicole Ramos WSET Certified. You can learn more about our team here.
Assessment
Assessment is by a closed-book exam of 30 multiple-choice questions to be completed within 45 minutes. The assessment will take place on the same date as the class, at the end of the day. A total mark of 70% is required to achieve a pass. All students who pass will be issued with a certificate and will receive a lapel pin. Mailing of Study Pack and result materials (certificate and pin) to continental USA is included in the price.
Kindly note that you have six months, from the course start date, to sit the exam. After six months, you will have to purchase and re-take the entire course before you can sit the exam.
Entry Requirements
You must be at least 21 years of age to attend the course and to participate in any alcohol tasting.
Refunds/Changes
If you need to cancel or change the date of the course for any reason you can do so up to 13 working days before the course starts for a $25 administrative fee. Making changes to your registration within 13 business days of the class date will result in an administrative change fee of $175. No refunds are given for changes made within 3 business days of the class date.
Dates
We teach the WSET Level 1 in Wines every month. Classes are held in Miami and Fort Lauderdale.
- October 7th, 2023 – from 9am to 4.30pm – Miami. SOLD OUT.
- November 4th, 2023 – from 9am to 4.30pm – Miami
- December 2nd, 2023 – from 9am to 4.30pm – Miami
More dates coming soon for Miami and Fort Lauderdale! For private classes and other dates, please email info@floridawineacademy.com.
Miami courses will take place at the Miami Culinary Institute – Food & Wine Theater in Downtown Miami, unless otherwise advertised. Fort Lauderdale courses will take place at the TRYP by Wyndham Maritime Hotel Fort Lauderdale.
We are also offering the WSET Level 1 in Wines certification online. Click here for more information.
Rob –
The Florida Wine Academy provided a unique and enjoyable experience for pursuing WSET Level 1. Our instructors were knowledgeable and accessible, and if you are interested in expanding your knowledge of wine or simply taking a course to learn something new, I highly recommend the program. I have been enjoying wine for more than 30 years and studying independently, but even so, I learned new things during the course.
Stephanie Maisonneuve –
I was gifted the WSET Level 1 course as a Christmas gift and was not sure what to expect. On the day of the class I was very impress with the instructor and the materials. Our instructor was amazing, and with her expertise and the learning material I was able to pass the exam and received my certificate and pin. Most importantly, this course has really awaken my love for wine. I am a wine enthusiast, hence the gift, however, this course has made me see and enjoy wine differently. For this reason, I will continue on to Level 2 and then Level 3 with FWA.
NOKUKHANYA KHANYILE (verified owner) –
Florida wine academy has been a great place to learn with wealth of information in wines, spirits and sake. I took my WSET 2 in wines a few months back and it was the best 2 days of learning and connecting with other wine enthusiasts. I’m looking forward to take my WSET 3 in 2023 hybrid class which comes highly recommended by Alessandra and her team. I highly recommend Florida Wine Academy to wine enthusiast or wine connoisseur!
Jordan Spurlock –
I completed the level 1 WSET class earlier this year. The information and class format provide a great platform to learn about wine varietals, tasting techniques, and distinctions between the regions.
John Politi –
Fantastic Course – 5 stars across the board! I’m extremely happy I was able to start my wine education career with the Jonelle as she shared her robust knowledge of wine while instructing our group during the WSET Level 1 class. Highly recommend to professionals, enthusiasts or anyone who wants to learn about wine. I’m definitely planning on pursuing more education with the WSET!
Regards,
John Politi
Charlene Vizard –
I signed up for the WSET Level 1 class to get a better understanding of wine and to be able to “speak the language.” It was such an enjoyable experience I signed up for WSET Level 2, which gave me an even greater understanding of and expanded my knowledge in the different wine styles, types and regions. Now I am moving on to WSET Level 3, having passed with merit (one point shy of passing with distinction). I’m considering parlaying my wine education into a new career path in the future.
Vanessa Cotton –
I thoroughly enjoyed this course. Very informative and the instructors were very nice and answered any questions that were asked. I can’t wait for WSET level 2
Neil Bath –
I love wine and took Level 1 and Level 2 courses on line to improve my knowledge and enjoyment. Florida Wine Academy did not disappoint! Nicole and all of her colleagues were outstanding instructors which made the courses an absolute pleasure. The wine choices for the home study package were superb and reasonably priced. I would certainly recommend Florida Wine Academy to anyone!
Jason Carter –
I took the WSET Level 2 with Florida Wine Academy in the fall of 2021. The instructors were very knowledgeable, engaging, and gave us additional detail from personal experience that made the course even more interesting. The wines we tasted were well selected, and the guided group tastings were the best part of the course. The online format worked well and was key to me being able to take the class at all. In the end, you will be well prepared to pass the exam!
Nika (verified owner) –
I took my WSET course in person in September and passed my exam. I really enjoyed my experience and learned a lot. On my way to WSET 2 now.
Xavier trang –
It was the best 2 days of 2021. Meeting people , tasting wine , learn new things. I really enjoy every minute.
Nokukhanya Khanyile (verified owner) –
I did WSET level 1 with Nicole and it was informative, fun and engaging. As a beginner, the wine academy is a great place with tons of resources to learn. Nicole is a G.O.A.T instructor and I’m looking forward to sign up for level 2!
Carmen Cochrane –
The WSET Level 2 class at the Florida Wine Academy is a great way to learn about wine. I loved the balance of the self study with the online lessons. I also found the feedback from the course instructor very useful. I’m planning on enrolling in WSET Level 3 at the Florida Wine Academy!
Timana Hossack –
This is the second course I have done with the Florida Wine Academy and the first online. It was well organised, easy to follow, and when I had issues I was given help to resolve them immediately.
I would not hesitate to sign up to another course with this school.
Daniel Reyes Miranda –
Beautiful course, challenging and engaging. Can’t wait to start level 3.
Linda Zarnon –
Completed the WSET Level 1 Webinar with Brenda. This is a great introductory course and Brenda makes the class fun and interesting. She also prepares you really well for the final exam. Thanks, Brenda!
Elisa Calvello –
The WSET Level 2 Award in Wine course was very informative, interactive, and very well organized. I would highly recommend it for any wine enthusiast or professional in the wine industry. It was very interesting to do the virtual wine tasting and the teachers were great. Now I’m looking forward to Level 3!
Valentina Zabala –
I highly recommend taking this course with the Florida Wine Academy! It’s the perfect course for any wine enthusiast or professional and really jumpstarts you into the wine world.
Pablo –
I recently took WSET 2 course online.
I learnt so much with it and because of that i passed WSET level 2 Pass with Distintion 94%.
I look forward to starting WSET 3.
Manuel Vidal (verified owner) –
This is a great course for experienced or beginner wine enthusiasts. I highly recommend it.
Sarah B. –
This was a great intro course! Nicole was awesome and provided a great presentation of the basics of wine. I am really looking forward to eventually taking Level 2. I would recommend Level 1 for anyone that is interested in learning about wine. I wish I had read over the material that they had sent beforehand to provide me with that base before taking the class. However it was not necessary since Nicole was such a great teacher but personally I wish I had done that.
Maritza I. Gomez (verified owner) –
The course was great! Highly recommended!
Carolina –
I wish to thank Florida Wines and WSET for the amazing opportunity to grow my knowledge of the wine industry
Talita –
I highly recommend WSET Level 1 and 2 Award in Wine class to anyone interested in learning more about wine. The class was easy to understand and they are always ready to solve any question you might have.
I am looking forward to Level 3, and further expanding my knowledge of the world of wine.
Brian (verified owner) –
I recently took the WSET Level 1 Wine course and found Brenda to be a fun and informative teacher. The course is a great starting point for anyone interested in wine education or for those starting a career in the industry. The best compliment that I can share is that the Level 1 course made we immediately sign up for Level 2 and I am not someone that is pursuing a career in wine, but simply enjoys it!
ISSAM BANI AHMAD –
Nicole Ramos is the best. I learnt so much with her and because of that i passed WSET level 2 Pass with Merit-82%
Laura Hernandez –
It was a great course very interesting and well explained I recomended it . It s worthy . The class was easy to undertand and they are always to solve any question that you have. Great job I ll definetely take level 3 with them.
Alex Kopertowska –
I work as a Chief stewardess on super yachts and wine knowledge is super important at my work. Personally wine is one of my biggest passions. I love learning about different styles, countries etc. Due to Covid I decided to take the on line course. I was the only student not in Miami time zone. I was in Poland that time. It was fun to sample and learn about the wines at 1 am at night! Nicole was fantastic in the way she shared our knowledge with us. I really enjoyed the course and thank you for the chance of being a part of it. I highly recommend your academy!
Vicky Lujan –
This course was amazing! WSET L1 is a great introduction to the wine world. The energy and enthusiasm of Alessandra and Nicole, from Florida Wine Academy, was amazing. This course made me fall in love with the wine industry and got me inspired to continue learning. I highly recommend Florida Wine Academy as an formal educational option for wine enthusiasts and professionals.
robster9999 (verified owner) –
Great course!! Class size was small enough to encourage dialog about what we were learning. The wines were very good examples of the particular varietal. The section on how to identify and describe the wines was straightforward and not intimidating. Overall, the information that was covered during the class matched what was on covered on the exam. I learned a lot.
Thanks,
Robert
Jose L Gonzalez –
This course is great. I am a beginner and I had the chance to learn a lot about wine and enjoy it. Nicole is an excellent instructor and made everything very easy to follow. I am looking forward to the next level.
Vanessa Sierra (verified owner) –
WSET L1 was my first best invest in wines that I ever made and I highly recommend it. This course opened my eyes on this big and wide world of wines. The learning book, pairing food with wines and the whole experience during the day with the Florida Wine Academy team exceeded my expectations. As a wine enthusiast, I can say that this course challenges me to know more about wines. See you soon on the next level!
Marcia Potere –
I took the WSET Level 1 at the beginning of February and it was everything that I was expecting and more. Nicole Ramos is very knowledgeable, accessible, and she took her time to make sure we all reached our goal for the course. I’m a wine enthusiast who wanted to learn more of his to describe a wine, pairing, and understand a little more than just it’s a good wine or not, and why I did or didn’t like it. I’ll definitely be dining up for WSET Level 2 and mist likely 3, and maybe more.
Mallory S (verified owner) –
I took the course when it was offered over a weekend in Fort Lauderdale. I particularly enjoyed the wine tasting component which allowed us to experience what we were learning about and really understand the differences we were discussing. Overall, a great experience and very informative!
Noah –
There’s always something new to learn that broadens your perspective. As a long time wine enthusiast, the course brought a deeper understanding and expanded my knowledge of wine. The instructor was knowledgable and the class was interactive and fun. The methodology for wine tasting, as well as food and wine pairing, were practical and the tastings were fundamental to really understanding the material. I would highly recommend the course for all those wine enthusiasts and those in industry wanting to learn more.
Jeanette (verified owner) –
My husband and I took this course together in Feb 2020 and it was fantastic. As wine enthusiasts, we were able to expand our knowledge of wine theory as well as taste great selections of wine. The teacher was wonderful and made the experience truly fun. I would highly recommend this to those in the industry or if you just want to expand your horizons as wine enthusiasts. I particularly found the food and wine pairing matrix extremely helpful and have put this knowledge to practical use.
Nelson Monge (verified owner) –
As a wine lover, I had the opportunity to attend the WSET Level 1 course. I gave to give kudos to Nicole. She taught a wonderful class. We not only had fun, I personally learned a lot. I would recommend this class to anyone wishing to extend their knowledge of wine.
Peter DiCorpo –
I had a wonderful time! The course was both informative and fun. It was great to learn some of the fundamentals about wine and then try examples of what we just learned. Nicole Ramos was an excellent instructor and really had a strong understanding of the material. I am looking forward to completing the other levels!
Daniel Bras –
We were very happy to have completed the first level of WSET in Miami. The course gave us (me and my wife) a compact, yet informative overview on key topics. Nicole was a great mentor, communicating easily and showing knowledge in the subject. We will come back for Leve 2 soon!
Matthew Ransdell –
I have been interested in learning more about wines after a few winery/vineyard tours while traveling. Taking this course really brings things together and makes you more knowledgeable about wine varieties, smells, and pairings. It is well worth it for anyone looking to expand their wine knowledge.
Chloe –
This class was a great introduction to different types of wines and different flavor profiles of some of the most popular wines. As an aspiring wine making with some experience with a specific grape, this class was great for widening my knowledge of other types of grapes. In my specific class everyone was either already in the wine industry or interested in getting into the wine industry (or hospitality in general) so it was great to hear different thoughts and levels of knowledge from the other people in the class. I would definitely recommend this course to anyone who would like to get a more baseline knowledge of wine in a classical sense.
John Passick (verified owner) –
Whether you are new to wine or an experienced taster with an exceptional palette, this class is spectacular. We had a wonderful time matching great wines with interesting foods. The demonstrations were very helpful. I still use some of these techniques when trying new wines.
The material taught was exactly as described in the study guide. There was plenty of review and time to ask questions. It was a very pleasant experience and I cannot wait for WSET Level 2.
Cheers!
John
Monica Skoko Rodríguez (verified owner) –
This course was so fun and I was stunned by how much knowledge I walked away with by the end. I had limited wine knowledge going into the day but I was able to take the exam with confidence after putting all we learned into practice and very helpful review sessions during the day. Will definitely be back for level 2- I’ve caught the wine bug!
Joel M –
Excellent program! The material is presented in an easy and thoughtful manner to maximize knowledge retention. The staff at Florida Wine Academy is terrific and wonderful to work with.
Mariano Chiaramonte (verified owner) –
Great class at Florida Wine Academy. I will definitely come back for Level 2.
Bogdan Cocan (verified owner) –
I just attend to WSET Level 1 on August 10th , my results are not out yet but after my knowledge received after this course I have the confidence it will be a good result!
Nicole has a natural inclination to teach and involve the crowd in to the process! All the information its structured in a surprisingly easy way to understand. I enjoy the ambient in the room and the wine tasting was a clean and fresh service.
To the all team and concept, I would give a 10 star if possible and I want to thank them because they transform my appreciation and love for wine in to a real passion.
I just apply for WSET Level 2 and I can’t wait to receive the material. Its like waiting for a good book!
All the best future Somm’s and wine lovers!
Matthew Walsh (verified owner) –
WSET Level 1 Award in Wine class was very informative and a great start to understanding wine more. The instructor Nicole Ramos’ was very knowledgeable and a wonderful teacher. I have already signed up for Level 2 as well as a few other wine classes I plan on taking to further my education. This Academy is wonderful.
Bob D (verified owner) –
This was my first class at Florida Wine Academy and it exceeded my expectations. Nicole does an excellent job of thoughtfully reviewing the WSET I materials. She makes the course practical, memorable and enjoyable. I’m definitely signing up for WSET II and look forward to a continued relationship with Nicole and the rest of the FWA team. Thank you!
Luciana Sailnas (verified owner) –
This is a great beginner course. It gives you just enough technical information to begin diving into the world of wine, but is still general enough to not give you a good overview. My instructor, Nicole Ramos, is also an extremely talented teacher, who made the material interesting while ensuring we took away the key points. I highly recommend taking this course at the Florida Wine Academy.
Diogo Figueiroa (verified owner) –
Interesting and informative course for a beginner. It provided an interesting amount of information to know the basics in wine production and a good variety of wine tastings. The class was very interactive and the instructor knowledgeable. I truly enjoyed the day and am now registering for level II. I would highly recommend the course.
Lori A –
I would highly recommend SET Level 1 Award in Wine class to anyone interested in learning more about wine. The interactive class was very informative, and the instructor Nicole Ramos’ was very knowledgeable.
I am looking forward to Level 2, and further expanding my knowledge of the world of wine.
Eduardo Pletsch (verified owner) –
Excelent course, the facilities and instructor were great. Not only you learn the fundamentals of wine but you get to spend a day enjoying it in good company. I believe the more you study and experiment before the class the more you are likely to enjoy it. Definitely recommend it.
Stephan Klumpp –
This fun and fact filled course was a gift to me by my wife. We spent a very relaxed day at the Florida Wine Academy and refined our taste buds with the help of our superb teacher Nicole. I can recommend this course to anybody who appreciates wine and wants to dig deeper into the world of wine.
Veronica Rodriguez (verified owner) –
Recommend this course 100% for anyone interested in learning and getting into the wonderful world of Wine & Spirits! Nicole and the whole team were super helpful, accommodating and super professional! I loved the way the class was set up and the fact that it was a small yet diverse group was icing on the cake! Look forward to taking the WSET Level 2 in the near future!
MARUTA (verified owner) –
Greal Level 1 class with Nicole! Solidified my interest to continue my studies with Level 2. Great experience.
Osvaldo “Ovi’ Guerra –
I participated in WSET Level I course on January 12, 2019 and was blown away by the course. The attention, care and level of expertise that Florida Wine Academy gave me and in particular Nicole Ramos gave the class made the experience better than the Chateau Bastor-Lamontagne that we tasted. Thank you Florida Wine Academy and now Level II here I come.
Dipendra Pradhananga (verified owner) –
As being into Wine business, I’m very happy and satisfied with my enrollment for WSET 1 at Florida Wine Academy. I had a great experience and the class was upto my expectation. Our instructor Nicole was excellent. I will continue next level course with this academy soon.
Wayne Baxendale –
Wow, what a great achievement to hold to your name, I attended Level one with Nicole and had a hoot in my class, Nicole was a great teacher and I would be happy to refer this course to everyone I know, now we know that little bit more about wine which is the start of a life time of learning! I passed the course 90% with Nicole’s excellent insights and tasting amazing wine! I will be doing level two for sure! great job guys!
Michele Hickford (verified owner) –
I very much enjoyed the Level 1 course. I’ve been happily drinking wine for many years, but this intro helped deepen my understanding of WHY. I’m very impressed with the Florida Wine Institute and WSET in genera. Very professional, and thorough. Nicole Ramos was an excellent instructor and I hope she’ll be my mentor as I continue my studies. Level 1 definitely inspired me to learn more. I’ve just enrolled in Level 2!
Roberto (verified owner) –
I had a great experience with my WSET L1 course. The class was very informative and also fun. Nicole dominates the subject matter and delivers the material impeccably. I have already enrolled for L2. Thank you FWA!
Samuel (verified owner) –
The course was great, good pace and great instructor (Nicole). I will definitely attend the next Level and other courses.
Mariluz Caballero (verified owner) –
I’m very happy i decided to take this class! I’m a wine enthusiast and enjoy a lot learning about things I like, like Wine!! This Level one is an introductory course to the world of wine and winemaking. Learning how wine is made,regions and the different types of grapes is amazing! . The wine tasting is amazing too! Unfortunately we had to spit :/ . Nicole was an amazing instructor and the day went by so fast!!! Time flies when you are having fun! The overall experience was excellent. I will definitely be back for level 2.
Susan Apley-Salituri –
I highly recommend Florida Wine Academy for any one that likes wines and wants to learn more. Our instructor, Alessandra gave a highly experiential class that made learning easy and fun! The amount of information that you learn takes you from the basic wines to wine paring with many foods which was great! I also love that the certification is International! I learned so much and cannot wait for the next class!
Susan Apley-Salituri
Bryan Mendoza (verified owner) –
Great experience. Nicole was very thorough and patient with the class. She was very informative throughout the course and I can’t wait for level 2. Much gratitude to Nicole
Natalia Lenzina –
Nicole was amazing. I can not wait to take the next level class 🙂
Thank you Nicole!!!!
Thomas Trepanier –
The Florida Wine Academy teaches you from ground up all the aspects of wine and sets you up for success as you study for the WSET Level 1 class. Their staff are all very experienced and knowledgeable and go the extra mile to ensure you fully understand the basic principles needed to pass the exam. From wine tasting to pairing wines with food, the Florida Wine Academy covers it all. Thanks to them, I am now prepared to take on the WSET Level 2 exam which will continue to broaden my knowledge about wines and the industry overall. I highly recommend the Florida Wine Academy!!
Ruben Cutanda Puigvert –
Maravillosa actividad de formación en vinos, compartida con un excelente grupo de estudiantes y en un agradable ambiente, con profesionales de mucha calidad y experiencia. Material escrito bien seleccionado. Material audiovisual preciso. Vinos maravillosos. En general recomiendo este curso de la WSET, en estas instalaciones de Florida Wine Academy para todos aquellos interesados, residentes de Miami, sus alrededores y para todos los interesados en el Caribe y Centro América, por las facilidades que ofrece esta locación. Si manejas el inglés te animo a hacerlo, como yo, en otro idioma, es una manera de agregar léxico del mundo de los vinos, a tu ingles. Agradezco a todos en Florida Wine Academy por todo. Outstanding!! Thanks a lot! I hope I’ll see you soon in WSET II.
Matias –
Interesante y agradable experiencia! curse el WSET Level1 en Enero, buen material tanto el escrito como la seleccion de etiquetas a catar, todo el equipo y en especial la Teacher Alessandra han sido profecionales y amenos, el lugar es muy comodo para el desarrollo de la clase, espero volver pronto. Gracias!
Carolina Cossu –
… it was my first Step into this magic world called Wine. The course was really useful and maybe I was lucky… but team and teacher were amazing!
Thank You
C
Paulo Hala –
I got the WSET Course Level 1 as a Christmas gift from my wife. I always wanted to understand more about wine, but thought it was very confusing. Through this course I was able to understand it well better. Nicole Ramos is a great instructor. And the training is detailed, but structured in a way that works without being boring. The tasting techniques help to put the theory with practice. And finally, the food pairing exercise is the “cherry on the sundae”!
Camille Libre –
A great experience with very knowledgeable educator! A first approach to the wine that was really helpful to understand the basics of tasting, wine production, food pairing! A one day session to learn tones of new information but in a fun and educative way! Thank you for the class! I highly recommend this course for anyone who would like to get introduced to the wine world! Looking forward to Level 2 !
Hani A (verified owner) –
Fantastic place, great people, immense knowledge, It’s the place to get your course at, everything was great about it, highly recommended. Looking forward for level 2.
Prince –
WSET course level one class was fun, engaging and very educational. Being in the hospitality industry, the class gave me a brilliant introduction to the world of wine. Alessandra did a great job at presenting, in addition she was fun and professional.
Jacob Molz (verified owner) –
As a full-time professional (and wine drinker), it’s challenging to find time during the week to get the necessary education to achieve the level of wine knowledge I want. The Florida Wine Academy’s Saturday Level 1 Award course is perfect for anyone. Here’s the thing, you need to take the Level 1 Award course with Alessandra whether you’re someone pursuing a career in wine, a wine enthusiast, or someone that would just like to get a foundation for everyday wine drinking. If you’re reading this review, that means you’re already interested. Stop thinking, sign up, and you’ll thank me later.
Lisa Lockhart (verified owner) –
I recently took Level 1 WSET in wine with Alessandra She was extremely knowledgeable and made the class very enjoyable.I look forward to moving forward with this program and was so excited to have it right here in Naples making it so convienent.
Thank you Alessandra
Nicole Carbon (verified owner) –
The WSET Level 1 Award in Wines with Alessandra from the Florida Wine Academy was fantastic. Alessandra is an excellent instructor with an interesting background and a true passion for wine and wine education, which was apparent during the course. The course was presented in a way that was thorough and professional yet with a casual approach. She answered individual questions completely and provided an environment that allowed students to ask questions freely. Even though I felt I was “equipped” with basic wine knowledge prior to taking the course, I learned so much and Alessandra shared bits of wine knowledge that extended beyond the curriculum, which was helpful and appreciated. Highly recommend the course and look forward to continuing with the WSET program through the Florida Wine Academy. Thank you Alessandra.
Pierre Assaf –
I was happy to find the Florida wine academy while searching for a replacement to my cancelled level one WSET course at the Biltmore Hotel.
It was cheaper and did not require me to purchase a set of wine tasting glasses which I appreciated.
The school and tasting room are located on the 32nd floor of a nice building in downtown Miami, with plenty of parking options around and easy Uber access. We were greeted with a cup of coffee by Alessandra, the founder, and instructor. We then proceeded to introduce ourselves and describe our different interests in learning about wine. This naturally breaks the ice and allows for a fluid discussion and participation during the course of the day. Students from different backgrounds of the food and wine industry along with aficionados attended the course which I found fascinating because we were able to get a glimpse of the wine world from each. We had a wine blogger, a distributor, a retailer, a waiter and a restaurateur among others.
Level one is an introductory course to the world of wine and winemaking. The course starts out with simple notions of how wine is made, in which principal regions and the different types of wines, followed by the most exciting part of the day; the wine tasting. Look, smell and taste then spit never gets boring and with Alessandra guiding us throughout, one starts slowly detecting new aromas and identifying common and different elements.
The open discussions were particularly helpful and the overall experience was excellent. I will definitely be back for level 2.
Henry Brimo (verified owner) –
Fantastic course designed for those wanting to enhance their basic wine knowledge. As a person who has taken numerous wine classes at Florida International University with Professor Chip Cassidy I thought there was going to be an extreme amount of overlap. I was surprised to experience the content of this course in a new refreshing way that helped me grasp concepts better than before especially when it came to tasting. This course has helped me become more confident in my current wine sales job as well as just discussing wine with those more knowledgeable than myself. I look forward to continuing my education with Florida Wine Academy and Alessandra.
Best,
Henry
Miryam Fossati –
Dear Alessandra,
The WSET Level 1 Award in Wine class was very informative, interactive and very well organized. I would highly recommend any body interest in learning more about wine to start taking the different levels.
In one day I was able to learn so much, and now I’m looking forward to Level 2. It was very interesting to do the wine tasting with you, as finally I was able to understanding how the aromas and the flavors in wine interact and so many things started to make sense.
Thank you for bringing the WSET courses to South Florida; we definitely needed an Academy like yours for people looking to expand their education in the world of wine.
Best regards
Miryam
Karem Santaella –
Amazing course! As “the girl behind the wine glass” in @DrinkCabStayFab’s Instagram, I wanted to further and certify my wine knowledge. To be honest, I thought it was going to be a very stuffy environment, but Alessandra is a fabulous instructor. She makes the class fun and is very kind and patient to answer everyone’s questions. Definitely a master in her craft and great at explaining concepts. The course teaches you the fundamentals of wine from how it’s made and different styles, to pairing it with food (my favorite part). I highly recommend her courses and I look forward in continuing my wine education with her and following in her footsteps as a blogger to instructor!
Axel Jimenez –
I was very lucky to have taken the Level 1 course at Florida Wine Academy this past January. My wife gave me this as my present for Christmas and I really enjoyed it. Alessandra, is very knowledgeable and professional, the class exceeded my expectations, I learned so many different aspects about wine tasting, paring, rating as well as different varieties of wines and the regions were these are produced, I highly recommend to anyone who is interested on taking this class, either for expanding knowledge on wines or just to simply have fun while learning, this class will not disappoint anyone, on the other hand it will an awesome experience.
Cheers!
Axel Jimenez
Adriana (verified owner) –
It was a refreshing to find a committed wine professional teaching this class in Miami. I’ve had the opportunity of attending several tastings and classes in the past and can recommend this class as the most informative and structured. This class is about tasting and understanding the basis of wine from an educational perspective. It is also fun and every attendee can feed from the knowledge of others in the group.
Looking forward to taking next steps at this school!
Adriana McKinnon
Allison Ramirez –
As a wine enthusiast, my curiosity about wine has increased over time. The more I learn about it, the bigger my curiosity and interest. This is why, I enrolled to the very 1st WSET Level 1 class at the Florida Wine Academy. Looking back at the experience, I can honestly say that it changed my outlook on wine. It opened doors to a whole new world of knowledge, and sparked my curiosity even further. Will definitely come back for Level 2.
Allison Ramirez – Alli’s Pantry
Natalie Leon –
As a Winepreneur and Inspirational Wine Blogger with Wine With Nat, taking WSET Level 1 was the right decision. WSET Level 1 Award in Wines study guide and class provided me with a great introduction to the main types and styles of wine: light wines, sparkling wine, and fortified wine. It also provided information on how to store and serve wine, and the basic principles of food and wine pairing. I received the study guide well in advance, which made it easier to follow along in class. The class went in greater depth on wine tasting technique: look, smell, and taste. Alessandra with The Florida Wine Academy provided a great presentation and answered everyone’s questions before taking the exam. I highly recommend this class to any wine lovers or individuals ready to become a wine professional. I was provided with a better understanding and appreciation about wine. Looking forward to many more wine classes with the Florida Wine Academy.
Natalie Leon – http://www.winewithnat.net