Wine Foundation Program — Spring Semester
Blind Tasting, Sensory Method, and the Structure of Wine
The Foundation Sommelier Program is the essential starting point for serious wine study.
Wine, at its core, is understood through taste. Professionals across winemaking, hospitality, and wine education share a common skill: the ability to extract reliable information from the glass and translate sensory perception into clear, structured conclusions. This course is designed to teach that skill.
The Foundation Program trains students in blind tasting and sensory analysis — not as performance, but as method. Students learn how wine communicates varietal, structure, style, and production choices through aroma, texture, and balance, and how to describe those elements with accuracy and discipline.
This course is the required first step toward sommelier certification and the first half of the Core Sommelier Program.
Where the Foundation Program Fits
To earn sommelier certification, students must complete both:
- Foundation (Level Two)
- Intermediate (Level Three)
The Foundation Program builds sensory and analytical fluency through blind tasting. The Intermediate Program builds regional, cultural, and stylistic understanding using those tasting skills.
Most students choose to enroll in the Core Sommelier Program, which integrates both levels into a single, cohesive education and is significantly more cost-effective than enrolling separately.
What This Course Teaches
The Foundation Program focuses on how wine is analyzed, not where it comes from.
Students are trained to:
- Taste wines blind using a repeatable analytical structure
- Identify major grape varieties through sensory markers
- Distinguish Old World and New World styles through balance and construction
- Understand how acidity, tannin, alcohol, body, and texture interact
- Recognize how winemaking decisions influence flavor and structure
- Communicate sensory conclusions clearly and precisely
The emphasis is on discipline, calibration, and consistency. Blind tasting is treated as a tool for understanding wine, not as an end in itself.
Blind Tasting as a Method
Blind tasting in the Foundation Program is systematic and analytical.
Students learn how to:
- Isolate structure before aroma
- Evaluate balance and intent
- Test hypotheses against sensory evidence
- Reach defensible conclusions without relying on labels or reputation
This skill set is essential. Without it, regional and stylistic study becomes descriptive rather than analytical — which is why Foundation competence is required before advancing to the Intermediate level.
Assessment and Expectations
Students are evaluated through:
- Active participation in guided tastings and discussion
- In-class blind tasting exercises
- A multiple-choice final exam
- A final blind tasting assessment
Assessment emphasizes accuracy, consistency, and clarity of reasoning rather than memorization.
Who This Course Is For
The Foundation Program is designed for:
- Serious wine students beginning formal study
- Professionals entering wine, hospitality, or education
- Winemakers seeking sensory calibration
- Dedicated enthusiasts who want structure and rigor
No prior experience is required. The course is open to students at all levels, but expectations rise quickly.
Instruction
Instruction is direct, rigorous, and discussion-driven. Classes focus on tasting, reasoning, and clarity rather than slides or rote learning. The goal is fluency: the ability to taste with confidence and explain conclusions clearly in real-world settings.
“The Foundation program is truly a unique and enjoyable learning experience… it is the only chemistry class you will fall in love with.”
— Bob Pigeon, Executive Editor, De Capo Press
Schedule and Format
- Sundays, April 12 to June 7
- 4:00–6:00 pm
- No class on Mother’s Day
- In-person instruction
Next Steps
Students who complete the Foundation Program may continue into the Intermediate Sommelier Program (Level Three) to study major wine regions, classical styles, and comparative regional systems. Most students choose the Core Sommelier Program, which combines both levels into a single semester of integrated study and offers the best overall value.