Wine Seminar to Develop Palate and Service Skills

Sensory Evaluation & Service is the third of four courses in the From Vine to Table Wine Studies Certificate series being offered through HSU’s eLearning and Extended Education Program.

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Sensory Evaluation & Service takes place Thursday, October 6 through Saturday, October 8, beginning at Crush Wine Bar in Arcata and culminating with a trip to Fieldbrook for a hands-on experience of harvest winemaking activities with both Fieldbrook Winery and Trinity River Vineyards. Students will also have a chance to taste and evaluate select wines from the barrel.

Wine educator and consultant Pam Long teaches the class as an interactive, hands-on chance to learn to professionally taste and articulately describe many of the world’s wines that are commonly found on wine lists and chalkboards at restaurants, cafés, pubs and wine bars.

“For any restaurant server, café owner, beverage buyer or wine bar pourer, taking the steps to learn how to describe flavors and buy good-value wines helps to build repeat customers and increase sales overall,” Long explains. “The seminar will be focused mainly on palate development and learning about wines of the world, plus serving technique and tips on how to engage with a customer about choosing a wine.”

Sensory Evaluation & Service kicks off on Thursday, October 6, with a meet-and-greet reception from 5:30-7:00 p.m. at Crush Wine Bar in Arcata. On Friday, October 7, classroom instruction takes place at the Humboldt Bay Aquatic Center in Eureka from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Wine tastings and food pairings are offered throughout the day as part of the course. A Saturday, October 8 field trip to Fieldbrook includes the opportunity to view 2016 harvest activities with both Fieldbrook Winery and Trinity River Farm’s winemakers and cellar staff.

The final From Vine to Table Wine Certificate course, called Marketing Wine in Humboldt County and Beyond, is scheduled for November 10-12, 2016.

Educator and wine writer Elizabeth Hans McCrone will share her eight plus years of wine industry experience with students on an exploration in developing new skills for creating a successful wine brand, beginning at the local level. Participants will learn about the intricacies of product distribution, brand marketing and building a loyal customer base. Guided wine tasting, wine and food pairing for the holidays, and visits to local wineries are included in the class.

For registration and more information, call (707) 826-3731 or go to www.humboldt.edu/extended.