What you'll learn

✓ The five wine styles and the six grapes to know first: Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Pinot Noir, Merlot and Cabernet Sauvignon ✓ How to read any wine label, including the grape behind famous place names such as Chablis, Sancerre, Chianti and Rioja ✓ How to shop for wine like a pro: style, food and budget, value and storage ✓ How to order from a restaurant wine list with confidence, and when (and when not) to send a bottle back ✓ How to serve and store wine: temperatures, glasses, opening still and sparkling wine ✓ The four tasting steps (Look, Smell, Taste, Decide) and two simple food-pairing rules

Who it's for

Wine lovers who want real-world confidence, with no experience needed. ✓ Curious beginners ✓ Anyone who wants to shop and order with confidence ✓ Hosts who want to serve wine well at home No jargon, no snobbery: just Liquid Lively Fun. You must be of legal drinking age (18+ or the legal age where you live) to take part in the tastings.

Curriculum

9 Chapters · 18 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to First Pour™

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      About your educator

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson notes: Wine basics made easy

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Check: Wine basics made easy

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson notes: How to read a wine label

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Check: How to read a wine label

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson notes: How to buy wine like a pro

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Check: How to buy wine like a pro

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson notes: Restaurant wine lists demystified

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Check: Restaurant wine lists demystified

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson notes: Serving and storing wine

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Check: Serving and storing wine

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson notes: Taste like you mean it

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Check: Taste like you mean it

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Lesson notes: Insider hacks and food

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Check: Insider hacks and food

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Final review: ten facts

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Final exam

Academy of Wine & Spirits logo

Your certificate: AWS Intro to Wine – First Pour™

Pass the final exam and you receive your AWS Intro to Wine – First Pour™ certificate, signed by Christian Esser, Director of Education, Academy of Wine & Spirits. Add it to your CV and LinkedIn profile and show guests and employers what you know.

Christian Esser, Director of Education, Academy of Wine & Spirits

Meet your educator: Christian Esser

Christian Esser is the founder and Director of Education of the Academy of Wine & Spirits, winner of two LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2026 (Caribbean & USA): Best Luxury Beverage Education Provider and Hospitality Training Excellence Award. A Wine, Spirits & Sake Educator with formal training in viticulture and winemaking, he brings 20+ years of experience across 43 countries. He founded The Rum Ambassador, the first international rum certification, with WIRSPA, and led wine programmes at Grand Old House, Ortanique and Cayman Spirits Co. Liquid Lively Fun

Award-winning education

LUXlife Hospitality Awards 2026 · Caribbean & USA ★ Best Luxury Beverage Education Provider 2026 ★ Hospitality Training Excellence Award 2026

Frequently asked questions

How long do I have access? 6 months' access. Once you enroll, you can revisit the course whenever you like for 6 months. Can I start anytime? Yes. The course is 100% online and self-paced: start the moment you enroll and study on any device, whenever it suits you. It takes about 3–4 hours in total, in seven short modules you can finish one at a time. What language is it in? The course is taught online in English. What do I need? A phone, tablet or computer with internet. For the six taste-alongs: a Prosecco, a New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, a Provence rosé, a Pinot Noir, an oaked Chardonnay and a Cabernet Sauvignon (the full tasting list is in the welcome lesson). You can still complete the course without tasting. How does the exam work? A short, ungraded check after each module, then a 30-question final exam. Score 70% or more to pass; you have two attempts. Are there videos? Video lessons are being added through November; the lesson notes already cover everything you need. What's next? Continue with AWS Level 1 in Wines – Certified Wine Enthusiast™. Questions? Email [email protected] or call +1 (345) 938 0458. We are happy to help, including group bookings for teams.

Liquid Lively Fun

Pour a glass and start exploring: 3–4 hours, seven modules, six taste-alongs and your AWS certificate. Course image: Fabio Ingrosso, CC BY 2.0. Questions? [email protected] · +1 (345) 938 0458

$95.00

Enroll now – US$95