What you'll learn
✓ Milk, making and terroir ✓ The families of cheese ✓ Rinds and affinage ✓ Protected names (PDO) ✓ Buying, storing, cutting and serving ✓ Pairing cheese with wine, beer and spirits
Highlight #1
Describe a key feature that sets you apart, solves a problem, or adds value to your users.
Highlight #2
Describe a key feature that sets you apart, solves a problem, or adds value to your users.
Highlight #3
Describe a key feature that sets you apart, solves a problem, or adds value to your users.
Who it's for
Cheese lovers, hosts and hospitality teams who build boards and recommend pairings. Certified Big Cheese™ is a nice warm-up but not required. You must be of legal drinking age (18+ or the legal age where you live) to take part in the tastings.
Curriculum
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Welcome to Certified Cheese Explorer™
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About your educator
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Your Explorer tasting list
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Lesson notes: Milk, Making and Terroir
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Chapter check: Milk, Making and Terroir
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Lesson notes: The Families of Cheese
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Chapter check: The Families of Cheese
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Lesson notes: Rinds and Affinage
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Chapter check: Rinds and Affinage
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Lesson notes: Protected Names
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Chapter check: Protected Names
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Lesson notes: Buying, Storing, Cutting and Serving
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Chapter check: Buying, Storing, Cutting and Serving
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Lesson notes: Pairing with Wine
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Chapter check: Pairing with Wine
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Lesson notes: Pairing with Beer and Spirits
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Chapter check: Pairing with Beer and Spirits
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Final review: ten facts
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Final exam
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Your certificate: Certified Cheese Explorer™
Pass the final exam and you receive your Certified Cheese Explorer™ 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.
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
Christian Esser is an official Cheese Educator
This is one of Christian’s personal educator titles. The course itself is created and certified by the Academy of Wine & Spirits.
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? Six months (183 days) from the day you enroll, so you can study at your own pace and come back to revise. 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 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? Any device with internet. To taste along: up to six cheese and drink pairs (the list is in the welcome lesson), with the right glass for each drink. 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? The full lesson notes, checks and final exam are ready now. Video lessons with Christian are being added through November, and you will see them as soon as they are published. Questions? Email [email protected] or call +1 (345) 938 0458. We are happy to help, including group bookings for teams.
Liquid Lively Fun
Seven modules, six pairings, one certificate. Study at your own pace for six months. Course image: Karl Gruber, CC BY-SA 4.0 Questions? [email protected] · +1 (345) 938 0458
$95.00