What you'll learn

✓ From milk to cheese: cow, goat, sheep and buffalo ✓ The seven families of cheese ✓ Rinds, ripening and flavour ✓ PDO: the cheese passport ✓ Buying, storing and serving cheese ✓ Pairing cheese with wine

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 staff who build boards and recommend pairings. No experience needed. You must be of legal drinking age (18+ or the legal age where you live) to take part in the tastings.

Curriculum

6 Chapters · 10 Lessons

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Welcome to Certified Big Cheese™

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      About your educator

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      From milk to cheese

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Cow, goat, sheep and buffalo

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      The seven families of cheese

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Rinds, ripening and flavour

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      PDO: the cheese passport

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Buying, storing and serving cheese

    2. (Included in full purchase)

      Pairing cheese with wine

    1. (Included in full purchase)

      Final quiz

Academy of Wine & Spirits logo

Your certificate: Certified Big Cheese™

Pass the final exam and you receive your Certified Big Cheese™ 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

Academy of Cheese logo

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? Lifetime access. Once you enroll, the course is yours to revisit whenever you like. 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 90 minutes in total, and you can pause whenever you like. What language is it in? The course is taught online in English. What do I need? Any device with internet. To taste along (see the printable tasting list): Camembert de Normandie with a Beaujolais, Parmigiano Reggiano with a Chianti Classico, and Manchego with a Rioja Crianza. You can still complete the course without tasting. How does the exam work? A 15-question final quiz. Score 70% or more to pass; you have two attempts. Questions? Email [email protected] or call +1 (345) 938 0458. We are happy to help, including group bookings for teams.

Liquid Lively Fun

Say cheese! About 90 minutes, 10 short video lessons, a printable tasting list and your certificate. Questions? [email protected] · +1 (345) 938 0458

$29.00

Enroll now – US$29