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Banville & Jones SeminarsAn introduction to the exciting world of wine. All evening seminars run 7pm - 9pm in the 2nd floor Tuscan room. Wine Basics Level 1
Designed for the beginner wine enthusiast. Wednesdays September 17 & 24 Thursdays October 23 & 30 Wednesdays January 7 & 14
Wine Basics Level 2
An intermediate course designed to build upon the knowledge gained in Level 1. Tuesdays June 3, 10, & 17 ( 3 classes) Tuesdays October 7,14,21 & 28 Thursdays January 29, February 5,12 & 19
Wine Wisdom Level 3This is an in-depth course that allows you to explore important and fascinating facts from the wine world. It is also intended to prepare students to write the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) qualifying exam through the Banville & Jones Wine Institute in conjunction with the Society of Wine Educators. This exam is optional. Level 3 is a great prep for further study in the International Sommelier Guild courses.
No prerequisites are required for Level 3.
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) - ExamThe Certified Specialist of Wine is a certificate program offered by Banville & Jones Wine Institute for the Society of Wine Educators. The program is a high level accomplishment and is recognized throughout North America. Upon completion of the Exam, the successful participants are granted the designation CSW, Certified Specialist of Wine.
There are no prerequisites for this exam, although it is strongly recommended that
you attend Level 3, Wine Wisdom.
The CSW exam is one evening, $295.00 plus taxes. Registration is taken at Banville & Jones, please contact the store for further information at 948-WINE(9463).
Optional Study Guide is $175.00 plus taxes (can be purchased at Banville & Jones).
Gift Certificates are available. UPCOMING DATES:** TBA 2009 **
To register for Basics Levels 1, 2 & 3, call 948-WINE (9463).
ISG certification
OverviewFrom our beginning in 1999, Banville & Jones Wine Co. has been committed to wine education. Now we take another big step forward with the introduction of the wine education program of the International Sommelier Guild (ISG) - a program intended for wine enthusiasts and for those pursuing a career in the food and hospitality industry. The ISG program consists of four courses that lead from an introduction of wine and spirits fundamentals (Levels 1 and 2) to certification as a Professional Sommelier and ultimately to a Grand Sommelier Diploma. The program responds to the demands of the modern wine consumer, a consumer with an appetite for accurate information and an expectation of a high level of service, and of an increasingly sophisticated hospitality industry. To meet these demands, the program employs a unique hybrid approach to the presentation of topics based on both regional-geographic and technological-varietal criteria. This approach differs from many traditional programs that emphasize only the regional-geographic aspects. We believe that a comprehensive understanding of wine includes not only knowledge of maps and history but also of viticulture and viniculture, of storage and service, of fundamentals and fads, of style and value, of wine and food, of quality and pleasure. Over the 15 years that the ISG has been certifying sommeliers, the program has significantly evolved. Initially, only the Sommelier Diploma Program was offered. The intense workload and high standards of this program resulted in a poor success rate among candidates challenging the final exam. Therefore, the program was expanded to include Wine Fundamentals Levels 1 and 2 in order to lay the groundwork for more intensive study, to increase the confidence of students, to promote long-term retention of knowledge, and to increase the success rate of participants. Banville & Jones Wine Institute now joins an international group of schools offering the ISG program. The schools include culinary schools, universities, and regional community colleges from coast to coast in Canada, United States, Australia and South America. We are proud that our own wine educator, Gary Hewitt, has achieved the high standards required of ISG instructors and will present our programs. Whether you are a food and wine lover thirsty for increased knowledge or a hospitality industry professional looking for new skills and greater job satisfaction, Banville & Jones Wine Institute and the International Sommelier Guild can help you reach your goals. go to topISG Certificate Level 1An introductory, 8-week course designated for the novice wine enthusiast. Wine Fundamentals Certificate Level 1 provides an introduction to the basic aspects of sensory evaluation - the components of wine appearance, aroma, and flavour. You will learn basic wine terminology which should help you understand label information and to describe wines that you taste. The basics of grape growing and winemaking will be covered. You will study the discerning characteristics of the major grape varieties by tasting wines from around the world and will be introduced to fortified and sparkling wines. Other topics will include the basics of food and wine matching, wine storage and aging, and wine service. You will taste approximately 50-60 different wines throughout this course and although the course is presented in a casual, fun atmosphere, students must pass a 60-question multiple choice exam to obtain certification. The overall goal is for you to gain an appreciation for all types of wines and to feel comfortable and confident when selecting and buying wine. The course runs for three hours once a week, for 8 weeks. Course cost: $550.00.
Upcoming Schedule:
Sign up at: International Sommelier Guild ISG Certificate Level 2A 15-week course designed to expand upon Wine Fundamentals Certificate Level 1. All topics of Level 1 will be developed to a greater extent. You will be exposed to all elements involved in the wine business including viticulture, vinification, and regional laws. You will begin to develop your blind tasting skills by studying Old and New World wine regions as well as sparkling and fortified wines. There will be greater emphasis on regional wines, on the practices that create the personality of each region's wines, and upon each region's special cuisine. Beer and spirits will be introduced and you will taste more than 100 wines. In addition, you will build on your service skills, food and wine pairing techniques, and proper storage practices. Although the casual, fun atmosphere continues, students must pass a 3-hour exam that consists of 100 multiple choice questions, 4 short answer questions, and a blind tasting of 4 wines to obtain certification. The goal of this course is to advance your understanding of wine and winemaking in order to prepare you for the Sommelier Diploma Program. The course runs for three hours, once per week, for 15 weeks. Course cost: $900.00.
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Sign up at: International Sommelier Guild Sommelier Diploma ProgramAn intensive 6-month course held once a week over a full day. The International Sommelier Guild Sommelier Diploma Program is the only professional program that accredits Sommeliers by direct instruction. We believe that a wine professional who can decipher and translate the overwhelming volume of wine-related information is the best guide for students. To maintain the standards of our instructors, each attends an annual conference that presents the latest information regarding research and development, new theories on food and wine pairing, current trends in the market place. The Sommelier Diploma Program is the defining benchmark for wine knowledge within the hospitality industry. The extremely broad ranging curriculum covers viticulture, vinification, tasting techniques, cellaring, investment strategy, menu design, and regional analysis of wines, spirits, and beer. Tasting is comprehensive and in-depth with regard to wine components and regional wines. You will taste over 400 wines, beer & spirits. A key objective of the program is the development of a high standard of wine service backed by knowledge, experience and technical expertise. To achieve certification, candidates must successfully pass all parts of a 5-part, 2-day examination that covers wine knowledge, restaurant wine management, wine service, and blind tasting. Upon successful completion of this intensive program, you will be on the forefront of the wine industry. You will enter the hospitality industry as a Sommelier, a certificate that identifies you as an informed and skilled individual. It marks you as a potential leader and provides you with a high level of professional mobility. Course cost: $2,700.00.
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Sign up at: International Sommelier Guild Instructor: Gary HewittGary brings a wealth of wine knowledge to his position as founding instructor of the Banville & Jones Wine Institute. Of particular note, Gary’s credentials include certification by both the International Sommelier Guild[i] and the Society of Wine Educators[ii] as a teacher of wine education programs. But this only scratches the surface, Gary’s knowledge of the world of wine runs deep.Gary’s fascination with wine began more than 25 years ago. Its genesis was simple curiosity, “Where on earth did this wonderful wine come from?”[iii]. A deceptively simple question that led to many more wines, voracious reading, wine appreciation courses, wine tasting clubs and ultimately, after a career change in 1994, to full-time employment in the wine industry. Gary’s wine interest did not evolve in a vacuum. He has an undergraduate degree in Food Science, a Master of Science with a specialization in Food Fermentations (his thesis was a study of yeast biochemistry), and 15 years of fermentation research experience at the University of British Columbia. (Add to this a couple of summer stints in quality control at Labatt’s brewery and a recent practicum with Weingut Lingenfelder in the Pfalz wine region of Germany and Gary has some good hands-on experience too.) Gary returned to his hometown of Winnipeg in 1994 and subsequently worked part-time for several years gaining knowledge of the retail wine market in Winnipeg and developing wine appreciation programs for the public and restaurant trade. Then in 1999, he turned full-time pro with Banville and Jones Wine Co. Today, Gary is a principal wine buyer, is heavily involved with restaurant menu development, acts as host for tastings, dinners and special events, and of course, runs the wine appreciation courses and programs. Comprehensive knowledge of wine requires first-hand knowledge not just of the wines and how they are made but also of wine regions and producers. Gary’s first-hand experience is continually being enhanced with trips to wine and spirit trade shows (Vinexpo, ViniSud, Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Show, Vinitaly and ProWein), to wine conferences (Society of Wine Educators, International Sommelier Guild) and to wine producing regions. In the past five years, he has traveled in Canada (Okanagan Valley, Niagara Peninsula), USA (California , Oregon), France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Chablis, North Rhone), Italy (Tuscany, Veneto) Germany (Ahr, Mosel, Rheingau, Rheinhessen, Pfalz) and Australia (Victoria, Barossa Valley, McLaren Vale, Coonawarra, Clare Valley). Over the past 10 years, Gary has gained a reputation as an instructor fully in command of his subject yet capable of presenting it in understandable language. His love of wine and honest assessments have received repeated commendation from students. His classes are informative, provocative and fun.
[i] In 2002, Gary completed the Certified Sommelier program of the International Sommelier Guild. He was under assessment during the program as potential instructor. Gary’s final marks were among the top 5 ever achieved in the program! [ii] In 2000, Gary became Manitoba’s First Certified Wine Educator (CWE) as recognized by the Society of Wine Educators, an international society with headquarters in Washington DC. As such he joined a select group of active CWEs, approximately 75 worldwide and 5 in Canada. Historically the pass rate on first attempt for those standing this examination is less than 10 percent. [iii] The wine was a 1970 Riesling Spatlese from the Rheingau region of Germany – an exceptional vintage! For more information, you can email Gary Hewitt - Instructor, Sommelier, CWE or Tina Jones - Owner |