Fairleigh Dickinson University

Wine Bottles

Discovering the World of Wine

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Fairleigh Dickinson University's International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management has launched a new online wine course. This course was created, written and produced by Ron Kapon, wine writer and educator and teacher of the FDU classroom wine course for 16 years, and Pat Savoie, wine writer and educator. The course includes tasting videos by Philippe Newlin.

The complete course -- 26 classes listed at left, many of them with insight-filled tasting videos -- is only $149. Please use the Questions and Comments form to inquire about corporate discounts.

In addition to wine lovers of any level of experience, the class is ideal for:

  • Restaurant Sommeliers, Wine buyers and Wait staff
  • Executive Chefs, Sous Chefs, Banquet Chefs, Chefs, Cooks
  • Wine Importers and Distributors and their Sales Representatives
  • Convention Managers, Catering Directors
  • Meeting and Banquet Planners
  • Retail Wine and Liquor Store Owners and Staff

Benefits of the course

  • Develop wine knowledge and increase staff credibility
  • Impress clients and customers and increase wine sales
  • Learn wine the way people drink it -- by the grape, not by geographic area
  • New approaches to wine and food pairing
  • Enjoy wine more by making educated choices

Discovering the World of Wine will not only deliver these benefits to the novice, who is just sticking their nose into the glass, but will be interesting and instructive for the experienced wine lover.

Discovering the World of Wine is different from any other online or DVD course.  It consists of over two dozen individual Classes, each on a different wine topic. Each Class is concise and clearly written with all the important information you will need to gain an understanding of the topic.

You learn wine through the grape

A dozen of the Classes have accompanying Tasting Videos, in which Professor Philippe Newlin explores seven wines with a group of student tasters. All but four of these classes are organized by grape type because we believe that comparing wines by grape variety across several different growing places is the best way to understand how and why grapes and their wines differ and to figure out what you like. For example, seven Pinot Noirs or seven Rieslings or Sauvignon Blancs from different countries are compared and contrasted.  

The student tasters make comments and raise questions, just as in a real classroom. In addition, each Class has a list of the wines tasted in the Tasting Video and suggestions for substitutes so you can purchase them and taste along with Professor Newlin and the students.

Four of the Classes and Tasting Videos address some of the most known and complex wine regions – Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Tuscany -- and focus on what is most important in those areas: what makes them unique and what wines they produce.

There are maps of key wine areas and over a dozen short videos featuring winemakers or great chefs commenting on grapes, wines and food pairings.

Other Classes take you into a retail store, where the store manager talks about selecting wines. Or, into one of New York's top restaurants where four diners negotiate the menu and wine list and talk with the Sommelier to pair wines with their food.

Discovering the World of Wine is not like any other wine course. We think that when you complete it, not only will you understand more about wine but you will have had fun doing so.

Ron Kapon and Pat Savoie

To find out more about this new course, see the introductory pages and videos listed at right, and use the Questions and Comments form to contact FDU.

Register by calling Fairleigh Dickinson University Continuing Education at 201-692-6500.

Already registered? See Your Course Access.

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Praise for the Course

from Laurent Drouhin, Sally Jessy Raphael, Vitalie Taittinger, and others.

About This Course

"You learn about wine through the grape."

Introductory Video

Ron Kapon, Pat Savoie, and Philippe Newlin introduce the features that distinguish this new online course

Sample Tasting Video

An excerpt from the Pinot Gris video showing Philippe Newlin's engaging, informative style

About the Authors

Background on the creators of the course.

Radio Interview

Listen in as Ron Kapon and Pat Savoie are interviewed on iWineRadio.

List of Videos

The list of lively informative videos, some in classroom format, some as interviews with experts, that are included in the course.

Questions and Comments Form

Please contact us for more information about the course.