Some info on upcoming wine courses in Singapore for year 2013

Here's a little 'mid-year update' on upcoming wine courses in Singapore.

A. WSQ Provide Advice on Wine

This course is ideal for those who have the time to attend courses on a full day basis. It'll provide you with a quick introduction to wine and wine service.

Its a '2 full days' course held on 13th and 14th August 2013; between 9am - 6pm each day. Full fee is $400 (+GST); but there's subsidy available for those working in SMEs and non-SMEs.

It covers areas like:
- Wine Knowledge
- Wine Marketing and Sales Skills
- Wine Services Knowledge
- Wine Labels interpretation Skills
- Provide Advice on Storage
- Tasting Practice


B. Certificate of Performance in Science and Business of Wine
(The 31st intake just commenced on 1st July.) The next intake is scheduled on Sept 2013.

For more details on both courses, you can visit : www.sp.edu.sg under (Continuing Education) or call 67721288.


C. WSET wine courses
I came across a new course provider in town for WSET wine courses. Those keen may want to visit the website for more information: www.winelanguage.sg


For information on other wine courses and course providers in Singapore, you can read an earlier blog entry 'on wine courses for year 2013'. 

Wine courses in Singapore for year 2013

Received queries recently asking advice on wine courses for the coming year. I am listing below some of the course providers in town and a few sites which can provide additional information.

If you are contend on knowing about wine alone, then the courses from Singapore Polytechnic should be able to provide relevant knowledge. If you want to study about spirits as well, then the WSET courses may be more ideal. There are wine enthusiasts who first begin with the Singapore Poly certificate and then at a later date go on to take up the WSET courses as well.

If you are keen to seek employment as a sommelier or beverage manager, then the Court of Master Sommelier accreditation may be more appealing as it covers 'other beverages and service' part as well. This course is well received in Singapore within the F&B community.

The recent years have also seen good interest from those in the wine community for the Certified Specialist of Wine  (CSW) accreditation. Apart from those in the wine trade, others like writers, wine hobbyists and serious enthusiasts have gone on to obtain this certification.

Hope the following info helps :)

Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS)

I hear that this popular and demanding certification (both Levels 1 and 2) will once again be held in Singapore in the near future. For information on registration you can email to: mohamadfazil33@gmail.com

Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET).

There are 2 course providers in town who can help you.

1. Wine & Co Consultancy conducts Levels 1-3. For details on future intakes you can visit: http://www.winenco.com/educate.html
(To what I hear, the upcoming Level 1 is on 19 Jan 2013; Level 2 on 23 Feb 2013 and Level 3 on 2 Feb 2013. You can contact them for more info at 65478179).

2. SHATEC's Continuing Education and Training Dept is conducting Levels 1 - 4. For courses under SHATEC you can visit http://www.shatec-cet.sg/cet-workshops/lifestyle-workshops.html

French Wine Scholar (by French Wine Society)

This course is introduced locally via Wine & Co Consultancy. The information about the previous course details state that it is crafted into a '4 sessions of 6-hour classes; average 10-12 wines offered for tasting each class; and its for people in wine trade and hobbyists as well'. For information on future intakes visit : www.winenco.com/educate.html

Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) by Society of Wine Educators

For those keen on taking this certification locally, Mr Lim Hwee Peng will be able to assist you. You can seek more information via: www.winecraftmktg.com

Local Certifications

1. Certificate of Performance in Science and Business of Wine 

This is a local wine certificate awarded by Singapore Polytechnic. It has conducted more than 20 intakes of this course. The next course commences in 21 Jan 2013. Information can be found at www.sp.edu.sg (look under 'Continuing Education and Short Courses'.

2. WSQ-Provide Advice on Wine

This course is also conducted by Singapore Polytechnic. The next intake starts on 20 Feb 2013. Information can be found at www.sp.edu.sg (look under 'Continuing Education and WSQ courses'.


Have a good year discovering wines.

Wine courses in Singapore for year 2012

 (Hi, an update: Did a recent blog entry on wine courses and program providers for year 2013; you can read about it at: Wine Courses in Singapore for year 2013).


The new year has begun bringing with it a series of wine courses. This hints at a growing demand among the people here for wine knowledge; be it for professional needs or for hobby-driven curiosity.

I've briefly outlined below available courses and the respective organizers so that it makes it easy for those curious to check out the options available. Attending these courses could pave the way towards a new career option or at the very least provide an opportunity to meet like-minded wine enthusiasts :)

Singapore Poly has already commenced the Certificate of Performance in 'Science, Art and Business of Wine' course on 9 January 2012. Good news is three more intakes are planned for this year. Those interested in the next intake can visit the page on www.sp.edu.sg for more information.
 
One other wine course by Singapore Poly is the 'WSQ Provide Advice on Wine'. Its a 2-days course (the coming one being the 8th intake). Two intakes are planned this year. The upcoming one is on 13th and 14th Mar 2012 (daily from 9am-6pm). For more information on course details, target audience, fee details and SDF subsidy offered you can visit the following page; www.sp.edu.sg

If you are more keen on international wine courses then the WSET wine courses may provide an ideal option.

Wine & Co Consultancy is offering the following levels this month:
WSET Level 1, Introduction to Sommelier; (over 2 days) on 25 and 26 Feb 2012.
WSET Level 2 on 4, 11, and 18 Feb 2012
WSET Level 3 (distance learning) commences on 11 Mar 2012.
For more info on Wine & Co's courses you can visit: http://www.winenco.com/educate.html


SHATEC's Continuing Education and Training Dept has scheduled for five WSET Level 2 courses and two Level 3 courses for year 2012. For course schedule, course outline and fee structure you can visit the respective pages:
a. WSET Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wine & Spirits
b. WSET Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Wine & Spirits 

I hope this summary helps you to plan for your wine studies this year :)

Wine Course: Certificate of Performance in Wine (last intake for year 2011)

Singapore Polytechnic and Wine Resources are once again conducting the above mentioned wine course. This will be the 24th intake and the last one for this year.

If you have been intending to pick up some wine knowledge before this year ends, this will be a good opportunity to do so. This intake is from 6th Sept - 5 Dec 2011.

You will be able to obtain relevant details pertaining to this course at www.sp.edu.sg

If you have not taken up any formal wine course before, why wait ? :)

Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) wine courses in Singapore for year 2011

I was sipping wine at Vintry the other day when a few at the table were inquiring about wine courses in Singapore, particularly the WSET series of wine courses. I did agree to get some info on current course providers for the year 2011 and found two in Singapore.

If you are thinking of pursuing these courses yourself, the following information may be useful :)

Oriton School shows itself for conducting 2 of the WSET courses for 2011:

a. WSET Level 1 Certificate in Wine

b. WSET Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wine & Spirits 

SHATEC's Continuing Education and Training Dept conducts the following for this year:

a. WSET Level 2 Intermediate Certificate in Wine & Spirits

b. WSET Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Wine & Spirits 

These wine courses are internationally recognised and needless to say, quite a few wine sommeliers and wine sales people in Singapore have pursued these courses over the last few years.

Check them out if you are seeking some wine knowledge and qualifications :)

Singapore's local wine course

Singapore Polytechnic is once again conducting its local wine course called Certificate of Performance in Wine (The Science and Business of Wine). This will be its 22nd intake and this course commences on 4 april 2011. Costing around $700, it includes 3 modules. They are:

a. the wine knowledge and service module

b. the business module, and

c. the sommelier module.

Apart from theory, this course includes tastings exercises, food and wine pairings sessions and a lab-based practical session.

If memory serves right, the first intake of this wine course was held in april 2006. Its good to see the demand for this program being strong enough to see 21 intakes through. This course may interest those seeking employment within the local wine industry and also wine enthusiasts who wish to widen their knowledge on wine and wine appreciation.

Its also a good way to meet wine lovers!

Those keen to know more details on this course may wish to check out www.sp.edu.sg for more information.

Tips for passing the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam

Was having a few sips with a wine group recently when someone there said that he intends to take the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) exam soon. Not having much time for studies, he plans to attempt the exam with current knowledge gained by pursuing other wine related courses (WSET courses) and his work experience as a wine sales representative.

Though most in the group encouraged his attempt, those who have attempted this certification before questioned his strategy. It looks simple, tackle a 100 multiple choice questions and you are done (no short questions, essays or tastings for this exam). However the level of difficulty at which these questions are set is slightly different from other wine courses. My suggestions for passing this exam are:

a. Don't just rely on knowledge gained by attending courses under WSET or Court of Master Sommeliers. These are great and well recognized courses (and will obviously give you a good foundation), but the CSW exam test you on material based on its own syllabus. Unfortunately the CSW syllabus does differ from WSET and Court of Master Sommelier wine courses. Its emphasis on history, geography (wine regions, esp that of US, Austria, Central and Eastern Europe) and wine chemistry is different. Though knowledge from other wine courses and work experience in the wine industry will greatly help to understand CSW's syllabus (and even answer some of the exam questions), the challenge will be to get sufficient questions right to pass the exam the first round. 

b. Sign up as a professional member of the Society of Wine Educators (SWE) and you will gain access to on-line study materials. It will cost you, but it will be worth the dollars and cents if you are serious about passing this exam (preferably in the first attempt). The on-line materials will give you an idea on the depth you will need to study and the key areas to concentrate on for each unit.

c. Get the most recent CSW study guide. (Yup, its gets updated.) Its heavy reading with lots of facts to remember but at least you can rest assured that you are reading the appropriate materials for the upcoming exam.

d. Attempt all on-line multiple choice questions (this really helps!). (You will be able to do this if you signed with the Society as a professional member.) It will give you an idea on the type of questions which can be asked for each unit and the level of difficulty the examiners are looking at when designing with multiple choice questions. I would advise you to attempt these questions again and again until you get all of them right. It will condition your mind to look out for relevant points to remember when reading the guide. You may also just find a few of these questions being asked during the actual exam.

e. When attempting multiple choice questions, as important it is in knowing the right answer, at times it is just as important in identifying what is obviously the 'incorrect answers' among the choices given. But to gain this knowledge one has to be very familiar with the study guide. Going through the study guide as a 'light read' a few times helps one's mind 'figure out' the 'likely wrong options'  when looking at a multiple choice question.

Hope the tips help!

CSW and CSS programs in Singapore

For this year 2011, the Academy of Wine Singapore Pte Ltd is bringing in the Certified Specialist in Wine (CSW) and the Certified Specialist of Spirit (CSS) programs to Singapore. Though the CSW program has previously been conducted several times in Singapore, this is the first time the CSS is planned to be conducted here. Both programs are certifications awarded by the Society of Wine Educators (USA).


These programs brood well for the training and certification of the growing number of f&b folks in the local scene and enthusiasts keen on wine and spirits. One great plus is the fact that those keen need not travel all the way to US to qualify for these certifications. The exams for both these certifications are held in Singapore.


For more information on these certifications and exam dates, you may wish to contact:
Academy of Wine Singapore Pte Ltd
Address : 109 North Bridge Road #02-15, Funan Center, Singapore 179097
Tel : 65 9835 0238 (Tommy Lam)
email : tommylam@academyofwinesingapore.com

Ever thought of equipping yourself with a CSW wine certification?

Those residing in Singapore and intent on sitting for the Certfied Specialist of Wine (CSW) program can do so in Febuary 2010 and do so right here in Singapore.

For those unfamiliar with this certification, it is one of the professional wine educator certification program conducted by the Society of Wine Educators (USA). The other 2 certification programs conducted by this Society are the Certified Specialist of Spirit (CSS) and the Certified Wine Educator (CWE).

For more information on this certification and exam to be held in Feb 2010, you may wish to contact:

Academy of Wine Singapore Pte Ltd

Address : 109 North Bridge Road #02-15, Funan Center, Singapore 179097

Fax : 65 6835 0819 Tel : 65 9664 7979 (Mrs. Lam), 65 9835 0238 (Tommy Lam)

email : tommylam@academyofwinesingapore.com

Unlike 10 years ago where there was hardly any wine courses available, one positive change at present in the Singapore scene is the availability of wine courses under different bodies. At present wine professionals as well as wine enthusiasts have the opportunity to pursue professional courses under WSET, Court of Master Sommeliers and Society of Wine Educators. Local institutions like Singapore polytechnic and Temasek polytechnic have also initiated wine courses of their own at certificate levels.

This broods well for those in the wine trade and for enthusiasts who prefer to equip themselves with knowledge about an area of interest they are passionate about.