In this lesson, you'll learn the basics of wine tasting and the definitions of common terminology used by wine enthusiasts. You'll find out about the six grapes that make up roughly 80% of the quality wine in the United States. After completing this lesson you'll be able to communicate effectively with other wine lovers in a language you'll love to speak.

Well-made red wines have more flavor components and are typically more complex than white wines. Great reds have a wider range of fruit flavors, as well as a noticeable amount of tannin, which gives more character to the wine. In this exciting lesson, you'll learn for yourself what this means to you and how to get ready to indulge yourself to the max!

This lesson will go into the vineyard and winery to see how Champagne and sparkling wines get their bubbly personalities. The unique combination of climate, soil composition, and winemaker skill help make the sparkling wines the prima donnas of the wine world. By the end of this fun and informative lesson, you'll know all about different types of sparkling wines, including how to serve them and what foods to pair them with. As cellarmaster Dom Pérignon said, "Come, for I am drinking stars!"

The United States is a big place and almost every state has wineries. There's no doubt that American wines compete head on with the best wines that Europe produces. In this lesson you'll learn about the world of wine in America. America has rich, vibrant wine traditions that will be shared with you in this lesson. This lesson will concentrate on nine of the most popular wine regions. You'll learn that contrary to popular belief, California does not hold a monopoly on great wines—far from it. There's an old Gallic saying: A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine. Put your walking shoes on, splash some suntan lotion on your face, and grab your favorite wineglass.

In this informative lesson, you'll broaden your knowledge and appreciation of wine by learning about French and Italian wines and the simple technique that sommeliers use to predict the flavor style of a wine based on the wine's country of origin: Old World and New World.

The fact that you're signing up for the class shows that you are, like many others, the curious type. Your adventurous spirit helps you branch out and order a bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir instead of the house red because this Pinot Noir fits your flavor profile. In this lesson, that same curiosity and budding confidence will help you branch out even further as you are taught about three more wine regions: Australia, South America, and Spain.

Strategy is everything, and in this lesson, you'll learn some creative maneuvers. In this lesson you'll learn how to buy wine at a retail shop, how to order it at a restaurant, and how to enjoy it on a wine country vacation. You’ve been covered anyway you look at it, so just sit back and enjoy the ride!

In this lesson, you'll discover how to achieve the perfect food and wine match by applying a few basic principles to the pairing process. This lesson will examine how to match the body of a dish to the body of a wine. You'll also learn what role tannins, sweetness, and acidity play in making the perfect match. You'll understand which cooking methods complement which wines. It’s a promise; you'll never look at grilling and braising the same way again! This lesson will also look at a few of the more classic food and wine matches and will explore how to create an entire dinner, from appetizers to dessert. This is a fun and appetizing lesson and will appeal to every one of your senses. Get you wine glass and saucepan out and join everyone for a cook's tour of wine country.

At this point in your wine appreciation journey, your curiosity is catching up with your knowledge. That's a good thing—congratulations! That combination puts you on the road to another level of wine appreciation known as cellaring and collecting. In this lesson you'll learn about the fine art of both.