The SAQ is offering wine tasting courses in Montreal, Laval and Quebec. What a nice gift to give the Bride & Groom that seems to have everything. Here's the info:
Tasting courses
Wine, port and beer appreciation courses for clients, available in French.
Tasting courses is an instruction program especially designed to meet Quebecers' interest in learning more about wine, port and beer. This program is presented by SAQ specialists and consists of several levels of courses offered throughout the province. For details, see course schedules listed below.
Courses can be organized in most regions of Quebec upon request (minimum 21 participants).
Level 1 - A World to Discover
Prerequisite: None Level 1 provides an introduction to the classification of wines. Participants learn to select the wines that best suit their tastes. In addition, this introductory level course presents wine tasting techniques and guidelines for matching food and wine. The course consists of weekly three-hour evening classes scheduled over a five-week period, and includes a theme-based wine tasting with every class.
Cost is $215 including taxes, course material and wine-tasting glasses.
Consult course schedule (French only):
Level 2 - A World Without Borders
Prerequisite: Level 1 Level 2 focuses on increasing participants' knowledge of wines originating from France and Italy. The course provides information on Appellations d'origine contrôlées (A.O.C.), on the differences and characters of wine and on the concept of crus classés and grand crus classés (classified growth). This course consists of weekly three-hour evening classes scheduled over a five-week period, and includes a theme-based wine tasting with every class.
Cost is
$235 including taxes, course material and wine-tasting glasses.
Level 3 - A World of Passion and Pleasure
Prerequisite: Level 2Level 3 places the emphasis on learning through experience. Participants are invited to discover a whole world of pleasure and passion through wine tasting. Exercises and tasting sessions are carried out under the guidance of a specialist commentator in a relaxed setting conducive to interaction, thus giving the proceedings a more Epicurean flavour. This course consists of weekly three-hour evening classes scheduled over a five-week period. Each class includes a wine tasting. The fifth class consists of a gourmet meal during which participants are asked to test their knowledge by ordering the wines.
Cost is $330 including taxes, course material and wine-tasting glasses.
Wines from the New World
Prerequisite: Level 1 This course about wines from the New World will let you acquaint yourself with the youngest wine-producing countries and discover the characteristics of their main wines. Canada, the United States, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand are covered. The course consists of weekly three-hour evening classes scheduled over a three-week period and includes a theme-based wine tasting with every class.
Cost is $150, including taxes, course material and wine-tasting glasses.
Port
Prerequisite (recommended): Level 1 This course consists of weekly three-hour evening classes scheduled over a two-week period. Participants learn about the main characteristics of port and the various policies and factors influencing its region. In addition, the course covers the different types of port, its production, food pairing, and tasting techniques.
Cost is $135 including taxes, course material and wine-tasting glasses.
Become a Beer Connoisseur
Prerequisite: None Specialists from the Société des alcools du Québec are available to teach you more about beer. This course, consisting of two evening classes with a tasting session after each one, covers the various types of beer, food pairing, the brewing process and mastering beer-tasting techniques.
Cost is
$110 including taxes and course material.
Varietals: Get to Know Them
Prerequisite: Level 1 This course covers the characteristics of 16 vine varieties and how winemaking is affected by such factors as climate, soil and vinification methods. Along with the theory component, there are learning activities and a tasting of six wines per session. This course starts in September 2007, with four three-hour sessions over four weeks.
Cost is $220, including taxes, course materials and tasting glasses.
For complete course info, along with contact information and schedules please check out the SAQ at http://www.saq.com
