About the course

In part one of Wines of the World, we demystify the wines of Europe, including France, Spain, Portugal, Hungary, Germany and Austria.

Over nine comprehensive modules, you'll learn about European wine laws and appellations, the grape varieties and wine styles associated with classic regions, and how to comfortably compare them to the wines we produce in Australia.

Led by wine experts Philip Rich and Sebastian Zotti, our aim is to expand your overall wine knowledge, give you more confidence in navigating the European section on wine lists and in bottle shops, and maybe even inspire you to diversify your home cellar. 

While there is a degree of assumed wine knowledge, this course allows you to learn at your own pace and test yourself as you go. If you find you need a refresher, you can go back to basics with our Introduction to Wine course. 

Wines of the World – Part One: Europe

Curriculum

    1. Course Introduction

    2. Introduction to European Wine Laws

    3. Introduction to Appellation

    4. PDOs

    5. PGIs

    1. Overview

    2. Classification System

    3. Climate

    1. Region: Champagne

    2. Champagne Climate

    3. Key Champagne Varieties

    4. Champagne Styles 

    5. Champagne Market Structure 

    6. Region: Bordeaux

    7. Introduction to Left Bank vs Right Bank

    8. Left Bank vs. Right Bank

    9. Introduction to Classification of Bordeaux

    10. Classification of Bordeaux

    11. Region: Languedoc-Rousillon

    12. Key Languedoc-Rousillon Appellations

    13. Champagne, Bordeaux & Languedoc-Roussillon Wines to Try

    14. Quiz

    1. Region: Alsace

    2. Alsace

    3. Alsace Grape Varieties

    4. Introduction to the Loire Valley

    5. Region: The Loire Valley

    6. Region: The Jura

    7. Jura Climate

    8. Jura Wine Styles

    9. Jura AOCs

    10. Jura’s Main Varieties

    11. Alsace, the Loire & the Jura Wines to Try

    12. Quiz

    1. Introduction to Burgundy

    2. Region: Burgundy

    3. Introduction to Classification of Burgundy

    4. Classification of Burgundy

    5. Chablis to Côte d’Or, Côte Chalonnaise & Mâconnais 

    6. Introduction to Beaujolais

    7. Region: Beaujolais

    8. Classification of Beaujolais

    9. Modern Beaujolais

    10. Introduction to the Rhône Valley

    11. The Rhône Valley

    12. Northern Rhône

    13. Southern Rhône

    14. Downloadable Resources

    15. Quiz

    1. Overview

    2. Classification of Spain

    3. Oak Maturation in Spanish Wines

    4. Introduction to Rioja

    5. Region: Rioja

    6. Region: Catalunya

    7. Region: Priorat & Montsant

    8. Region: Castilla y León

    9. Region: Galicia

    10. Region: Jerez & Andalusia

    11. Introduction to sherry

    12. Sherry

    13. Downloadable Resources

    14. Quiz

Wines of the World – Part One: Europe

  • $199.00
  • 89 lessons

How does the course work?

The course is a combination of written notes and videos produced and presented by our team of experts at Halliday Wine Companion. 

Each of the nine modules will finish with a short quiz, allowing you to test your knowledge as you progress through the course.  

Upon completion of all the modules, you’ll become a Halliday Wine Academy graduate and receive a certificate to prove your freshly acquired wine skills. Something for the CV, that’s for sure.

The course should take around three to five hours to complete, but we recommend splitting it over a few different sittings to let the lessons absorb properly. This also allows lots of time for “research”. 

You can sign up to the course at any time.

Secure your spot in the Halliday Wine Academy

Select from two European-inspired wine packs

Elevate your experience with a six or 12 pack of wines

To get the most out of your Wines of the World course, we’ve curated a 12-pack and a premium 6-pack of wines for you to select from. Curated by the instructors of the course themselves, the wines we've selected are emblematic of the countries and regions they hail from, and are the perfect companion to your journey through Europe. 


Find out more

Instructor(s)

Halliday Wine Companion

For almost 30 years, the Halliday Wine Companion, founded by James Halliday, has served as the definitive guide to Australian wine. Today, a dedicated team of wine authorities collectively taste around 9000 wines each year. With more than 160,000 tasting notes from over 3500 wineries, winecompanion.com.au is Australia's most comprehensive collection of wine reviews and ratings. Halliday magazine is printed bi-monthly and offers a uniquely approachable take on wine, food and travel, and in 2022 both Halliday Wine Club and Halliday Wine Academy were launched to serve the Australian wine community. We also publish the Halliday Wine Companion guide – the bestselling annual which sets the benchmark for winemakers, collectors and wine lovers alike. With Halliday Wine Companion, you'll never drink a bad bottle of wine again.

Philip Rich

Wine Expert

Philip has more than 25 years’ experience as a wine retailer, educator, show judge and writer. In 1996, Philip joined the van Haandels at The Prince of Wales and Stokehouse in Melbourne, where he was responsible for wine buying, developing award-winning wine lists and sommelier training. Philip also co-founded Melbourne’s Prince Wine Store and Bellota Wine Bar and wrote the monthly wine column for The Australian Financial Review Magazine for 17 years. Philip has chaired various wine shows, including the James Halliday Chardonnay Challenge, Yarra Valley Wine Show, Margaret River Wine Show, Mornington Peninsula Wine Show and The Australian Pinot Noir Challenge. In addition to tasting for the Halliday Wine Companion, Philip is the new chair for the Limestone Coast Wine Show and divides his time between helping look after France Soir’s 6000 bottle cellar and consulting to MacPhee’s.

What students of our Introduction to Wine course said

5 star rating

Very well structured wine course

Peter Shiels

As an introduction into wine or better put, a "practical guide" this was excellent. Each module was well set out and focused on the practical elements that help to expand your knowledge, reinforce understanding and importantly, stimulate one's in...

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As an introduction into wine or better put, a "practical guide" this was excellent. Each module was well set out and focused on the practical elements that help to expand your knowledge, reinforce understanding and importantly, stimulate one's inquisitive self to further research those areas that were of particular interest. I found it interesting and easy to follow. I think it was good value for money.

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5 star rating

Introduction to Wine

Gary Dunn

Very good. Even as a long time wine enthusiast I learnt more about wine than I expected and will become more adventurous in my selections in future. Some phrases used would require definition for less experienced students but overall a very appr...

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Very good. Even as a long time wine enthusiast I learnt more about wine than I expected and will become more adventurous in my selections in future. Some phrases used would require definition for less experienced students but overall a very approachable and useful course.

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5 star rating

Well Done!

Allan Yung

The course is well structured. Great sharing by MW Ned and Erin. Complements what I learnt from WSET L2 Wine.

The course is well structured. Great sharing by MW Ned and Erin. Complements what I learnt from WSET L2 Wine.

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Frequently Asked Questions

  • Who is this course created for?

    This course is created for wine lovers at every stage of their journey. If you're interested in uncovering the secrets of European wine, then the first part in our Wines of the World series is for you.

  • Do you have any other courses available?

    Our Introduction to Wine course was created with the beginner in mind, but is also a great learning tool for more experienced drinkers. It was our first online course, made available in 2022, and is led by instructors Ned Goodwin MW and Erin Larkin.

  • Do I have to complete the course in a certain period?

    The course is entirely self-paced and you can complete this in your own time. Once you've purchased the course, you can access it anytime for twelve months.

  • What do I get when I complete the course?

    You will be provided with a digital certificate you can use for your own personal satisfaction, or even include on your CV.

  • Do I need to buy the Wine Pack to complete the course?

    No, you don't. The Wine Pack is optional and is there to give you a selection of wines we think well represent varietal and place. They will be perfect to taste while you learn but you can equally open something you have already, visit a local wine bar or buy something yourself. We just thought this would make it easier.