food and wine

Wine Studies at the Elizabeth Bishop Wine Resource Center

The Elizabeth Bishop Wine Resource Center is an educational facility at Boston University’s Metropolitan College established for the study and promotion of wine and other spirits in order to educate people about wine as a beverage, which, when consumed in moderation, can be part of an enjoyable and healthy lifestyle. Its purpose is to foster educational programs at Boston University that explore all aspects of wine, including viticulture; enology; wine history; economics; distribution and marketing; the pairing of wine with food; and the psychological, physiological, and cultural phenomena of wine consumption.

Wine Studies Certificate Programs

The Center offers Wine Studies Certificate Programs consisting of four levels of coursework and expertise. Beyond the personal enrichment gained through any of the four levels of wine study, achieving certification in Levels 2, 3, and 4 will enhance one’s opportunity to work in the wine industry. All students, including those already in the industry, will benefit from the expertise of our instructors, Sandy Block, Bill Nesto, and Alex Murray.

Level 1: Fundamentals of Wine - An Introduction
Prerequisite: none
This survey course provides a foundation of essential knowledge for consumers and professionals. Topics covered include: tasting wine, grape varieties, basic viniculture and viticulture, and the world’s most important wine producing regions. Level 1 is the place to start for beginners and those who wish to solidify a foundation in wine studies and practice wine tasting. There are nine three-hour classes plus a final exam. Level 1 is not a prerequisite for Level 2, but does provide students with important and useful preparation for higher levels of study.
$850
Eight Mondays: February 4, 11, 25; March 3, 10, 17, 24, 31;
April 14 (exam)
6 - 9 p.m.

Level 2: A Comprehensive Survey of Wine - Spirits, and Beer
Prerequisite: none
This course goes into greater depth than Level 1 and is a prerequisite for Levels 3 and 4. Students passing this course will attain proficiency in the field of wine and associated alcoholic beverages. This intensive survey covers each of the world’s most important geographical areas and includes comprehensive comparative tastings. There are fourteen three-hour classes; the final exam includes a tasting as well as a written component.
$1,250
Spring Session—Fourteen Tuesdays: February 5, 12, 19, 26; March 4, 11, 18, 25; April 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; May 6; 13 (exam)
6 - 9 p.m.

Summer Session—Fourteen Tuesdays: May 27; June 3, 10, 17, 24; July 1, 8, 15, 22, 29; August 5, 12, 19, 26; September 2 (exam)
6 - 9 p.m.

Level 3: Mastering Wine - Skill Development
Prerequisite: a passing grade in Level 2
Levels 3 and 4 together provide students with a mastery of the world wine industry. The curriculum of Level 3 is divided into the following sections:
Viticulture, Vinification, Maturation
Wine Tasting (including blind tasting)
The Interaction of Wine and Food
The Business of Wine
There are fourteen three-hour classes plus a final exam covering tasting skills, factual information, and essay writing.
$2,500
Fourteen Wednesdays: February 6, 13, 20, 27; March 5, 12, 19, 26; April 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; May 7, 14 (exam)
6 - 9 p.m.

Level 4: The Wine Trade - Global, National, and Local Perspectives
Prerequisite: a passing grade in Level 3
Level 4 gives students an in-depth understanding of issues confronting national wine industries and how these issues relate to the U.S. and local wine trade. Students develop understanding and professional skills by researching assigned topics, participating in teacher-led discussions, and tasting numerous wines under the guidance of instructors. Specialists in the wine trade visit the class to contribute their expertise and provide an interface to the trade. Students share independent research with classmates by giving in-class presentations. A final examination includes essay questions and requires students to compare and contrast “blind” wine samples.
$2,500
Fourteen Thursdays: February 7, 14, 21, 28; March 6, 13, 20, 27; April 3, 10, 17, 24; May 1, 8, 15 (exam)
6 - 9 p.m.

Wine Events

The Center offers a range of casual wine seminars of interest to the general public, including tours, tastings and demonstrations, and special events.

Wine and Food Pairing Series at Legal Sea Foods
Join Master of Wine Sandy Block for this fun, educational, and tasty series of classes on pairing food and wine, held in the exquisite wine cellar of the flagship Park Square Legal Sea Foods, surrounded by 16,000 bottles of wine. Over three evenings, Sandy will introduce multiple wines paired with each course of a meal, and discuss how their attributes change with food. You are sure to leave each evening with a newfound appreciation of wine and food, and the interplay between them.
$110 per class/$300 for the series
Three Tuesdays, 6:30 p.m.
January 29: Organically Grown and Biodynamic Grapes
March 11: Wines of the Loire Valley
May 6: Alsatian Wines

The Food and Wine of Asti with Jeannie Rogers and Friends
Jeannie Rogers, co-owner and sommelier of Il Capriccio in Waltham, and vintners Lorenzo Corino and Isabella Peverati from the Piedmont region of Italy, present an evening of food and wine. Lorenzo's vineyard, Costiglione d'Asti, specializes in the traditional Barbera d'Asti—bold yet finessed wines. Isabella, conversely, is known for her Moscato d'Asti—a light, sweet white wine—as well as her expertise in Piedmont cuisine. This special evening provides a taste of the celebrated wines and food that are influenced by the Ligurian alluvial plains and the Apennine mountains.
$65
Wednesday, January 30, 6–8 p.m.

Pre-Wine Expo Wine Seminars
Prepare for Boston's 17th Annual Wine Expo with this series of educational pre-expo seminars. To help you get the most out of the Wine Expo, Boston University's wine educators will introduce the basics of wine tasting, wine pairing, and terroir. Classes will be held at the Seaport World Trade Center.
$50/class; $150 for all three (includes a ticket to the Sunday Wine Expo)
Friday, February 8
10–11:30 a.m.: Biodynamic and Organic Wines with Sandy Block, MW
Noon–1:30 p.m.: Wines of South America with Alex Murray
2–3:30 p.m.: Chocolate and Wine with Bill Nesto, MW

A Taste of Sicily: A Symposium
Discover the food, wine, and history of Sicily during this very special weekend. Join Fabritizia Tasca Lanza to learn about the many cultures that influenced Sicilian cuisine, including Greek, Arab, Spanish, and Bourbon. Explore the impact Sicilians have had on our own culture, through immigration as well as through depictions of their foodways in literature and film. Lectures will be interspersed with cooking demonstrations, wine tasting, lunches and dinners, plus a film screening. Speakers include:
Fabritizia Tasca Lanza, anthropologist and culinary arts instructor
Fabio Parasecoli, author of Food Culture in Italy
Bill Nesto, Master of Wine
Netta Davis, foodways historian
Robert Aguilera of Formaggio Kitchen
Jody Adams, chef/owner of Rialto
Mary Ann Esposito, author, culinary instructor, and host of PBS' Ciao Italia
Johanne Killeen and George Germon, chefs/owners of Al Forno
$250 includes all food and wine
Saturday, February 23, 9 a.m.–9 p.m.
Sunday, February 24, 9 a.m.–7 p.m.

A Master Class with Master Winemaker Ricardo Cotarella
Ricardo Cotarella, master winemaker and professor of enology and viticulture at Università degli Studi della Tuscia, Viterbo, will offer an overview and tasting of his wines, while discussing his vineyards in the regions of Lazio and Umbria. His family has been in the winemaking business for many generations. Under the guidance of his father, he actively participated in the day-to-day operations of his family's business until deciding to earn his degree in winemaking sciences. In 1979, he and his brother Renzo founded the acclaimed Falesco winery in Montefiascone. Falesco's mission was to rediscover native varietals; identify areas in the region able to produce high-quality wines due to unique features of the local terroir; and to continually improve the quality and value of the Falesco wines. It is Falesco's philosophy to strike a balance between the unique features of native varietals and the versatility of "international" grapes.
$75
Wednesday, February 27, 6–8 p.m.

Bordeaux Wine Course: Left Bank, Right Bank
Bill Nesto—Master of Wine and Certified Bordeaux Educator—begins a series of seminars that delve into the diversity of Bordeaux wines. The first seminar explores the many appellations that comprise the region. Lectures include guided tastings of quality wines, and discussions covering geography, culture, and important Bordeaux characteristics for each appellation.
$225
Two Saturdays: March 8 and 15; 9 a.m.–Noon

Côtes du Rhône with Clive Coates
Master of Wine Clive Coates is one of the world's leading experts on French wines, and an award-winning author, teacher, and publisher. Coates returns to Boston University to present an afternoon of good-value Rhône wines from the region's northern appellations—known for Syrah as well as whites from the Marsanne and Roussane grapes—and southern sub-region, where the Mediterranean climate is ideal for Grenache and blends. Participants will be guided through a tasting that includes wines from Crozes-Hermitage, Saint-Joseph, and Saint-Peray (to the north), and Gigondas, Vacqueyras, and Côtes du Rhône Villages (to the south).
$75
Thursday, April 3, 2–4 p.m.

Varietal Wine, Varietal Chocolate—with Bill Nesto
Chardonnay and Cabernet, Forastero and Criollo... What does it all mean? Join Bill Nesto, Master of Wine and wine instructor, as he explains varietalism and clonal selection in wine and chocolate. How does understanding these principles enhance the enjoyment of two things we all love? Nesto will demonstrate by leading a tasting of wines and chocolates.
$50
Friday, April 18, 7–9 p.m.

The Dark Side of Champagne: Blanc de Noir with Bill Nesto
Dark-skinned grapes, the Pinot Noir and the Pinot Meunier, make up more than two-thirds of the typical Champagne blend, adding richness and fruitiness. Bill Nesto, Master of Wine and wine instructor, will lead this informative tasting of exceptional Blanc de Noirs, from pale gold to pink, from dry to sweet.
$70
Friday, April 25, 7–9 p.m.

Winemaker's Cycle with Kip Kumler
Experience, first-hand, the process of turning grapes into wine. Kip Kumler, owner and winemaker of Turtle Creek Winery, leads this seminar series at his vineyard in Lincoln, MA. The four classes will follow the winemaker's cycle throughout the year, from vine to bottle.
$150
Four Saturdays, 10 a.m.–Noon
June 7: The Season Starts: Between Bud-burst and Flowering
August 2: The Beginning of Maturity: Veraison, or When Grapes Change Color
September 20: Approaching Harvest: How to Tell When the Grapes Are Ready
November 15: After the First Frost: Dormancy and Preparing the Vines for Winter

A Week in Burgundy with Clive Coates
June 22-28 Accompany world-renowned Master of Wine Clive Coates for a week-long tour of one of France's most gorgeous wine-growing regions—Burgundy. Through guided visits to vineyards, wineries, and restaurants, learn why this region is one of the most culturally rich and historically important in France. Participants stay at the Mercure Hotel, in the heart of Beaune. The schedule will be as follows:
June 22: Journey by train from Paris to Beaune. Enjoy lectures on Burgundy and its wines and terroir, as well as visits to local historic sites.
June 23-June 27: Join guide Clive Coates for daily tours of Burgundy's famed vineyards and picturesque towns. Each day will include lunch, wines paired with local foods, and visits to markets. Wines at lunch will be chosen by Coates and discussed. Late afternoons are free—enjoy the hotel pool, relax, or explore Beaune.
June 27: Celebrate the week's events with a very special group dinner.
June 28: Return to Paris by train, or continue your travels in France.
$3,400 includes six breakfasts and lunches; four dinners; double-occupancy room at Mercure Centre Hotel Beaune; round-trip train from Paris; and all fees. Single-occupancy room may be requested for an additional $595. Airfare is not included.