The California Experience and Total Wine Tour
Three-Week Program | October 11, 2010 | Download Brocchure & Program Application
ALI Brings You Beyond Borders
From Albariño to Zinfandel, there is a wine grape for every letter of the alphabet, and wine is produced in almost every country in the world. Yet, for most of us, the wine experience lies within our own borders - wine varieties with flavors familiar to our palette, our home, and our food.
Program Overview
There is no better way to learn about a country's culture and language than through the experience of food and wine. ALI is offering an in-depth experience in understanding the wines from around the world with a special emphasis on California wine, food, and the language of the wine industry in English.
Our home is your home during your California wine program adventure.
What To Expect
During the three-week program, students will:
- Gain knowledge of all the major wine-growing regions of the world
- Understand the history behind the world's wine industry
- Experience world wine
- Taste and compare wines from all Vitis Vinifera (main wine grapes) available in today's market place
- Visit a working California winery to see how wine goes from "vineyard to bottle"
- Participate in a wine-and-food pairing lesson held in a fine San Diego restaurant
- Tour the outdoors with a walk through a vineyard while receiving a lecture on viticulture
- Practice and fine-tune the language of wine and practical English through experiential learning
- Obtain a certificate
- Gain life-long memories!
Location, Location, Location
Expand your wine experience while fine-tuning your English language skills. San Diego, California (and the vicinity) - with daily sunshine, big beautiful skies and blue ocean - is surrounded by vineyards and is an ideal location to learn about wine. It opens your mind to the new, but keeps your respect for the traditional.
Course Elements
The classes cover many aspects of wine like grapes, environment, climate, and history. A Certificate of Completion and Achievement will be awarded to those students who actively participate in all the classes and complete all the course-content quizzes. The content mastery quiz will be conducted in English. Otherwise, a Certificate of Participation will be given.
Wine Areas of Study
- United States - wines from California, Washington State, Oregon, Finger Lakes New York, New Mexico, and Virginia. Students will also visit a few local
wineries, vineyards, and restaurants.
- France - the mecca for wine lovers. We will compare and contrast Bordeaux, Burgundy, the Loire Valley, the Rhône Valley, and the South of France (Provence).
- Italy - a vast wine area with regional differences to delight the palate.
- Spain and Portugal - aided by the history of French winemaker's experience during the 1870s, Spain and Portugal are examined through a wine glass.
- Germany - known for white wines of unbelievable "tension" and "balance," the grape, Riesling, when tasted side by side with other Rieslings from nearby regions is a mind-opening experience.
- Chile and Argentina - protected by the loving arms of the Andes Mountains and influenced by the waters of the Pacific, the vines are frequently planted on their original rootstock providing a flavor experience unique to the area.
- Australia and New Zealand - considered new world wonders even though vineyards have been in existence since the 1880s, the quality race is on for these two areas at unbelievable value prices. The variety of climate lends itself to a cornucopia of wine styles and grapes.
Let the vineyards be your classroom. Don't miss this experience!
Facilities
Our classrooms are bright, technologically equipped, and located in the center of the action of the vibrant San Diego State University campus. Small classes ensure individual attention to everyone's needs, and being surrounded by other like-minded participants allows great conversations and learning opportunities. The environment will be fun and educational. Yes, it is possible to experience both.
Instructors
The California Experience and Total Wine Tour program's instructors are all credentialed in their fields and have been associated for many years with San Diego State University. The lead instructor, Deborah Damery Lazear, CSW, holds several certificates in wine education, and writes a monthly wine education column. She has taught hundreds of students the art of wine enjoyment through a look at history, viticulture, taste, and the marvel of nature.
Notes
- Participants must be at least 21 years of age.
- Please do not visit a farm in the weeks before coming to the program - this is for agricultural safety regions both for your country and ours.
- Housing options available on request.
Fees
Application fee: $75
Tuition: $2,900
Application and 50% of tuition due by September 20.
Recommended English Proficiency
High-intermediate to advanced or native speakers of English.
Contact: Kathy Dupre
Voice: (619) 594-5907
Email: ali@mail.sdsu.edu