Introduction to Wine: Monday, January 27- March 31

The Wave Collective in San Francisco

The Vinguard Wine School is offering its annual Introduction to Wine Series on Mondays, January 27 - March 31, 2025.  We launched the wine school two years ago to fill a void in the Bay Area for enjoyable yet serious wine education, where people can get a comprehensive understanding of wine that incites their desire to learn more. These classes are for industry professionals and consumers. 

The Vinguard Wine School stands out in its unique approach to wine education, offering a comprehensive understanding of the industry with a special focus on natural wines. 

  • Our classes stand out with a unique focus on natural wines, a topic that is gaining increasing interest and importance in the wine industry. We cover all winemaking and farming practices, providing students with a comprehensive understanding of the industry.We discuss the evolution of winemaking in each country, including the historical context of exploitation and colonization that have influenced many wine areas.

  • We are proud to have engaging guest speakers who offer expertise in their specialized areas, providing our students with a unique learning experience that is both informative and inspiring.

  • Our ultimate goal is for our students to leave our classes with a newfound love for wine and a thirst for more knowledge. You’ll learn a lot, but the real aim is not to memorize a bunch of facts but to discover the joy and soul in every glass.

Class Schedule

January 27: Introduction to Wine Tasting, Terms and Making

Guest speaker: Alice Achayo, The Wine Linguist 

February 3: France

February 10: Italy

February 17: Spain, Portugal, Morocco

Guest speaker: Erin Rickenbaker, El Chato

February 24: Central Europe (Germany, Austria, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Romania)

Guest Speaker: Eric Danch, Danch and Granger

March 3: Eastern Europe, The Middle East (Georgia, Armenia, Greece, Lebanon, West Bank)

March 10: Australia, New Zealand, South Africa

Guest speaker: Peter Andrews, Culture Wine Co.

Guest Speaker: Jane Lopes, Legend Australian Wine Imports

March 17: Argentina, Chile, and Mexico

March 24: North America Part One: Canada, New York, the mid-Atlantic, Mid-West, and Texas

March 31: North America Part Two: The West Coast

Guest speaker: Chris Renfro, The Two Eighty Project, Friend of a Friend

$775 for the series, $85 per class

10% discount for Vinguard members, F&B industry and essential workers, seniors, educators, and students

Classes will be held at the Wave Collective in San Francisco

Sign up at https://ticketstripe.com/Vinguard-Intro-2025