Wine education: learning is by drinking

The time is right to sign up for wine-tasting courses through Brock University's Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute ( www.brocku.ca/ccovi)and Niagara College ( www.niagaracollege.ca).Most start in early January.

Courses include wine appreciation, introduction to Ontario or international wines, and sensory evaluation of wines, which teaches students how to judge a good glass of vino. Most cost more than $300.

I took two wine courses last year at Brock under the tutelage of Chris Waters, editor of Vines Magazine and wine columnist for The Standard.

Wine appreciation introduced me to different grape varieties. It helped me understand what makes a Sauvignon Blanc distinct from, say, a Riesling.

(Who knew the scent of cat pee was desirable in a Sauvignon Blanc?)

Waters taught the class the proper way to taste wine, from looking at the clarity and colour to smelling its bouquet to pinpointing flavours.

Waters' Introduction to the Wines of Ontario, a nine-week course, taught me about grapes varieties that thrive in Ontario.

Wine courses are "valuable because you're exposed to a wide variety of wines -- a far greater number and greater array of retail prices than anyone would purchase to sample by themselves," Waters said.

Niagara College also offers several wine-tasting courses, including a food and wine dynamics course. The 15- week course, which starts in January, will help students understand the secrets of wine and food pairing.

On a budget and still want to learn about wine?

Niagara wineries are a great resource. Most offer inexpensive tours ($5 and up) that typically include wine tastings. Most are led by knowledgeable guides that offer tips on how to taste.

Check out winesofontario.organd

look under the wine route. Most wineries detail the tours they offer on their website.

Of course, you can always go to the tasting bar and ask staff for sipping tips while you samples wine. Several wineries offer free tastings, particularly if you buy a bottle.

The Ontario Wine Society is also a great place to learn about local wines.

Membership in the non-profit organization is $40 and offers participants informal and educational tastings and special events. There is usually an extra charge for events, but members get a discount ( www.ontariowinesociety.com).

Would you rather learn how to taste wine on your own? There's a variety of books out there on wine tasting.

Noted British wine scribe Jancis Robinson has written several books on the topic, including How to Taste: A Guide to Enjoying Wine (list price $29.99)

Or you can use the trial and error method.

Just head to Niagara wineries or the LCBO and buy a few bottles. Go for a brand or varietal you've never tried before. Purchase a few bottles of, say, Riesling from different producers or parts of the world and note differences between them.

When it comes to wine, learning is by drinking.

In other vines & wine news:

Southbrook Vineyards in Niagara-on-the- Lake has been granted LEED gold certification for its new hospitality pavilion in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is a third-party certification program and an internationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high-performance green buildings.

Southbrook Vineyards' certification was granted on Nov. 7 by the Canada Green Building Council.

Southbrook was also awarded both organic certification and biodynamic certification for its vineyard earlier this year.

Niagara-on-the-Lake's Stratus Vineyards was the first winery in the world to receive LEED certification. It has a silver standing for its entire operation, including the winery and tasting room.

Most Niagara wineries are open during the holiday season. All are closed on New Year's Day.