Understanding Wine: Jancis Robinson's Shortcuts to Success (Concise Edition)

Renowned wine expert Jancis Robinson teaches you how to feel confident about wine in any situation

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Don’t get left behind when it comes to wine

  • How much do you really know about this historical and increasingly popular drink?
  • Is a lack of knowledge holding you back from getting the most from your wine experiences?
  • Do you panic when handed a wine list in a restaurant?
  • Do you always reach for the bottle with the nice looking label in the store?
  • Do you worry about what your partner, friends or colleagues think of your wine choices?
  • Do you want to venture beyond the “safe” wines that you already know, but don’t know where to start?

Learn from a true wine expert

Jancis Robinson is wine columnist for the Financial Times, provides advice for the wine cellar of The Queen and was the first person outside the wine trade to become a Master of Wine.

She edits the Oxford Companion to Wine, widely considered to be the most comprehensive wine encyclopaedia in the world and co-authors The World Atlas of Wine, a classic of the wine world. Her book Wine Grapes was the first-ever winner of all six major wine book awards on both sides of the Atlantic.

Have fun while you learn

Jancis will share her extensive knowledge and secret shortcuts so you can taste wine like a professional at home, decipher wine labels and language, sniff out the best wine bargains wherever you are, choose from a restaurant wine list with confidence and avoid the most common wine pitfalls.

Using fun and practical activities Jancis will give you the confidence to feel like a wine expert in any situation.

An essential life skill

The US now drinks more wine than France. In the UK wine has overtaken beer as the nations favourite drink. Asia is witnessing a revolution in wine as China and India’s growing middle class sip more of what was once considered an elite european drink.

Wine is now becoming the drink of choice for much of the world so understanding wine is quickly becoming an essential life skill for success in business or social situations.

What are the requirements?

  • No existing wine knowledge is required
  • Students are encouraged to taste wine throughout this course, but no specialist equipment is required beyond wine glasses - and wine, of course!

What am I going to get from this course?

  • Have the confidence to explore a wider range of wines
  • Understand which wines will work best in a variety of social settings
  • Decipher wine labels and language
  • Taste wine like a professional at home
  • Avoid the most common wine pitfalls

What is the target audience?

  • This course would suit everyone interested in learning about wine. It is aimed at beginners of all backgrounds, and no previous knowledge is required. It is equally suitable for professionals seeking wine knowledge for their business life and individuals looking to learn about wine for their social life.
  • Anyone beyond the initial stages of learning about wine (usually described as ‘intermediate’; equivalent to WSET level two) will find this course less beneficial.

This concise edition of the course does not cover the following topics which are available in the full course:

  • Choose and buy wine confidently - must try wines and avoiding costly mistakes
    • In this section Jancis talks about choosing and buying wine, what should pay for wine and how to avoid common pitfalls. The full course helps you discover delicious new wines and find out how to pair them with food.
    • Lectures include: Introduction to buying wine, Where and how to buy wine, What to pay for wine and how to avoid overpriced wine, How to avoid common mistakes when buying wine, Some of Jancis's wine recommendations for safe bets and more adventurous options, Matching wine to food: the golden rules,Wine making: Organic, biodynamic and natural, Choosing wine confidently challenge, Summary of how to buy the right wine & and an activity - talk to your local wine experts
  • Wine in the real world - become a wine expert in every social situation
    • In this section Jancis talks about how to choose the perfect wine for any social situation.
    • Lectures include: How to select a bottle of wine from a list in a restaurant or a bar, How to select wine for entertaining at home, How to select wine to take to a dinner party or a BBQ, How to select wine for business entertaining, How to select wine for special occasions and birthdays, How to select wine for a date, Choosing wine for different occasions challenge, Summary of choosing wine for different occasions and an activity - wine pairing and guessing the price with friends


Your Instructor


Jancis Robinson
Jancis Robinson

Jancis has been writing about wine since 1975 when she became assistant editor for the trade magazine Wine & Spirit. In 1984 she became the first person outside the wine trade to become a Master of Wine. She also served as British Airways' wine consultant, and supervised the BA Concorde cellar luxury selection, from 1995 until she resigned in 2010.

As a wine writer, she has become one of the world's leading authors of educational and encyclopaedic material on wine. The Oxford Companion to Wine, edited by Robinson and now in its 4th edition, is widely considered to be the most comprehensive wine encyclopaedia in the world. The World Atlas of Wine by Hugh Johnson and Robinson, now in its 7th edition, is a classic of the wine world while Wine Grapes was the first-ever winner of all six major wine book awards on both sides of the Atlantic.

Jancis Robinson has also presented her own 10-episode wine course on BBC television, has an honorary doctorate from the Open University, and was made an OBE in 2003. Her further accolades include multiple James Beard, Glenfiddich and André Simon Memorial Awards, and in 1999 was made Person of the Year by Decanter magazine.

Once a columnist for Wine Spectator, she now writes weekly for the Financial Times and daily for her own award-winning website. She also provides advice for the wine cellar of Queen Elizabeth II.


Course Curriculum


  How to take your new-found wine knowledge to the next level
Available in days
days after you enroll

Frequently Asked Questions


When does the course start and finish?
The course starts now and never ends! It is a completely self-paced online course - you decide when you start and when you finish.
How long do I have access to the course?
How does lifetime access sound? After enrolling, you have unlimited access to this course for as long as you like - across any and all devices you own.
What if I am unhappy with the course?
We would never want you to be unhappy! If you are unsatisfied with your purchase, contact us in the first 30 days and we will give you a full refund.

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