SANTA BARBARA BOOTCAMP
Get your WSET Level 2 in Wines
over four days of immersive learning
Hosted by Elizabeth VanderVen
Come and explore Southern California’s premier wine region, with visits to seven benchmark wineries, whilst doing your WSET Level 2 certification.
This four-day wine bootcamp combines mornings in the classroom with winery visits in the afternoon. At the wineries, we are hosted by vineyard managers and winemakers, and enjoy extensive tastings of both international and Santa Barbara wines side-by-side.
This bootcamp is the ideal way to learn about wine. The theory you learn in the classroom is brought to life during the winery visits. It’s lots of fun and we have a 97% pass rate at the WSET Level 2. There are no prerequisites, but we do recommend starting with the Level 1 to ensure you have a solid foundation of knowledge.
COURSE OVERVIEW
You will spend four days in the beautiful Santa Barbara wine region discovering several of the leading local wineries and also learning about the major international regions. Our vineyard visits, winery tours, and presentations will take you on a vinous journey around the world.
You will learn about:
- The art of tasting in detail
- Growing grapes and the role of terroir
- Making and maturing all types of wine
- Classic and regionally important grape varieties
- Major regions in France & Italy
- Classic regions in Germany & Spain
- New World wine regions
- Sparkling and fortified wines
- The art of food & wine pairing
TASTINGS & INSTRUCTION
Fine Vintage is well known for our expert instruction, high pass rates, and the exceptional quality of our tastings. Your instructor is Elizabeth VanderVen, a Master of Wine candidate and Certified Wine Educator. She knows the region in-depth. You will taste over 45 different wines valued at over $2,000+. Fine Vintage is considered to be the Harvard of wine education.
EXAM & CERTIFICATION
The WSET Level 2 exam is taken ONLINE by remote invigilation. We provide extensive instructions on how to organize your device to sit the exam.
You can schedule your exam at the time of registration, or anytime up until one year from the end date of the in-person course. This allows you to take the exam when you feel confident and ready. You will receive instructions on how to schedule your exam when you register.
The exam is 50 questions multiple choice. You have 1 hour to complete it. We have a 98% pass rate. If necessary, you can re-sit the exam as many times as necessary for a $150 re-sit fee per time.
Within 2-3 weeks from the exam date you will receive your results and a digital certificate by email.
ABOUT THE BOOTCAMP
Day 1 – Friday
Start your day in the classroom. You will meet your fellow classmates and then learn how to taste and evaluate wine in-depth. The rest of the morning is focused on grape growing and vineyard management.
Lunch is on your own, and in the early afternoon we set off in our bus to visit two leading wineries in the Santa Ynez Valley. The focus is on viticulture, with vineyard managers explaining their craft. We also enjoy extensive tastings, before heading to a gourmet food and wine pairing dinner to welcome you to this special experience.
Day 2 – Saturday
We start the day in the classroom learning all about the intricacies of winemaking, with more insightful tastings of beautiful wines. Lunch is on your own, and then we set off in the bus to visit two more iconic wineries, this time in the Sta. Rita Hills.
Your hosts, the winemakers, will walk you through the stages of the winemaking process in real-life, and you’ll sample from tank and barrel. It’s a rare experience. At each winery, we focus on a different grape variety, with tastings of international wines side-by-side with local signature wines.
We arrive back around 6pm for a free evening.
Day 3 – Sunday
We head off in the morning for a whole day of winery visits in the Santa Maria Valley and Los Alamos Valley, with no classroom time scheduled. The first winery visit focuses on winemaking, with a tour of the facilities and a tasting that explores the winemaker’s influence on each wine.
In the afternoon, we move on to two more classic wineries where we explore cool-climate Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, then Bordeaux varieties. A food and wine pairing lunch today will be hosted by a winery and is included in your tuition.
We return in the early evening. Tonight is on your own to relax.
Day 4 – Monday
The last day of the bootcamp is in the classroom. Get ready to dive into the world of wines from France, Spain, Australia, South America, and beyond. Naturally, we taste the classic wines.
PAYMENT TERMS
Full payment is charged at the time of registration. Payment is non-refundable, but can be transferred once to another person or to a future course of the same type, if you contact us 14 days or more before the start date. In the rare event Fine Vintage has to cancel a course you will receive a 100% refund.
WHAT’S INCLUDED
Included in the price is:
- All winery visits and tastings
- All transportation to the wineries
- A gourmet food and wine pairing dinner on Day 1
- A delicious pairing lunch on Day 3
- The WSET Level 2 study guide, exam, and certificate
- All instruction by a Certified Wine Educator
- All tastings in the classroom
Please note that students are responsible for arranging their own flights, accommodations, travel insurance, transportation, and meals outside of the bootcamp itinerary.
PLANNING TIPS
Before the bootcamp we will send you some useful pre-trip information to help you with your planning.
You’ll find advice on how to get there, tips on what to wear, other things to do in and around Santa Barbara, hotel recommendations, and what you might like to read in advance.
TESTIMONIALS
