Oregon Wine Press, December '07 - WSET classes to be held at the Treehouse

"WSET Wanders West, Willamette Valley Way

This winter, the internationally recognized wine certification program of The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) comes to the Willamette Valley. This rigorous and comprehensive training program is ideal for wine industry professionals, those seeking to enter the trade, as well as enthusiasts seeking to expand their knowledge of wine and spirits.

Although offered in Portland since the fall of 2006, the winter 2008 Intermediate Certificate Course is the first offering of this program in the Willamette Valley.

"Willamette Valley winery employees have shown tremendous interest in the WSET certification courses," said Wine and Spirit Archive co-owner, Mimi Martin. "Our students have included tasting room associates, sales managers, retail supervisors, marketing coordinators and wine educators."

The Intermediate Certificate-the program's first level-includes eight weeks of instruction and requires no previous wine education or experience. This course enables students to interpret wine and spirits labels, explain fundamentals of wine tasting, become familiar with the world's major wine regions and their principal wines and give basic advice on wine selection and service. The course includes tasting of over 40 wines/spirits and culminates in a 50-question certification exam.

The Willamette Valley's WSET Intermediate Certificate Course will be held at Vista Hills Vineyard, 6475 Hilltop Lane, Dayton, Tuesdays, Jan. 15, 22, 29, Feb. 5, 12, 19, 26 and March 4, from 6 to 8 p.m. The cost is $645 and includes all course texts and exam fees. For more information, please visit www.thearchiveproject.net or call 503-764-7698."