Castello di Potentino
Wine Sense Wine WSET Level 1 Course With Emily O'Hare (May 2019)
Starts on: Wednesday, May 22, 2019
Ends on: Sunday, May 26, 2019
Price: Starting from - based on available rooms and number of guests, fill out the form for total price.
This is a four-day (five night) residential course held in a beautifully restored medieval Tuscan castle at Castello di Potentino.
Learn the essentials about wine with a special focus on the wines of Italy, following the globally recognised WSET approach. Eat simple meals in the dining room of the castle prepared using locally sourced ingredients and vegetables from Potentino's vegetable garden- celebrate the end of the course with a meal at Il Silene, cooked by Michelin-starred local chef Roberto Rossi.
Participate in morning food and wine pairing workshops.
Drink responsibly. People under the age of 18 will not be allowed to participate in the tastings.
The Wine & Spirits Education Trust was set up in 1969 and is globally recognised for its examining and training methods.
The WSET course will be led by Decanter Italian wine writer and VIA Italian Wine Ambassador, Emily O’Hare – previously Head Sommelier and Wine Buyer at London’s The River Café. She has never had a student fail the exam at the end of the course- (no need to panic).
- Full board including all wines and lodging at the castle for four nights
- All wine sessions and food workshops, visits and tastings outside of the castle.
- WSET Level 1 course material. Tastings include over 20 wines from around the world including Champagne, Bordeaux and Burgundy, with the added emphasis on the wines of Italy.
- Tasting at a famous Brunello estate, and an afternoon visit to nearby town, Montalcino.
- Pasta and Risotto Masterclass with Il Silene’s Roberto Rossi
Prices do not included:
- Transfers to and from Potentino (please contact Alexander if you would like us to help organise these)
If you have any questions do not hesitate to get in touch with Alexander alexander.greene@potentino.com who will happily help with any questions you have.
Wednesday – Day 1
18:00 Welcome aperitivo, Wine tasting with Charlotte Horton, Castello di Potentino’s winemaker and co-owner followed by a simple meal in the castle’s dining room.
Thursday – Day 2
Breakfast
Free time to explore the area and enjoy the swimming pool.
Lunch at Potentino followed by a trip to the town of Montalcino: Free time for shopping, gelato and/or a glass of Brunello- and then to do an in depth tasting at a top Brunello wine estate.
Returning to Potentino for a simple dinner made using the vegetables from the Potentino vegetable garden.
Friday – Day 3
Breakfast
Course begins “Introduction to Wine, Types and Styles and the Principal Grape Varieties”
Lunch at Potentino
The course continues with a food and wine workshop: “The Principles of Food and Wine Matching and the Characteristics of the Noble Grape Varieties.”
Dinner in the Potentino courtyard.
Saturday – Day 4
Breakfast
Wine Session “Common Wine Faults, Service and Storage”.
Free time in the afternoon to relax in the castle libraries, by the pool, or take a walk into nearby village of Seggiano.
Evening Pasta and Risotto Masterclass with Il Silene’s Roberto Rossi and Tuscany’s top Vernaccia from Tuscany’s most famous white wine producing region, San Gimignano.
Sunday – Day 5
Breakfast
Depart after breakfast
Events at Potentino
Sun, May 24, 2020-Sun, May 31, 2020
Renaissance Oil Painting Retreat with Timothy Allen Availability: Available
Sun, May 31, 2020-Sat, June 6, 2020
The Old School Kitchen: From the Etruscan Table to the Roman Banquet (June 2020) Availability: Available
Sun, September 6, 2020-Sat, September 12, 2020
The Old School Kitchen: From the Etruscan Table to the Roman Banquet (September 2020) Availability: Available
Sun, September 13, 2020-Sun, September 20, 2020