Wine professionals and enthusiasts in the Algarve will have the chance to gain internationally recognised WSET qualifications this November, when Alentejo winery Quinta da Plansel brings two English-language courses to Porches, Lagoa.
The Plansel International Wine School will run WSET Level 1 on November 12, followed by the three-day Level 2 course from November 13 to 15, both at Vila Vita Parc.
The courses will be taught in English by sommelier Pedro Ramos, whose experience spans wine production, service and marketing.
They are aimed not only at people working in hotels, restaurants, tourism, sales and customer service, but also at wine lovers interested in understanding more about what they drink.
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is one of the best-known international wine education bodies, with qualifications used by professionals and enthusiasts around the world.
Level 1 is designed as an introduction and requires no previous wine knowledge. Participants learn about the main styles of wine, basic tasting techniques, service, storage and food pairing. The one-day course costs €275.
Level 2, also open to beginners, goes into considerably greater depth over three days, exploring important grape varieties and wine regions, production methods and how these factors influence the style and character of a wine. It costs €700.
Both courses combine theory with guided tastings intended to develop participants’ ability to recognise and describe different aromas, flavours and wine styles. Those taking part in the tastings must be of legal drinking age.
Building confidence around wine
Quinta da Plansel CEO Dorina Lindemann said the Algarve was chosen because of both its international character and its strong community of wine enthusiasts and hospitality professionals.
“The courses combine knowledge and tasting, allowing participants to develop a more informed relationship with wine and to discover aromas, flavours and styles that might otherwise go unnoticed,” she said.
“We chose the Algarve not only for its strong community of wine lovers, but also because we believe that understanding wine better gives people the confidence to explore and make their own choices.”
She added that learning about different grape varieties can encourage consumers to move beyond familiar choices and discover wines better suited to their individual tastes and occasions.
The Plansel International Wine School is based in Montemor-o-Novo, where it combines WSET training with Quinta da Plansel’s experience in Portuguese wine and grape varieties.
Quinta da Plansel itself has roots going back to German-born founder Jörg Böhm, who became connected to Portugal after his sailing boat sank in Cascais in 1961. He later identified the potential of Alentejo grape varieties and bought his first vineyard land in 1975.
Today, the winery produces around 400,000 litres of wine annually and is particularly associated with varieties including Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca and Tinta Barroca.
Registration for both Algarve WSET courses is available through the Plansel International Wine School.