St. Louisans looking to learn more about the world of wine can take a deep dive this fall with an eight-week course from PreSomm Wine Course, which is back after a three-year hiatus during the pandemic.
Hosted at Clayton Winehouse (7911 Clayton) on Monday evenings from September 25–December 4, PreSomm Wine Course introduces participants to wines from around the globe, allowing them to try seven to 10 wines from a different country each week. The course also teaches the do’s and don’ts of wine service, including how to properly open wines and serve guests.
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“Any PreSomm Wine Course graduate has a great foundation of wine theory,” says owner/lead educator Denise Mueller, founding member of the Mid-American School of Wine (and an SLM contributor). “They’ve tasted a world of wine, and they know best practices.”
The Course
In addition to weekly wine tastings, the eight-week course includes lectures, quizzes, digital flashcards, books, and exams. With an emphasis on foundational wine knowledge, the course is structured to accommodate both wine enthusiasts and industry workers.
“It covers a lot of bases, whether you’re in the hospitality industry or a wine enthusiast,” says Mueller. (As the PreSomm Wine Course website notes, the course provides “a higher level of wine theory and wine service, prepares them for job promotions in the hospitality field, and inspires future education certifications.”)
At the same time, the course may appeal to “enthusiasts who go to wine bars or collect wines,” says Mueller. “It makes you a more educated buyer.”
Several discount codes are available for the course:
- STUDYBUDDY20: Non-industry wine enthusiasts can receive 20 percent off if taking the course with a partner or a friend.
- INDUSTRY30: Industry professionals receive 30 percent off.
- INDUSTRYGROUP35: Three or more industry workers signing up at the same time receive 35 percent off with this code. (Mueller encourages restaurateurs to incentivize employees to take the course by offering to pay a portion of the remaining course price, which is about $400 after the industry discount.)
The Instructor
Mueller, who is currently programs coordinator for Sasha’s Wine Bar Group, has worked in the hospitality industry for more than 20 years.
Years ago, after being told by numerous people that she should look into becoming a sommelier or going into wine sales, she began searching for nearby wine classes—to no avail. “I was so sad that I couldn’t find something that was structured,” Mueller recalls. “I was very passionate that there needs to be something in the Midwest.”
Over time, Mueller self-studied to achieve three certifications: Certified Sommelier, Certified Specialist of Wine, and BarSmarts WIRED. After navigating and studying the certifications, she was ready to focus on founding a formal wine school, so, in 2013, she and three colleagues founded Mid American School of Wine and launched the first iteration of PreSomm (Mueller published the PreSomm Wine Course book in 2018).
After the in-person courses went on hiatus during the pandemic, Mueller says, “I’m just happy to be back.”
