Consumer Programs

Beginner Wine
In this 90-minute program, you’ll learn about senses and how to put them to use right away with Sensual Experience Exercises©, what grapes make the best wine, the best place to grow grapes, basic geography of wine growing regions, how wine is made, the building blocks of wine, wine types, and about the major grape types, including how to pronounce them by repeating along with me. This program includes a tasting of six wines and small plates. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion.

Intermediate Wine
In this 90-minute program, you’ll explore your sensual sides with lots of Sensual Experience Exercises© that’ll make you an expert at describing, tasting, pairing, and entertaining with wine, and you’ll learn why regular moderate wine consumption with a meal is an integral component of a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle. This program includes a tasting of six wines and small plates. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion.

Advanced Wine - Nine Noble Grapes
In this 120-minute program you’ll learn about the most important wine grapes on Planet Earth:  Riesling, Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Semillon, Sauvignon Blanc, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir, and Syrah. You’ll learn about their origins, where they grow, the different styles and types of wines they make, how they taste, and the foods they flatter. This program includes a tasting of eighteen wines and small plates. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion.

Advanced Wine  - Wine in Restaurants
In this 60-minute program, I’ll empower you with just enough knowledge, strategy, and insider tips to have you waltzing right through any unfamiliar, intimidating, or uncomfortable situation in a restaurant. You’ll learn about the origins of the sommelier, how to engage them to make you look like a star, other things they can do for you, how to order wine with ease, and how to deal with a snobby sommelier. Plus we’ll have plenty of Set them Straight Exercises©. This program includes a tasting of six wines and small plates. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion.

Advanced Wine - Shopping for and Collecting Wine
In this 60-minute program, I’ll empower you with just enough knowledge, strategy, and insider tips to have you waltzing right through any unfamiliar, intimidating, or uncomfortable situation in a wine shop. We’ll explore options for a realistic home wine collection that matches your very own personality and lifestyle, I’ll share plenty of pointers on making the right decisions while getting the best deals, and, we’ll have plenty of Shopping Skills Exercises©. This program includes a tasting of six wines and small plates. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion.

Introduction to Champagne and Sparkling Wine
In this 60-minute workshop, you’ll be introduced to the world’s most seductive beverage, Champagne, learning about its’ climate and soil, grape varieties, history, production methods, styles, about other sparkling wines from around the world, and about how to enjoy them. This program includes a tasting of six bubblies and small plates. This is the beginning of a beautiful and long-lasting relationship with one of the most pleasing of all palate pleasures available on the planet. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion.

Entertaining with Champagne and Sparkling Wine
The focus of this 60-minute workshop is to get you comfortable with all aspects of entertaining with bubbly, so we’ll review styles and types, then move into how to taste and evaluate, how to understand the label, how to shop and get the best deals, how to pair with food, and what you need to know to add zest to your parties, from small romantic affairs to a formal wedding. This program includes a tasting of six bubblies and small plates. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion

Erotic Foods
In this 90-minute workshop we’ll learn about erotic foods and their true aphrodisiac powers, their history and origins, why they work, what will work best for you, and where to buy them. I’ll share tips on how to plan a Sensual Feast of your own on any budget and for any taste including one for vegetarians, and we’ll have plenty of Sensual Experience Exercises©. This program includes a tasting of six wines and small plates. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion

Wine Roulette
Like to gamble? Love a challenge? This interactive wine tasting is for you. In this 60 minute workshop you’ll be able to apply what you learn immediately. After profiling and tasting six varietals (grape types) as a group, we’ll split up into teams and table hop to six stations, where each of these varietals are presented blind. The team that gets the most correct guesses wins!

Ask about my new Italian Intensive class!

“To Catherine,
Thank you for everything you are doing for wine. God Bless You.”
Robert Mondavi, Napa Valley, December 12, 2002

Professional Programs:

Professional Training - Restaurant Wine Sales and Service
Every restaurant server should take this
In this 45-minute program, you’ll learn about how to be savvy salesperson and a smooth operator, selling and serving wine with panache and flair. We’ll first take a look at what sommeliers do and what they can do for you, then focus on selling skills including tuning in to customer types, how to distill down what you need to know, employing the Razzle Dazzle Factor, and using the lingo, and then I’ll share a few time-tested wine service pointers, giving you what it takes to be a smooth operator on the front lines. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion. (No tasting).

Professional Training – Selling Wine to Restaurants and Retailers
Every wine sales professional should take this.
In this 45-minute program you’ll learn what it takes to get placements where and when you need them by using proven strategies for giving your accounts outstanding service.
Learn how to take your competition right out of the picture, getting close to the decision maker in a surprisingly simple and effective approach. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion. (No tasting).

Professional Training - So You Want to be a Sommelier?
In this 45-minute program, you’ll learn what a sommelier is and how the job came about, what the realities of the job are, the benefits and pitfalls, and explore the various paths to breaking into the field including the best training programs available on Planet Earth. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion. (No tasting).

Professional Training - Wine Programs to Rev Up Your Bottom Line
In this 45-minute program I’ll share with you successful and innovative strategies on buying, getting the most from distributors and suppliers, inventory management, pricing, engaging the server and the customer, and creating a mission statement for your wine program. Learn what works, and what doesn’t. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion. (No tasting).

Professional Training – Building a Better Wine Program
In this 45-minute program you’ll learn what it takes to build your wine program from the ground up including how to create a balanced, effective list, pricing strategies, how to lay it out, food and wine pairing technique, and effective staff training. We’ll wrap the session with a quick multiple-choice quiz; passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion. (No tasting).

Professional Training - Master Sommelier Advanced Tasting Techniques
In this 90-minute intensive and focused tasting program, you’ll learn how to fine tune your deductive tasting skills in preparation for blind tasting exams. Interactive tasting of eighteen wines. Limited to six students per session. Advanced and Masters Level students only please. Passing marks get you an official grape goddess® certificate of completion.

"We are so fortunate to have women like you who have forged the way into the male-dominated world of advanced wine education. Thank you for your presentation. We all learned so much."
Patti Hogan, Sommelier-at-large, Seattle, Washington, May, 2003

Custom Programs Available. Contact Catherine Fallis, MS, CWP.

Education Clients:

• Copia, The American Center for Wine, Food & the Arts, Napa Valley
• Culinary Institute of America at Greystone, Rudd Center, Napa Valley
• Professional Culinary Institute, San Jose
• Bay Club, San Francisco
• Bubble Lounge, San Francisco
• Cannery Wine Cellar, San Francisco
• Drink Great Wines, San Francisco
• Grapes of Path, San Francisco
• Pacific Rim Wine Education Center, San Francisco
• Wines by the Class, San Francisco
• Vino Venue, San Francisco
• Solano Cellars, Berkeley
• Savvy Cellars, Redwood City
• Terranova Fine Wines, Monterey
• Little Gates Co. Wine Merchants, Millertown, New York