Wine course autumn 2025

Looking for an engaging wine course? In just five evenings, you'll learn all about wine production, tasting, and quality recognition. Ideal for those who want to enjoy wine more with colleagues, friends, or a partner.

Data

September 16, 23 and 30, October 7 and 14, 2025
Every Tuesday from 7:30 PM to 10:30 PM. Each lesson consists of approximately one hour of theory and two hours of guided tasting of six to eight wines.

Prijs

€295 including VAT for 5 lessons, 6 glasses included.

Plaats

In our tasting and classroom.
Caves de France – Opstalplein 22 – 9200 Schoonaarde (Dendermonde)

Teacher: André Van der Elst

André Van der Elst is a Sommelier-Conseil and Ambassador of the University of Wine, Suze la Rousse. Many years ago, attorney André Van der Elst decided to alternate dry professional-legal matters with juicy wine delights and, above all, to delve deeper into wine knowledge.

He also didn't shy away from culinary assignments, and numerous cooking courses stimulated his keen interest in the harmony between wine and food. Various training courses here and there tempted him to pursue the Sommelier Council program, after which he earned the eponymous diploma from the Université du Vin in Suze-la-Rousse, in the heart of the French Rhône region. He is currently the only Belgian ambassador of this university. He carries out numerous assignments in the hospitality sector and is a member of the accreditation committee for Belgian wines. But above all, he is also a lecturer at the Flemish Wine Academy and the founding chairman of the non-profit organization Sommeliers Conseils, which, through the Flemish Wine Academy, unites the Belgian alumni of the French wine university in Suze-la-Rousse.

Purpose of the wine course

Learning to 'taste' wine
Recognizing and describing the smells, aromas and taste structure of wine
Recognizing typical characteristics of certain grape varieties and wines
Gain insight into the different processes of wine making (white, red and sparkling wines)
Gain an understanding of the appellation and classification system in France (with an emphasis on the Burgundy, Bordeaux and Champagne regions)
Get a feel for pairing certain wines and dishes
Formulate an evaluation and conclusion, estimate the price-quality ratio of wines

French wines form the basis of the tastings, but attention is also paid to other wine countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Austria, South Africa, Chile, New Zealand, Argentina, etc.).

Autumn tasting 2025