Bordeaux Masters
The most advanced certification program on the region and wines of Bordeaux.
Program Overview
The pinnacle in wine education, Wine Scholar Guild presents the Bordeaux Masters Program. The program has completely revised and updated in 2024 to include the most up-to-date information and statistics.
Bordeaux stands as a cornerstone in the world of wine. Wine Scholar Guild’s Bordeaux Masters program celebrates this region and its renowned wine styles with the foremost authorities in the Bordeaux wine trade including Mary Gorman-McAdams MW, Andrew Jefford, Dr. Cornelis (Kees) Van Leeuwen, Colin Gent MW, Guilherme Martins, Wendy Narby, Jane Anson, Fiona Morrison MW, Charles Curtis MW, Mark Pygott MW and more.
This program is unlike any other. Tailored to devoted wine aficionados and industry professionals, WSG’s Bordeaux Masters program distinguishes itself with its rich array of content and preeminent catalogue of world-class contributors.
What's Included
From a comprehensive study manual, recorded instructor seminars, expert interviews and live review online classes, every aspect is thoughtfully designed for the most flexible and in-depth learning experience available on the wines and region of Bordeaux.
Study Manual & Additional Resources
Each student receives a printed and e-book version of the fully-revised manual as well as recommended wines to pair with your studies, vintage charts and maps.
THE COMPREHENSIVE STUDY MANUAL (FULLY UPDATED AND REVISED IN 2024) INCLUDES:
Viticultural history
Geology, topography, soils
Climate
Grapes, the vine
Grape growing and winemaking practices
Vintages
All sub-regions and appellations, including classifications
Detailed maps
Wine trade, statistics and industry trends
Recorded Sessions
Learn from over 70 pre-recorded sessions, each about 20 mins in length, led by your instructors. Topics span history, geology, terroir, vintages, grape growing, winemaking, specific producers and more.
MORE THAN 70 RECORDED LECTURES & INTERVIEWS, WITH 6 LIVE MONTHLY REVIEW SESSION
Each month, meet with your instructors to review course materials including:
Context: History, viticulture and winemaking practices
Wine law
Terroirs: climate, geology, sub-regions, and their appellations
Producers: historic, leading & new generation
Business: trade structures, classifications
Vintages: classic and recent vintages
Interviews with Bordeaux Experts
Acclaimed author and WSG Academic Advisor, Andrew Jefford, hosts a series of interviews with experts from the region that examine the current trends, challenges and opportunities for Bordeaux.
Live Classes & Student Community
Every month, join your lead educator for a live review, designed to test your understanding of the material and keep you on track.
You are not alone! In addition to Live Review Webinar Sessions, WSG Community Chat channels allow you to ask your instructors questions and connect with your classmates and the entire WSG community.
Final Exam
Online, proctored exam sit to be scheduled within one year of your registration.
Certificate
Upon passing, receive your coveted Bordeaux Masters certificate. Add this reputed credential to your LinkedIn profile and résumé or CV.
Detailed Schedule
Enjoy the flexibility of expert-led instruction via live classes, recorded content and interviews. Topics are organized in monthly segments. Each month has a specific geographical focus, allowing themes to slowly build over time.
Monthly Focus | Description |
|---|---|
Welcome & Orientation | Meet your lead educator, Sharon McLean, for an overview of the Bordeaux Masters certification structure and schedule. You will learn about the resources and where to find them on your online classroom. Sharon will also outline study tips for success and introduce you briefly to the final exam. In the meantime, get to know your fellow classmates or create a local tasting group in the dedicated space just for this course on the WSG Community. |
Bordeaux Overview | Explore the history of the region, the traditional and new grape varieties, geology and the regional AOCs. Learn how the Bordeaux wine industry is structured and some of the challenges of this model. Finally, we assess the importance of vintage. |
Left Bank: Red Wines | We focus on the red wines of the Left Bank while examining the specific geology and the terroirs of the AOCs found here. Go back into the vineyard to understand vineyard management practices and move into the winery to take a closer look at how red wines are made. We jump into the myriad of classification systems and consider the future of the en primeur system. Studies are rounded out with a review of vintages and some of the leading estates. |
Left Bank: Dry & Sweet White Wines December 2024 | Staying on the Left Bank, we turn our attention to dry and sweet white wines. We explore why some appellations are known for their white wines, how the wines are made and how vintage conditions have influenced them. Back to La Place, we grapple with the specific roles of the négociants, the châteaux and the courtiers in the supply chain. |
Right Bank: Saint Émilion, Pomerol & Beyond | Crossing over to the Right Bank, we discover what is so unique about the terroirs here that give rise to a very different mix of grape varieties and wine style. We look at the St. Émilion classification and discuss some of its recent challenges. Completing our studies this month is a look at the major influencers of yesterday and today, with a spotlight on some of the leading châteaux. |
Entre-Deux-Mers and The Côtes | Our studies wrap-up with Entre-Deux-Mers and The Côtes. In addition to sessions on terroir and producers, we consider how these wines are positioned commercially and the way in which this may change in the global wine landscape. We also take stock of other key discussions around the whole region such as collecting Bordeaux, sustainability and innovation. |
Exam Preparation | From March 2025 onwards you can register for the exam. To schedule your exam, follow the instructions posted on your online classroom. You have 12 months from your original date of enrollment to take the exam. |
Live Monthly Sessions
Live sesions are hosted monthly with your Lead Educator, reviewing key content delivered during the previous month, answering questions and helping you prepare for the final exam.
These live review classes will be hosted on September 19 (welcome webinar), November 7, December 5, January 9, February 6 and March 6. They start at 12:00 noon Eastern Time and are recorded for on-demand replay.
Course Structure
Your Bordeaux Masters course content has been divided into seperate tracks, each handled by topical experts & authorities:
Context
Dive into the rich history of Bordeaux, explore current trends, and discover today’s key influencers of the region. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the cultural and social forces that have shaped - and continue to shape - Bordeaux wines.
Terroirs & AOCs
Understand the unique characteristics of Bordeaux's terroirs. Learn about the location, climate, topography and geology of each appellation, as well as the wine laws that give rise to the identity of the wines.
Viticulture & Winemaking
Examine the practices in Bordeaux's vineyards and cellars and understand how choices impact on the style and quality of these wines. Explore how these practices have evolved through time, adapting to changing climate conditions and consumer preferences.
Route to Market
Analyze the business structures and key actors within the Place de Bordeaux and the global distribution of Bordeaux wines. Take a comprehensive look at market trends and the challenges of today.
Buying Bordeaux
Gain expertise in past vintages, price trends, and how to make smart investments in Bordeaux wines. Acquire the knowledge required to navigate the ever-changing landscape of buying Bordeaux wine.
Producers
Learn about the historic and notable chateaux that have shaped Bordeaux’s reputation, as well as the rising stars and value producers making waves today. Understand the classifications, their impact on the market and how they are changing.
Your Educators
Learn from prominent experts in the wines of Bordeaux. WSG's educators are selected for their extensive academic and professional experience in their area of expertise. Many also live in the Bordeaux region.
Sharon McLean, Lead Educator
Sharon is French Programs Director at WSG and oversaw the redesign of the Masters certifications as well as the complete update and revision of the Bordeaux Masters Certification launched in 2024. She is a Certified Sommelier through the International Sommelier Guild and teaches WSG and WSET courses on Vancouver Island as well as being a freelance wine writer and wine judge. Sharon completed the Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust® with the highest marks in Canada in 2009.
Mary Gorman-McAdams MW
Mary Gorman-McAdams MW leads our terroir sessions. She is an independent wine consultant, wine judge, educator and business strategist with a specialist focus on the wines of Bordeaux. She became a Master of Wine in 2011 and is a wine educator and marketer, Mary has served as a mentor to wine students for more than 15 years.
Andrew Jefford
Andrew Jefford is the WSG’s Academic Advisor and is an acclaimed writer and critic. He is the author of “The New France,” “Whisky Island,” and “Andrew Jefford's Wine Course.” Andrew is the lead for the vintage presentations and the host of the interviews with the Bordeaux experts for this course.
Dr. Cornelis (Kees) Van Leeuwen
Dr. Van Leeuwen is a Professor of Viticulture at Bordeaux Sciences Agro—ISVV Bordeaux and Head of the Viticulture - Enology Department. He teaches on terroir and vineyard auditing. His research is focused on the concept of terroir in viticulture, and he has published 90 peer-reviewed research papers, which are centred on environmental constraints in the expression of vine-growing terroir.
Colin Gent MW
Colin Gent MW is a lead lecturer in the Wine Business Masters programs at Kedge Business School and is well qualified to lead many of our business sessions. He became a Master of Wine in 2003 and provides sales and marketing consultancy services to importers and exporters. He also offers high-end wine education and wine tourism. Gent previously worked for the Bordeaux-based wine broker Europvin.
Guilherme Martins
Guilherme Martins holds a Ph.D. from the University of Bordeaux in wine microbiology and biotechnology, and he is an enologist graduate degree from the University of Vila Real (Portugal). He has worked as a winemaker in countries like Portugal, France and the United States. He is currently the coordinator of the Master in Vineyard and Winery Management at the Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin de l'Université de Bordeaux.
Wendy Narby
Wendy Narby is a senior lecturer at the École du Vin de Bordeaux and has been a wine and food consultant in Paris and Bordeaux for over 20 years. Wendy is a long-term resident of Bordeaux and readily shares her passion in the classroom. She describes herself as a “flying wine educator” taking the latest news from Bordeaux across Europe, Asia and the United States.
Jane Anson
Jane Anson has lived in Bordeaux since 2003 and is founder of janeanson.com, the site that she launched in October 2021 after leaving Decanter magazine, where she was longtime Bordeaux correspondent. Recipient of the ISWC 2023 Wine Communicator Trophy, Jane is author of Inside Bordeaux (called a 'category buster' by Wine Anorak and 'the Bordeaux bible' by Le Figaro), Wine Revolution (Quarto 2017), The Club of Nine (Katz Publishing 2016) Angélus (Editions de la Martiniere, 2016) and Bordeaux Legends, a history of the 1855 First Growth wines (Stewart, Tabori & Chang, 2013, reissued as an NFT ebook in June 2022). She is a graduate of the DUAD tasting diploma with the Bordeaux Institute of Oenology, an accredited wine teacher at the Bordeaux École du Vin and co-founder of the Bordeaux Mentor Week, aimed at opening up diversity and access in the world of wine.
Fiona Morrison MW
Fiona Morrison MW is the winemaker and manager at Le Pin (Pomerol), L'IF (Saint Emilion) and Chateau Goubau (Côtes de Castillon). She is also the Managing Director of Thienpont’s wine négociant business.
Charles Curtis MW
Charles Curtis MW is the founder of WineAlpha and a regular columnist for the Chinese version of La Revue du Vin de France. He is the author of “The Original Grand Crus of Burgundy” and is a regular teacher and speaker at Master of Wine courses, numerous universities and dozens of wine and food festivals over the years.
Mark Pygott MW
Mark Pygott MW has made, imported, distributed, marketed and sold wine in many countries. Mark became an Master of Wine in 2016 and instructs a range of business in wine courses through leading education providers such as the Kedge Business School in Bordeaux.
Meet the renowned Bordeaux specialists in the interview series:
Jane Anson
As well as being one of our instructors, Jane meets with Andrew to give deeper context to the history and positioning of Bordeaux.
Christian Seely
Managing Director of AXA Millésimes, responsible for the prestigious Château Pichon Baron and Châteaux Pibran in Pauillac, Petit-Village in Pomerol, Suduiraut in Sauternes, as well as domaines in Bourgogne, Portugal, Hungary and Napa.
Bill Blatch
Bill arrived in Bordeaux in 1974 and has since become a recognized font of knowledge for all things Sauternes. He is the founder of Négociant Vintex and Consultant to Christie's, France.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Wine professionals, including sommeliers, food & beverage directors, servers, wine educators, distributor representatives, and importers, looking to enhance their expertise in Bordeaux's appellations, both sparkling and still.
- Enthusiasts of Bordeaux seeking a comprehensive education in viticulture, winemaking, history, and the unique people behind this renowned wine region.
- Individuals desiring the ability to confidently discuss and provide exceptional service and guidance about Bordeaux, encompassing both its regional and wine aspects.
Have a different question? Feel free to contact us.