Advanced Principles of Winemaking - Wine Stabilisation for Cool Climate Production

The aims of this one-day intensive course are to provide a good level of knowledge and understanding of the different forms of instability that can occur in wine and practically how best to manage when encountered during the production process.

The aims of this one-day intensive course are to build on the Principles of Winemaking course and is ideal for those with experience of winemaking or have a strong interest in wine chemistry and microbiology.

Topics include:

• Tartrate stability and the importance in still and sparkling wine
• Calcium instability in sparkling wine
• Different cold stabilisation techniques
• Copper instability and methods to manage
• Iron instability and methods to manage
• Protein instability and methods to manage
• Managing oxidative and phenolic hazes
• SO2 management

Topics include:

• Tartrate stability and the importance in still and sparkling wine
• Different cold stabilisation techniques
• Copper instability and methods to manage
• Iron instability and methods to manage
• Protein instability and methods to manage
• Managing oxidative and phenolic hazes
• SO₂ management
• Maturation techniques and how these influence wine preservation
• The benefits of lees ageing

PPE Requirements

The programme includes an afternoon practical activity in the winery/lab, so requires students to bring:

• Lab coats will be provided

The course ends with a 30-minute multiple-choice exam.

There will be an assumed level of knowledge and prior experience of winemaking, with a minimum of one full harvest experience. Wine enthusiasts with a background in microbiology and/or chemistry may also find this course of interest

Course Cost

Please note Plumpton College Wine Division have recently secured some funding, allowing for a reduction in price to a selection of wine courses, subject to eligibility*.

*Learners will be eligible for funding if they were aged over 19 on 31st August 2024 and have been resident in the UK for the last 3 years. Learners living in devolved areas (eg Greater London Combined Authority) will not be eligible for funding. Learners currently undertaking an apprenticeship will not be eligible for funding.

Cost (non-funded learner): £200

Cost (funded learner): £120