Advanced Principles of Sparkling Winemaking - Bottling & Tirage

Tirage is a unique winemaking process for traditional method sparkling wine. It is crucial in determining the flavour, aroma, effervescence and overall quality of sparkling wines, as it significantly influences the development of the wine's unique characteristics. Often challenges are experienced in preparing the yeast for this vital process or during the process of tirage.

This course will cover managing each step in the tirage process and what to do if challenges are encountered during the process.

Topics of study include:

• Introduction to Tirage in Sparkling Wine Production
• Challenges in Tirage
• Mother Culture Preparation
• Viability Counting
• DCO₂ Measuring in Base Wines
• Relevance of DCO₂ in Base Wines
• Base Wine Preparation
• Pre-Bottling Analysis for Sparkling Wine
• Overcoming Challenges in Tirage

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

This is an advanced course which builds on the Principles of Sparkling Wine course. There will be an assumed level of knowledge and prior 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.

Price (non-funded learners): £580 

Price (funded learners): £348

PPE Requirements

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

• Good sturdy footwear such as Wellington boots
• Working clothes or overall
• Lab coats will be provided