Sparkling Wine Production

CPD Specialised Short Course

Apply for 2024

Through lectures, seminars, guided tastings and site visits, students will gain knowledge and a detailed understanding of how viticultural and oenological decisions can affect the quality of sparkling wines produced with different techniques.

This module will include:

An overview of different sparkling wine production methods (e.g. bottle fermented, tank fermented, carbonation, etc.) and styles.
Sparkling wine viticulture: site selection, varieties, culture methods, harvest.
Sparkling winemaking: harvest criteria, fruit processing, first and second fermentations, malolactic fermentation, blending, ageing and finishing, bottling, yeast autolysis, riddling & disgorging.
The organoleptic evaluation of sparkling wines of different styles and regions.
Students are assessed at regular intervals in formative ways, sensorially and theoretically, involving tastings, group discussions and presentations, written feedback on short plans and drafts. Students are encouraged to self-reflect and set their own targets for completion of the final assignments.

The outcomes of this module:

Compare different sparkling wine production methods, including differences in sensory characteristics.
Evaluate how different viticultural decisions and practices affect the quality, chemical composition and sensorial properties of sparkling wines.
Evaluate how different winemaking decisions and practices affect the quality, chemical composition and sensorial properties of sparkling wines.

Course details

Dates & Location	Wednesday 22nd January 2025 - Wednesday 21st May 2025 13:15 - 16:00
Duration	This course is delivered at Plumpton College one half day per week.
UCAS Details	Typically full time university students will study 120 credits per year. Please note, you can do up to 45 credits of CPD short courses per academic year. If you would like to do more you will need to register on one of our degree programmes, either full time or part time. If you want to do one of these CPD short courses for upskilling, you can apply today. If you would like to gain credit with the intention of later studying the full degree, please speak a member of our admissions team (enquiries@plumpton.ac.uk / 01273 890 454) first to ensure you meet the full course entry criteria. If you apply for interest upskilling only and don’t want to earn UCAS point and work towards the Plumpton Diploma, make your payment today. Alternatively, if you do want to work towards UCAS points and the Plumpton Diploma please check entry requirements before you pay and tick the box for working towards UCAS points.
Costs	Each semester costs £1,250 plus £110 material fees.

Entry Requirements

Applicable to each module

GCSE Mathematics at grade 4 or above (grade C or above under the A*-G system)
GCSE English at grade 4 or above (grade C or above under the A*-G system)

The following qualifications are recommended prior to applying:

WSET Level 2 Award in Wines (Pass)
Level 3 qualification such as A Level (two subjects)
BTEC Extended Diploma (MPP)
Access to HE in a related subject
We also consider applicants with relevant industry experience if over 21 years of age.
Students with English as a second language will be required to have gained IELTS at 6.5 overall with 6.0 in Writing.

Applicants wishing to progress onto an undergraduate course would need to meet the minimum entry criteria for that specific course which typically includes a Level 3 qualification with UCAS Tariff points (56 points and above).