WEST PLAINS, Mo. – Area residents and winemakers who would like to know more about different wine styles across the globe are invited to enroll in Missouri State University-West Plains’ “Wines of the World” class, which will be hosted locally this fall by Café 37 in downtown West Plains.
“Wines of the World” (VIN 274) is a three-credit-hour class designed for those who wish to further their understanding of wine styles, university officials said. It benefits the wine enthusiast who is interested in reaching advanced levels of appreciation and an understanding of global benchmarks, as well as commercial winemakers who wish to understand how the wines they produce compare and contrast with the most popular and important wine styles around the globe. Through lectures, guided tastings and discussions, students will evaluate the sensory properties of wine using methods presented in class.
“Wines of the World” is an online class with a synchronous component, officials explained. The online portion provides announcements, lectures, notes, and supplemental printed and web-based materials. It also serves as a central point for interaction/communication between instructor and students. The live class meeting will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. each Thursday from Sept. 6 to Dec. 13 in the restaurant’s Weatherford Room via the Centra web-based conference system, which will be provided by the university.
“The advantage of taking the class at Café 37 is that you will be able to purchase your wine there and meet with a group of fellow students, enjoying your tasting and evaluation in a more social setting instead of in front of your home computer,” officials explained.
Cost of the class is approximately $400 for the semester plus the purchase of wine. Area residents interested in signing up for the class are encouraged to attend a special registration meeting from 6 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 16, in the Weatherford Room at Café 37, 37 Court Square, in downtown West Plains. For more information, call the Missouri State-West Plains admissions office at 417-255-7955 or e-mail Melissa Jett, coordinator of admissions, at MelissaJett@MissouriState.edu.
“Wines of the World” is one of the online courses provided by Missouri State-West Plains as part of its participation in the multi-institutional Viticulture and Enology Science and Technology Alliance (VESTA). Funded by the National Science Foundation, VESTA is a partnership between the Missouri State University system, two year schools throughout America, state agriculture agencies, vineyards and wineries that offers a 21st century vision for education in grape growing and winemaking. For more information about VESTA and the degree and certificate programs available, visit http://www.vesta-usa.org/main/.