Academy of Wine & Spirits
| Duration: | Classroom: 7 hours. Online: 7 hours. |
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| Includes: | Classroom: 12 Cheese Samples, 12 Wine Samples, Digital Book, Online Exam, Digital Certificate. Online: Online Zoom Platform, Digital Book, Online Exam, Digital Certificate. Want the full experience? You can add a printed course booklet, official printed certificate, and a lapel pin to your booking during checkout—just tick the box before completing your order. |
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The Associate Level 1 in Cheese™ course offers a comprehensive introduction to the world of cheese, blending essential theory with practical skills. Whether you're in hospitality, retail, or simply passionate about cheese, this course provides the knowledge and confidence to engage with cheese professionally and insightfully.
Explore the core ingredients—milk, cultures, rennet, and salt—and learn how each plays a role in transforming milk into cheese. Understand the complete production journey through the Academy’s Make/Post-Make Model, applied to 25 benchmark cheeses.
Gain insight into how ripeness is developed and controlled through temperature and time. Learn the art and science of affinage (cheese maturation), and the importance of grading for quality and consistency.
Understand the cheese supply chain—from farmhouse to retailer. Learn how to source and curate a well-balanced cheese selection for retail counters, restaurants, events, or home service.
Master the best tools and techniques for cutting, wrapping, storing, and presenting cheese to preserve quality and visual appeal. Perfect for front-of-house staff, retailers, and event hosts.
Build a confident cheese vocabulary using the Academy’s descriptors for 25 iconic cheeses. Learn the foundations of cheese and drink pairing, unlocking harmonious combinations with wine, beer, spirits, and more.
Explore the history of cheesemaking and understand the distinctions between artisan and industrial production. A valuable overview for anyone involved in cheese marketing, education, or retail.
Learn how to handle cheese safely and in line with current hygiene regulations and best practices—essential knowledge for anyone working in food service or sales.
Use the Academy of Cheese Tasting Model to taste cheese systematically. Develop a precise, expressive palate and the ability to confidently assess and communicate about cheese quality.
Expand your knowledge with The Academy of Cheese Level 1 course.
For all lovers of cheese, increase your knowledge to share with family & friends or to enhance your career. This course is an introduction to all types of cheese, cheese making and learning to taste cheese the Academy way.
Join Academy of Cheese® Training Partner Christian Esser as he takes you through the basics of how cheese is made, how to make a great cheese board selection, and the flavours and profiles of the level one syllabus of 25 cheeses.
The course is completed within one day or two sessions, you will learn all about the world’s classic cheeses, how they are made, their history and what they taste like. We use specialist training materials from the Academy of Cheese, taste 12 classic cheeses and learn about cheese in a fun and friendly atmosphere.
Anybody with an interest in Cheese! Level 1 is for anyone who wants to understand the basics of cheese and cheesemaking whether out of their own passion or as a stepping-stone in their career.
Students may elect to sit the Academy of Cheese® Level 1 Associate exam after completing the course – this exam can be taken online, at home and at the convenience of the student. Anyone who successfully completes this exam will receive a certificate and badge – as well as the right to say they are qualified in cheese!
A tasting of 12 wines is included in the course fee – we are a wine school after all! While the focus of the day is very much on cheese, students will also have the opportunity to taste 12 wines during the day chosen specifically to help demonstrate cheese and wine pairing principles.
Accreditation is awarded to delegates that achieve 24 marks and above (from a possible 30 questions) in our Multiple Choice Exam Paper. The online examination will be undertaken after you have completed 6-8 hours of classroom study and 12-24 hours of home study.
The multiple-choice questions are taken from the nine elements of learning outlined above. The current pass rate is 91%.
Upon successful completion of the course and final assessment, participants are awarded the Associate Level 1 Certificate from the Academy of Cheese—a respected and internationally recognized qualification.
This certification confirms your foundational expertise in cheese, including production, maturation, presentation, and tasting. It’s ideal for professionals in hospitality, retail, or food education, as well as serious enthusiasts looking to build credibility and deepen their knowledge.
Certified Associates also gain access to the Academy’s professional network, further resources, and eligibility to advance to Level 2: Member of the Academy of Cheese™.
Classroom: $395
Online: $225
