Bourgogne Master-Level Intensive
May 11-15th, 2020 in Beaune, the region’s wine capital
Building upon the Wine Scholar Guild’s Bourgogne Master-Level program, an in-depth certification program on Bourgogne wines, WSG launches a Bourgogne Master-Level Intensive course.
This inaugural session will be taking place May 11-15th, 2020 in Beaune, the region’s wine capital.
This 5-day, intensive classroom & tasting experience will be presented and taught by Bourgogne wine expert Timothy Magnus.
An Australian national residing in Switzerland, Timothy has been teaching wine courses for nearly a decade. Timothy spends a week nearly every month in the Bourgogne wine region and has accumulated a true expertise about what is happening in Bourgogne today and which domaines are the stars of tomorrow. Timothy founded his own company Magnus Vinum several years ago with the specific aim to offer high-end Bourgogne wine education. Additionally, he imports a range of small, quality Bourgogne domaines into Switzerland. Timothy has been teaching about Bourgogne internationally for almost 10 years.
He possesses a deep understanding of the region, its economy, producers and terroirs and is a leading authority on Bourgogne wine. See Timothy’s full bio below.
Join us for 5 days of complete immersion with structured, in-depth lectures covering all aspects of Bourgogne wine production, terroir and producers with extensive tutored tastings of top-quality wines including some of the region’s iconic domaines.
Who is the program for What's Included Program Schedule
Who is the program for:
Committed students of wine with a strong background on viticulture and winemaking and a good familiarity with Burgundy.
Limited to 20 participants.
Study outcomes:
- Master the complex yet fascinating Bourgogne wines
- Understand the recent trends in the Bourgogne wine market
- Get the inside track on who’s who in Bourgogne.
- Learn about new developments from the top domaines and rising stars
- Stay current about the evolutions in viticulture, winemaking and wine styles
- Taste through over 60 carefully chosen wines including top and cult domaines
- Meet fellow committed students of wine and lovers of Bourgogne wines
- Visits top domaines and learn from those crafting the wines
- Experience first-hand some of the top Grand Cru vineyards and understand what factors lead to them producing some of the most desirable wines in the world
What's included:
- Registration in WSG’s Bourgogne Master-Level online program (see below for details)*
- Welcome dinner at a fine Beaune restaurant
- 4 days of classroom instruction with extensive tutored tasting
- 1 day field-trip in the Côte de Beaune with visit to a Chassagne-Montrachet domaine, vineyard tour of Puligny-Montrachet, lunch at gourmet restaurant ‘Le Soufflot’ with its elegant cuisine and exceptional wine list and afternoon visit to a top Beaune négociant
- 3 catered lunches (light to stay alert for the afternoon!)
- Vineyard tour and domaine visit in the Côte de Nuits
- Finale dinner in a top Beaune wine bar/restaurant
- A selection of Bourgogne wines for all meals are included
- Examination on the afternoon of the last day of the program (with a possibility to upgrade for individually-proctored online examination)
*Access to the Bourgogne Master-Level study program will be granted 90 days prior to the course start date and after final payment is received.
Not included:
- Lodging
- Transportation to and from France/Beaune
- Not all dinners are included in the program
There are many hotel or AirBnB options. Please contact us if you need help with lodging.
About the wine tasted:
With his access to many great domaines and extensive private collection, Timothy has selected wines to be tasted that represent a broad cross-section of different terroirs, winemaking philosophies and styles. The wines hail from many rising star domaines, established stars and even some cult domaines!
Producers tasted will include: Domaine Michel Lafarge, Louis Jadot, Bouchard Père et Fils, Domaine Henri Boillot, Domaine Bernard Moreau, Domaine Ramonet, Domaine François Raveneau, Domaine Vincent Dauvissat, Faiveley, Domaine François Bertheau, Domaine Robert Chevillon, Domaine Berthau-Gerbet, Domaine Chandon de Briailles, Domaine Marquis d’Angerville, Domaine de Montille, Domaine Dureuil-Janthial, Domaine Armand Rousseau, and more… (list subject to changes)
Location/Venue:
This intensive week of immersion into the wines of Bourgogne takes place in the newly renovated, bright and spacious tasting rooms of Marchand Tawse located a few moments from the centre of Beaune. This characterful 18th century building has been completely updated with modern facilities making it the ideal base of operations for this exciting course.
Price:
US$2490 per person*
Deduct $300 if already enrolled in the Bourgogne Master-Level program
US$1000 deposit required upon registration. Remaining balance due 90 days prior to the course start date.
Deposits and Final Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. *Member discount is not applicable on this package.

PROGRAM SCHEDULE:
MORNING |
AFTERNOON | |
Sunday, May 10th |
|
Welcome dinner @ Restaurant Bissoh, Beaune |
Monday, May 11th |
BOURGOGNE FUNDAMENTALS Unit 1: Terroir & Climate Unit 2: Grapes and Viticulture Unit 3: Vinification Unit 4: The Beaune Négociants
|
GREAT WHITE WINES OF THE CÔTE DE BEAUNE Unit 5: Meursault Unit 6: Puligny-Montrachet Unit 7: Chassagne-Montrachet FINDING VALUE IN CÔTE DE BEAUNE Unit 8: Value Villages of Côte de Beaune |
Tuesday, May 12th |
FIELD TRIP CÔTE DE BEAUNE Chassagne-Montrachet domaine visit Puligny-Montrachet vineyard tour |
FIELD TRIP CÔTE DE BEAUNE Lunch @ Le Soufflot, Meursault Visit of a Major Beaune Négociant |
Wednesday, May 13th |
Unit 9: Chablis & Grand Auxerrois STARS OF THE CÔTE DE NUITS Unit 10: Gevrey-Chambertin Unit 11: Morey-St-Denis Unit 12: Chambolle-Musigny |
STARS OF THE CÔTE DE NUITS Unit 13: Vosne Romanée, Flagey-Echezeaux & Vougeot Unit 14: Nuits-St-Georges & Côte de Nuits-Villages FINDING VALUE IN CÔTE DE NUITS Unit 15: Value Villages of the Côte de Nuits |
Thursday, May 14th |
RED WINES FROM THE CÔTE DE BEAUNE Unit 16: The Hill of Corton Unit 17: Beaune & Savigny-lès-Beaune Unit 18: Pommard Unit 19: Volnay
|
FUTURE STARS OF BOURGOGNE Unit 20: Côte Chalonnaise Unit 21: Mâconnais CONTEMPORARY BOURGOGNE Unit 22: Commercialisation of Bourgogne Wines & the Secondary Market Unit 23: Cults Domaines of Bourgogne Finale dinner @ Maison du Colombier, Beaune (with guest speaker)
|
Friday, May 15th |
FIELD TRIP CÔTE DE NUITS Côte de Nuits domaine visit Vineyard tour of Vosne-Romanée and Chambolle-Musigny
|
Optional exam
|
ABOUT TIMOTHY MAGNUS:
After growing up in Australia and falling in love with wine from an early age, Timothy Magnus spent several years working in the New South Wales wine region Hunter Valley. In 2007 Tim met a Swiss wine lover and it was truly love at first sight. They married in 2008 and now live near Zürich Switzerland with their 2 young children.
In 2012 Tim completed the WSET Level 4 Diploma through the Wine Academy Austria, becoming an Associate of the Institute of Wines & Spirits. In 2015 upon completion of his research thesis Timothy received the title 'Weinakademiker' as well as winning the inaugural 'Swiss Wine Award' for his research thesis. He is also naturally an Official Bourgogne Wine Ambassador. Since 2011 Timothy has taught wine courses for different companies and schools including Switzerland's largest and most famous. For many years Timothy has been specialised in the Bourgogne wine region and because of this founded his own company Magnus Vinum with the aim of offering high. level Burgundy wine education. He also imports a selection of top Bourgogne domaines. Timothy loves sharing his passion for the Bouroggne wine region and with its’ rich tapestry of terroirs and producers.
ABOUT THE BOURGOGNE MASTER-LEVEL PROGRAM:
This intensive week of study in Beaune builds upon the Wine Scholar Guild’s Bourgogne Master-Level program, an in-depth certification program on Bourgogne wines. This program has been created jointly by the Wine Scholar Guild and lead instructor Don Kinnan, CWE and is endorsed by Bourgogne Wine Board - BIVB.
The Bourgogne Master-Level Program includes:
STUDY UNDER TRUE BURGUNDY WINE EXPERTS AND MASTERFUL INSTRUCTORS INCLUDING:
- Don Kinnan, CWE
Lead-instructor; 35 years of experience in the wine industry; Chevalier dans l’Ordre du Merite Agricole - Allen Meadows
Aka the Burghound - Alex Gambal
Boston native, now a leading négociant of Grands Crus in Bourgogne - Andrew Jefford
Award-winning wine journalist for Decanter Magazine and author of twelve books on wine including “The New France” - Stephen Charters MW
Former Professor of Champagne Management, Reims Management School; current Director of Research at School of Wine & Spirits Business at Burgundy School of Business (formerly ESC Dijon) - Chris Tanghe, MS
Chief Instructor at Guild of Sommeliers