TasteCoach Masterclasses

Formerly NVWA Masterclasses – now part of our TasteCoach pathway, offering premier monthly tasting experiences that blend hands-on discovery with expert insight.

Each month, join us in Napa or Los Angeles for an unforgettable session led by top specialists in the wine world: Masters of Wine, Ph.D.s, and some of the most accomplished educators in the industry.

TasteCoach Masterclasses are designed for curious enthusiasts and dedicated students alike. Together, we explore exciting wine topics through focused lectures and interactive tastings, always anchored by 6 to 8 carefully chosen wines that bring the theme to life.

Champagne Masterclass with Peter Marks MW at Napa Valley Wine Academy featuring expert tasting and education

Coombsville AVA Masterclass - Ageability

June 9, 2026 • 6 PM - 8 PM Pacific
Join Jim Urda, President of Coombsville Vintners and Growers, Mark de Vere, Master of Wine, and Csilla Kato, dipWSET, for an in-depth Coombsville AVA masterclass exploring one of Napa Valley’s most compelling expressions of age-worthy Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and other distinctive varieties.
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Champagne Masterclass with Peter Marks MW at Napa Valley Wine Academy featuring expert tasting and education

Vinho Verde: Past, Present and Future Masterclass with Eugénio Jardim

July 16, 2026 • 6 PM - 8 PM Pacific
Join Csilla Kato, DipWSET, and incomparable Eugénio Jardim for a fascinating exploration of Vinho Verde’s past, present, and future— a fantastic opportunity to truly understand the region and its wines in a whole new light!
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Finger Lakes Masterclass with Nova Cadamatre, MW - Napa Valley Wine Academy

Finger Lakes Masterclass with Nova Cadamatre, MW

Sep 10, 2026 • 6 PM - 8 PM Pacific
Join us for a focused and highly educational masterclass with Nova Cadamatre, MW, offering a rare opportunity to explore the Finger Lakes through the lens of a winemaker and master taster. Designed to build both theoretical understanding and practical tasting acuity, this promises to be a compelling evening to deepen your knowledge of one of the world's most dynamic cool-climate regions under the guidance of a Master of Wine.
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Wine Flavor Compounds Masterclass: One-Day Sensory Intensive - Napa Valley Wine Academy

Wine Flavor Compounds Masterclass: One-Day Sensory Intensive

Sep 23, 2026 • 9 AM - 4:30 PM Pacific
Join us for a One-Day Sensory Intensive Masterclass on Wine Flavor Compounds. Most wine students and industry professionals are taught to analyze wine through abstract poetry and subjective storytelling. You are told to look for "hints of leather" or "whispers of green orchard fruit," leaving you to second-guess your palate during high-stakes exams or critical client consultations. When you stumble on terms like pyrazines, terpenes, or Brett, you are forced to decode a complex liquid matrix without a clear baseline. This masterclass flips the traditional script entirely, discarding elitist jargon for objective science. This intensive treats your palate like a high-precision instrument. Feel completely confident in your tasting mechanics because you will isolate, test, and anchor over 25 distinct flavor compounds and structural faults side-by-side against a pure, identical control wine.
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