A new Irish wine diploma has been announced with an all star cast of lecturers.

A “Who’s who” of Irish wine writers are coming together as part of the Diploma in Wine and Wine Culture. A group of Ireland’s most knowledgeable, entertaining and experienced writers, journalists, broadcasters and wine professionals will unlock, explore and explain some of humanity’s most alluring, complex and long lived creations.

The course will take place over a 12 weeks with a two hour lecture every Thursday evening.

I’ve spent many a lunchtime and overseas “jolly” with these folk so I heartily endorse this course for anyone who has interest in wine and all the historical and cultural trappings that go with it.

The line-up

Mary Dowey (The Gloss)
Topic: The Wines of the Rhone and Provence

Tom Doorley (RTE’s The Restaurant & Irish Daily Mail)
Topic: Champagne Culture, Taste and History

John Wilson (The Irish Times)
Topic: The Wines of Germany and Austria

Tomas Clancy (Sunday Business Post)
Topic: The Great Wines of Bordeaux and the History of Wine

David Whelehan (TV3 and formerly O’Briens Wines Director of Wine)
Topic: The Wine Business and Trade, and the Wines of California

Martin Moran (Master of Wine*, Sunday Times and Movies and Booze with Moncrieff  on Newstalk)
* One of only 300 Master of Wine worldwide
Topic: The Wines of Australia

Raymond Blake (Wine Editor of Food and Wine Magazine)
Topic: Wines of Burgundy and Port

Jean Smullen (Sunday World, Prudence and Movies & Booze with Moncrieff on Newstalk)
Topic: Wines of the Southern Hemisphere
Chile, Argentina, South Africa and New Zealand

Matt Nugent (The Sun)
Topic: Wines of Spain and Portugal

Ernie Whalley (The Sunday Times and Fork ‘n’ Cork Foodie Forum)
Topic: Wines of Italy

Booking information

Starts Thursday 11th October 2012  with 2 hours every Thursday evening for 12 weeks.

Course cost: €495

And for further information call +353 1 672 5058 or see the details on the Independent Colleges website.