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Sommelier Essentials: Wine, Spirits, and Beverages

This online wine, spirits and beverages course will cover knowledge of both Australian and imported wine and skills in the sales and service of wine. You will discover the types and styles of wines, as well as wine regions and terminology and food and beverage pairing.
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Start Anytime
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Delivery Method
100% Online
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Study Hours
75 hours
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Course Access
12 Months

Whether you work in the hospitality industry, wish to learn about the role of an Australian sommelier or are simply a wine enthusiast, this course is ideal for you.

Sommelier Essentials: Wine, Spirits, and Beverages is an online professional development program that will provide you with specialist training in the field of sommelier.

This online wine, spirits and beverages course will cover knowledge of both Australian and imported wine and skills in the sales and service of wine. You will discover the types and styles of wines, as well as wine regions and terminology and food and beverage pairing.

In addition, this sommelier course will give you important skills and knowledge in the service and sale of beers, spirits and liquors.

On completion of this course you will feel confident in the service and sale of wine, beer, spirits and liquors in the retail space or hospitality industry.

Printed learning materials are available for purchase for this course and can be ordered during enrolment.  

Course Structure
Unit - Sommelier Essentials: Wine, Spirits, and Beverages

Unit 1 – Provide advice on Australian wines

  • Characteristics of Australian wines
  • Major and emerging wine regions
  • Wine serving temperature
  • Types of wine glasses and correct use
  • Wine aromas and appearance
  • Wine defects
  • Off colours and turbidity
  • Presenting wine to potential customers
  • Corporate customers
  • Knowing the wine product
  • Winery tours
  • Imported wines
  • Temperature control
  • Humidity, light and Vibration
  • Smoke affected wines
  • Cloudiness and oxidation
  • Alcohol and fruit flavour
  • Production methods
  • Reading wine labels
  • Wine characteristics
  • Assisting customers
  • Wine and food matching
  • Trade shows and wine events
  • Wine tastings
  • Networking and publications
  • Customer profiling
  • Introducing new wine styles
  • Events and festivals
  • Customer advice
  • Selecting suppliers

Unit 2 – Provide advice on imported wines

  • Evaluate imported wines
  • Characteristics of imported wines
  • Sensory evaluation
  • Mouth feel
  • Viticulture
  • Wine production methods
  • Fermentation
  • Bottling, corking
  • Vintage
  • Appellations
  • Storing wine
  • Cellaring conditions
  • Record keeping
  • Communication
  • Business considerations
  • Research information
  • Customer trends

Unit 3- Provide table service of food and beverage

  • Day-to-day activities
  • Mise en place procedures
  • Lighting and floor plans
  • Table setting
  • Bar mise en place
  • Table service / plans
  • Greeting and seating
  • Presenting menus
  • Taking orders
  • Customer preferences and needs
  • Flow of service
  • Pickup points
  • Food and beverage quality
  • Clearing plates
  • Beverage service
  • Tray service
  • Staff communication
  • The hospitality experience
  • End of shift duties
  • Handover
  • Waste disposal

Unit 4 – Provide advice on food and beverage matching

  • Evaluate foods and beverages
  • Australian and imported wines
  • Australian wine styles
  • Wine and food matching
  • Beers, spirits and liqueurs
  • Malt, Hops, Yeast, Spirits
  • How cooking affects pairing
  • How food features affect interactions
  • Basic pairing
  • Alcohol in cooking
  • Provide advice on compatibility
  • Acidity balance
  • Fruit flavours
  • Price preferences
  • Menus and wine lists
  • Maintaining stock levels
  • Business considerations
  • Ethical aspects
  • Extend own knowledge
  • Networking opportunities
  • Publications
  • Association memberships
  • Identify customer trends
  • Customer profiling
  • Customer feedback

Unit 5 – Provide advice on beers, spirits and liqueurs

  • Evaluate beers, spirits and Liquors
  • Beer characteristics
  • Spirits
  • Fermented beverages
  • Distilled beverages
  • Liqueurs
  • Sensory evaluation
  • Handling and storage
  • Safety
  • Monitor product quality
  • Advise customers
  • Malts
  • Hops
  • Yeast
  • Main beer styles
  • Cocktails
  • Types of liqueur
  • Matching food and drink
  • Supplier arrangements
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Estimated Duration
75 hours
Course Delivery and Start
Start anytime, self-paced and 100% online
Assessment

Assessment will be comprised of written exercises, including short-answer questions, reflective tasks, short reports and/or projects. There are no examinations or due dates for assessment. As a result, you can complete training in your own time and at your own pace with the assistance of unlimited tutor support.

Career Outcomes
  • Sommelier
  • Restaurant Sommelier
  • Bartender

 

I had a very positive experience while completing this certificate with Australian Online Course, and I would like to especially thank my tutor, who was able to guide me effectively.
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Nils
New Caledonia
Certificate of Winemaking (Oenology)
April 2026
This guide is exceptionally easy to follow, making the learning process smooth and straightforward. The documentation is well-crafted, engaging, and enjoyable to read, which helps in retaining the information easily. Overall, it provides a very pleasant and positive experience for anyone looking to understand the material and memorise the key points effortlessly.
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Alessandro
North Adelaide, SA
and Beverages, Sommelier Essentials: Wine, Spirits and Beverages, Spirits
February 2026
The data in the course itself was very useful and well explained. The assessments that come with the course ask the right questions. They make sure you have to understand the subject in order to give a correct answer.
Avatarneutral
Tuur
Roeselare
Advanced Certificate of Viticulture and Winemaking Oenology
December 2025
This course gave me a good insight and understanding of the basics of Viticulture and Oenology. I now have a good understanding of each module and this will definitely help me with my studies further on. It is an easy website to work with and all assignments and sources are easy to access. Tutor support was always there and fast to reply.
Avatarneutral
Karla
Framesby, Port Elizabeth, WA
Advanced Certificate of Viticulture and Winemaking Oenology
December 2025
I selected the AOC course on wine making because I thought the course description seemed to cover the subject well enough to not be superficial but in depth enough not to be extremely technical. It was ideal for me.
Avatarneutral
Don
Thirroul, NSW
Certificate of Winemaking (Oenology)
June 2024
Informative, well organised, and support for students was readily available.
Avatarneutral
Mary
Charlston, SA
Advanced Certificate of Viticulture and Winemaking Oenology
March 2024
The course content was thoroughly compelling and the assessments challenging and set up to foster broad thinking and learning.
Avatarneutral
Gordon
Ellenbrook, WA
Advanced Certificate of Viticulture and Winemaking Oenology
January 2024
The overall experience was interesting, edifying and rewarding. I found the content and assignment to be of a very high standard – definitely not easy! The fact that you can’t simply rely on the course notes but have to do a lot of your own research and compile your own information to complete the assignment is a great way of deepening the knowledge gained and making students think for themselves.
Avatarneutral
Grant
Artarmon, NSW
Advanced Certificate of Viticulture and Winemaking Oenology
January 2024
I thoroughly enjoyed the Certificate in Sommelier Service very much. It covered in-depth all fields of the food and beverage industry and I feel I´m ready to face the world of the Sommelier with confidence!
Avatarneutral
K. Webster
Heathcote, VIC
Certificate of Sommelier Service
April 2023
The course was very well set out with emphasis on the basic of winemaking which allowed me to gain a good foundation of knowledge before undertaking the more complex aspects of the assignments. I found the content clear and all instructions easy to follow. Whenever I had a query it was answered in full and within 24 hours. Overall I was very satisfied with the course and the degree of learning I have obtained
Avatarneutral
S. Burke
Balingup, WA
Certificate of Winemaking (Oenology)
March 2023
So easy to access from any computer, great content and overall learnt a lot
Avatarneutral
G. Littore
Mildura, VIC
Advanced Certificate of Viticulture and Winemaking Oenology
January 2023
The course provided good foundation information. The assignments were thought provoking. I learned a lot from this course.
Avatarneutral
K. Nelson
Apple Tree Flat, NSW
Certificate of Winemaking (Oenology)
March 2022
Fantastic!
Avatarneutral
N. Brill
Wangaratta, VIC
Certificate of Sommelier Service
February 2022
Very satisfying. Thank you
Avatarneutral
G. Tobin
Albion Park, NSW
Certificate of Sommelier Service
October 2021
Overall I found the Australian Online Courses program to be a worthwhile venture of mine as I further explore potential careers in the world of wine. The course material was easy to relevant and easy to follow, meaning I was able to learn quite a lot across a range of topics. In conclusion, I would happily recommend this course or AOC to others as it proved to be an excellent starting point for my learning in viticulture and sommelier service
Avatarneutral
L. Ollington
Devonport, TAS
Certificate of Sommelier Service
March 2021
The course was well set out, I didn’t need much support for the course, as I had most knowledge about the course, but if I did the tutors were always there for me
Avatarneutral
B. Corker
Wangaratta, VIC
Certificate of Viticulture – Wine Production
January 2021
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Sommelier Essentials: Wine, Spirits, and Beverages
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There are no course or subject pre-requisites for entry into our programs. However, our professional development programs are generally intended for people over the age of 18 with a competent level of English. For those under 18, please complete the Parent/Guardian Consent Form before enrolling.

To study online with Australian Online Courses you will need a computer (desktop PC/laptop) running a current/updated operating system with reliable high-speed internet access. You will need to use the Google Chrome browser to access your course.

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This course is delivered online via our easy-to-navigate Learning Management System (LMS), where you will discover interactive online learning/written content, resources and assessment.

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Unlimited tutor support is available throughout your studies via email only during business hours Monday to Friday. Our Administrative team are available Monday to Friday via email, live chat and telephone.

Yes! We accept enrolments from individuals both within Australia and internationally; location is no barrier to entry into our programs.

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