THE WINE EDUCATION CENTRE
The educational arm of Wines of Western Australia
The Wine Education Centre (WEC) is the prime provider of wine education for consumers and trade in Western Australia.
It has been providing quality wine education for well over 40 years. The Wine Essentials Course is designed to increase your wine knowledge and develop your palate. The only prerequisite is a love of wine. It is also an appropriate course for those about to enter the wine trade, with a Certificate of Merit awarded upon completion. Throughout the year, Old Bridge Cellars also hosts the Wine Education Centre’s specialty wine courses. These are short courses which focus on a particular style or region. All courses are managed by Blair Hill, who comes with a wealth of wine industry experience.
Wine Educator – Blair Hill
BPE, Dip Ed (UWA), Grad Dip Bus (Marketing) (ECU) DIP WSET (WSET-UK)
In addition to his longstanding role as Director at the WEC, Blair’s wine education experience includes the delivery of Level 2 and 3 of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses, and a sessional lecturer at Curtin University in Sensory Evaluation 202, a second-year Oenology and Viticulture unit. In his ‘day job’, Blair consults to a number of Western Australian boutique wineries in strategic sales, marketing and business development across domestic and international wine markets. He is a Director of Vintage Fine Wine Distributors (VFWD), which imports and distributes exclusive French, Italian, South African and ultra-premium Australian wines of provenance and regionality. Blair has been the wine reviewer for ABC 720 radio’s ‘Afternoons’ for ten years, for which he won the Court Wine Bar/Wine Press Club Media Award. He is currently the Perth wine reviewer for ‘What’s Cooking’ – Radio NTS and Virgin airlines.
Courses 2025
Wine Essentials Course North Fremantle
The Wine Essentials courses are conducted at By Old Bridge North Fremantle:
- Venue: By Old Bridge Cellars
- MAY Dates: Commencing Tuesday 6 May 2025
- Price – $395 pp (15% off for WoWA Members and their staff)
The Wine Essentials Course is held over four consecutive weeks, the course covers six wines per session.
Click here to learn more
The course provides the necessary information for all wine enthusiasts who are looking to increase their wine knowledge and approach to tasting. It is also an appropriate course for those about to enter or are in the wine trade.
- Week One – Learn how to taste and assess a range of wine styles and understand the wine show system in Australia.
- Week Two – White wine production, styles and botrytis cinerea (noble rot).
- Week Three – Red wine production, styles, importance of oak and cellaring potential of wine.
- Week Four – Food and wine matching to be held at Samsons Paddock restaurant, Mosman Park.
- Plus a Saturday vineyard visit to the Swan Valley or Perth Hills and the Essential Wine Tasting Guide.
Contact Person: Blair Hill
Telephone: 0417 987 461
Email enquiries: [email protected]
Wine Essentials Course Como
These Wine Essentials courses are conducted at Old Bridge Como:
- Venue: Old Bridge Cellars Como
- MAY Dates: Commencing Monday 28 July 2025
- Price – $395 pp (15% off for WoWA Members and their staff)
The Wine Essentials Course is held over four consecutive weeks, the course covers six wines per session.
Click here to learn more
The course provides the necessary information for all wine enthusiasts who are looking to increase their wine knowledge and approach to tasting. It is also an appropriate course for those about to enter or are in the wine trade.
- Week One – Learn how to taste and assess a range of wine styles and understand the wine show system in Australia.
- Week Two – White wine production, styles and botrytis cinerea (noble rot).
- Week Three – Red wine production, styles, importance of oak and cellaring potential of wine.
- Week Four – Food and wine matching to be held at Juniper and Bay on Preston St, Como on Wednesday 5 March 2025.
- Plus a Saturday vineyard visit to the Swan Valley or Perth Hills and the Essential Wine Tasting Guide.
Contact Person: Blair Hill
Telephone: 0417 987 461
Email enquiries: [email protected]
Champagne/ Burgundy Tour
There are still places available for the 2025 Champagne/Burgundy tour departing on 5th May 2025, starting in the beautiful Champagne region and then onward to the Burgundy region.
This exclusive tour offers a truly immersive experience, where you will have the chance to explore renowned vineyards and savour exquisite wines together with fine dining.
I have attached the brochure for those interested and for more information please ring myself on 0417 987 461 or Lance at Quartermaine Travel (e) [email protected] (m) 0408 595 800 to discuss the tour and additional travel options.
Sparkling Wines of the World
Explore the wonderful world of sparkling wines. You will be guided through a range of the world’s best sparkling wine styles including Champagne, Cava, Prosecco and others.
Click here to learn more
- Date: Tuesday 2 December 2025
- Time: 6.30 – 8.30pm Venue: By Old Bridge Cellars North Fremantle
- Price: $90 Contact: Blair Hill Telephone: 0417 987461
- Email enquiries:[email protected]
Grower Champagne Masterclass with Tracy Mann
A very special Grower (RM) Champagne tasting hosted by Tracy Mann.
- Date: Tuesday March 18th 2025
- Time: 6.30pm – 8.45pm
- Price: $195 (8 champagne tastings)
Tracy Mann is one of Australia’s most experienced Champagne educators and consultants. Winner of the highly coveted Vin de Champagne Award in 1996, Tracy was nominated by the Comité Interprofessionnel du Vin de la Champagne (CIVC) and subsequently inducted into the Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne in 2003 as a Dame Chevalier. This accolade was in recognition of her work to promote Champagne and educate Australians about all matters Champenois. In 2016, she was awarded Honours in the Champagne Master-Level examinations conducted by the Wine Scholar Guild. Tracy will guide you through the business of Grower Champagnes (Recoltant Manipulant) and how they are becoming the most sought-after Champagnes in the world. You will taste eight of the best Grower Champagnes that are currently imported into Australia. They will include Franck Bonville, Etienne Calsac, Hure Freres and Larmandier. Please email me your interest as it will be very popular and numbers will be limited.Read More
A Tour of the Chablis Wine Region
Backed by popular demand – we will explore the region of Chablis in detail and learn more about the region and taste a range of wines from Petit through to Grand Cru level from some of the best producers in the region including William Fevre, Patrick Piuze, Marcel Servin and the iconic Domaine Raveneau (over $500 per bottle).
Save the date – Tuesday April 8 2025 at 6.30pm
Please email me if you would like to go on the priority list for first round offer.
Riesling Revival
More information to follow soon
Northern Italy WInes
More information to follow soon
Testimonials
I loved that course! Never have I looked forward to Tuesday evenings so much. Blair is such a good teacher!
