Diploma in Wine, Beverage & Gastronomy

Format: 100% Online (Optional Workshops)
Duration: 24 Weeks | ~300Hours
Level: Professional Chefs, Sommeliers, Beverage Specialists, Hospitality Managers
Certification: Diploma in Wine & Beverage Studies

🔹 Program Overview

The Grand Diploma in Wine, Beverage & Gastronomy is the most advanced beverage qualification offered by the Oxford Institute of Culinary Science & Gastronomy.

Designed for experienced wine and beverage professionals, chefs, sommeliers, and hospitality leaders, this 24-week diploma combines advanced beverage science, global wine mastery, spirits specialization, gastronomic pairing, menu engineering, and leadership in beverage operations.

The curriculum integrates:

• Advanced sensory science

• Comparative tasting at professional sommelier level

• Gastronomic pairing architecture

• Global wine & spirits mastery

• Beverage program design

• Cellar management and operational leadership

• Innovation: zero-proof, molecular mixology, fermentation

• Capstone: complete beverage menu + professional tasting portfolio

This Grand Diploma provides a professional, globally recognized qualification, positioning graduates for leadership roles in fine dining, beverage consultancy, luxury hospitality, and gastronomic innovation.

🔹 Key Features:

• • 24-week, multi-level advanced training

  • 100% online + optional master-level tasting workshops

  • 200+ professional tasting sheets (templates included)

  • 3 major capstone projects

  • Beverage menu engineering + cost analysis

  • Sommelier-level service protocols

  • Access to global expert community

  • Internationally recognized diploma

Program Structure (24 Weeks) – Grand Diploma Academic Chart

Detailed Curriculum (24 Weeks)

Module 1
– Advanced Sensory Science & Beverage Chemistry
(2 Weeks)

• Sensory calibration at sommelier level

• Aroma compounds (esters, terpenes, pyrazines)

• Texture & structure: tannin, viscosity, phenolic analysis

• Chemistry of fermentation & oxidation

• Advanced tasting grids

Practical: 12 aroma identification exercises + structure comparison tasting

Module 2
– Global Wine Mastery I: Old World
(Advanced) (3 Weeks)

• France (Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhône, Alsace, Loire) – Grand Cru analysis

• Italy (Piedmont, Tuscany, Veneto) – DOCG spectrum

• Spain (Rioja, Priorat, Ribera) – aging classifications

• Portugal – fortified wines, terroir mapping

Practical: Old World comparative tasting & region-based assessment

Module 3
– Global Wine Mastery II:
New World (Advanced) (3 Weeks)

• USA (Napa, Sonoma, Oregon AVAs)

• Australia: climate variation & regional identity

• New Zealand: aromatic varietals

• Chile & Argentina: altitude science

• South Africa: specialty terroirs

Practical: New World structure comparison + climate impact analysis

Module 4
– Viticulture, Winemaking & Oenology
(3 Weeks)

• Microbial science: yeasts, fermentation kinetics

• Oak science: grain, toast, extraction compounds

• Natural, biodynamic & sustainable winemaking

• Advanced fault detection (TCA, VA, reduction, oxidation)

• Skin-contact wines & extended maceration

Practical: Fermentation simulation + fault identification tasting

Module 5
– Master Spirits & Advanced Distillation
(3 Weeks)

• Whisky: regions, aging science, barrel influence

• Rum: terroir, fermentation, agricole vs molasses

• Tequila & Mezcal: agave species, roasting, terroir mapping

• Gin: botanicals, infusion techniques

• Cognac & Armagnac: double distillation, cru identification

• Craft distillation & aroma extraction

Practical: Distillate aroma mapping & professional tasting grid

Module 6
– Coffee, Tea & Botanical Beverage Science
(2 Weeks)

• Coffee terroir, processing, roasting curves

• Espresso extraction science

• Tea terroir (China, Japan, India, Taiwan)

• Botanical beverages (herbal, roots, citrus, florals)

• Modern non-alcoholic gastronomy

Practical: Cupping session + tea brewing evaluation

Module 7
– Gastronomic Pairing Architecture
(3 Weeks)

• Flavor molecular relationships

• Texture-based pairing systems

• Pairing for luxury & fine dining

• Pairing for ethnic cuisines + modern gastronomy

• Designing full tasting menus

• Alcohol & perception science

Practical: Full 8-course beverage pairing project

Module 8
– Beverage Service Leadership &
Cellar Engineering (2 Weeks)

• Luxury service protocols for Michelin-style dining

• Cellar layout, humidity, temperature systems

• Inventory management algorithms

• Costing, purchasing, supplier negotiation

• Leadership skills for Beverage Directors

Practical: Virtual service simulation + cellar management assignment

Module 9
– Innovation: Zero-Proof, Fermentation &
Molecular Mixology (2 Weeks)

• Zero-proof spirits science

• Kombucha, kvass, kefir, botanical ferments

• Modern mixology tools

• Hydrocolloids & molecular mixology

• Beverage innovation for restaurants & hotels

Practical: Create a zero-proof signature drink + fermentation log

Module 10
– Grand Capstone Project
(1 Week)

Grand Deliverables:

• Professional Tasting Portfolio (30–40 sheets)

• Complete Beverage Menu (15–20 items)

• Pairing Architecture Document

• Video Presentation (10 minutes)

Final Exam:

• 30% Theory

• 30% Professional tasting test

• 40% Capstone project presentation

Required Tools (Advanced Professional Set)

• Professional tasting glass set

• Aroma kit (24–36 aromas)

• Digital thermometer + hydrometer

• Coffee cupping tools

• Brewing set (v60 or espresso device)

• Bar tools + molecular mixology kit

Career Outcomes

• Advanced Sommelier / Head Sommelier

• Beverage Director

• Gastronomy Beverage Consultant

• Wine & Spirits Educator

• Beverage Program Developer

• Luxury Hospitality & Fine Dining Leadership

Program Includes

• 200+ pages advanced academic materials

• Global wine maps

• Beverage menu engineering guidebook

• Gastronomy pairing manual

• 40 professional templates

• Oxford ICSG global community access

Certification

Upon successful completion:

🏅 Grand Diplôme in Wine, Beverage & Gastronomy
Certified by Oxford Institute of Culinary Science & Gastronomy

Tuition Plans & Pricing Table – Grand Diploma

International Tuition Pricing – Grand Diploma