South Australia’s rich wine heritage is getting the grassroots recognition it deserves, thanks to a passionate suburban initiative by the Workers’ Educational Association (WEA).
The short course, Know Your Wine- Enjoy Your Wine is equipping everyday Australians with the knowledge and confidence to better appreciate, select, and understand the wines of our premier regions, including the world-renowned Barossa Valley.
Delivered in Adelaide by experienced wine educator David Crossman, Know Your Wine- Enjoy Your Wine is a one-session course designed for those who want to better understand what’s in their glass. It breaks down wine fundamentals into approachable concepts, offering a practical and sensory introduction to wine appreciation.
Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned wine-lover, the course helps participants explore why wine styles taste the way they do, how to judge the quality of a wine, and how to interpret the Australian regional classification and labelling system to find the best quality and value.
Wine is for pleasure whether enjoyed with food, as a social icebreaker, or simply sipped and savoured with educator David Crossman believing that this enjoyment deepens with understanding.
“When people visit the Barossa or South Australian wine regions, we want them to understand why a shiraz might taste fuller-bodied here, or what to look for on a label that indicates a quality drop. It’s about confidence and connection.
“The short course, Know Your Wine- Enjoy Your Wine course gives participants the ability to discover and appreciate the time and effort that goes into making quality wines. Awareness that comes with education and the WEA course is a great way to help the community recognise the winemaking work that goes on in the regions.
“The result of the WEA course is a greater appreciation of wine, an improved vocabulary to describe it, and greater confidence when selecting wine in shops, restaurants, or wineries,” Mr Crossman said.
David Crossman has taught wine at WEA since 1994, holds qualifications in wine studies, and has judged wine in France at the Concours Agricole de Paris, all with a background in secondary and adult education, combined with hands-on experience in wine retail and wholesaling.
WEA, established in 1913, is Australia’s largest non-government adult community education provider and it offers hundreds of short courses across all kinds of disciplines, and Know Your Wine is a perfect example of how the WEA connects people with skills that enrich daily life.
WEA CEO Lesley Venning couldn’t be prouder of the culture that has been cultivated by this course and other courses like it.
“While WEA offers nearly 1,000 short courses each year, to more than 10,000 students across locations in metropolitan Adelaide, we are incredibly proud that a course like Know Your Wine- Enjoy Your Wine is able to connect individuals to our wine regions, deepening their appreciation for the Barossa and neighbouring areas.
“Courses like Know Your Wine- Enjoy Your Wine have always been incredibly popular at WEA, with tutors like David educating participants for over 30 years.
