APWASI Blog

How To Cut Open A Cigar How to Cut Open A Cigar How you cut open a cigar can affect the overall smoking experience. First of all, there are different cuts that you can make to the cigar: The Straight cut also known as the guillotine cut - a straight line cut across the head [...]

Youtube: Dr. Lee Explains How to Tell The Difference Between Dry and Sweet Wines What is the difference between dry and sweet wines? Generally speaking, we determine the sweetness of a wine  by the amount of residual sugar that are left from the grapes during the fermentation process. A sweet wine means that there is [...]

Learn how to taste wines with Dr. Lee in the 3 simple steps so that you will feel comfortable in any scenario. The wine tasting tips are practiced by sommeliers around the world, but it's quite simple and you can use it to improve your palate. No one is born with the skills to taste [...]

APWASI Youtube Channel Proper wine etiquette doesn't have to be complicated. In fact, we try our best to make our content education and entertaining. We share our most best wine etiquette tips from Dr. Lee that you can use for different occasions, from how to cheers to how to taste wine at a restaurant. Tip [...]

Interview with Dr. Peter Legge Dr. Clinton Lee, founder of APWASI, joined in an interview with Dr. Peter Legge, OBC to share his insights into wine education and the creation of APWASI.

Counterfeit wines have been a constant problem for China for many years. We spoke with Natalie Wang, founder and editor of Vino-Joy, the only English written website, based in Hong-Kong, specifically about Wines in China. She was also one of the 50 women recently nominated to receive a Women in Wine and Spirits Awards (WINWSA). […]

On our first episode of the APWASI Wine Buzz Series, we interviewed guest, Dr. Iwan Dietschi, hotelier and author of Mastering Hospitality. What was the single catalyst that drove you to become a Hotelier? I love to be with people, to make people happy. The hotel environment allows me to be with people from various [...]

APWASI & BLACC Scholarship Winner Bios APWASI believes that all individuals should have the equal opportunity to receive a wine education to pursue a worthwhile career that they are passionate about. That's why, APWASI is proud to announce the first round scholarship winners of the APWASI x BLACC Edition of the Wine Education Scholarship. We [...]

This is a guest post and excerpt from Il Marco Polo – Augusto Oriani, where Dr. Clinton Lee was interviewed. Grapes, a superlative fruit, excellent to eat also produces nectar of the Gods to drink, wine. Grapes are natural and play their part in the environment. We know that the transformation of grapes into wine […]

Vancouver, British Columbia (May 2, 2021) The Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute (APWASI) is proud to announce the APWASI Wine Education Scholarship in partnership with the Black Cellar Club (BLACC). The first round of applications will open on May 2 and will run until May 31, 2021.  A total of 100 full scholarships (worth […]

Read through APWASI’s Suggested Study Techniques to ensure that your educational journey will be a successful one. 1. Understand online learning practices and expectations. The first thing you need to realize is that online courses are not an easier way to learn, but rather a more convenient one. To successfully learn online, you need to […]

We could call it an emerging fashion, but the question that arises is: what happens to a bottle of wine placed under the sea to mature and even undergo fermentation? All this may seem strange but it is all true, there are more and more producers all over the world participating with this method. There […]

Vancouver, British Columbia (April 15, 2021) The Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute (APWASI) is proud to announce the APWASI Wine Education Scholarship in partnership with the Association of African American Vintners (AAAV). The first round of applications will open on April 15 and will run until May 15, 2021.  A total of 16 full […]

This post was originally posted on ilmarcopolo, written by Augusto Oriani  and Clinton Lee. Lebanon has and sadly continues to be a country tormented by continual upheaval and suffering over thousands of years. Yet despite these complexities, Lebanon majestically brings out the best of the region, illuminates the richness of a history derived from the […]

The following blog was featured on il Marco Polo on February 14, 2021. In this engaging article, we will highlight a very beautiful, but often little-known topic, the differences between a Sommelier and a Wine Taster. They maybe subtle but there are differences. As always, I will be engaging with Dr. Clinton Lee, a very […]

What is decanting wine and how do you properly store the wine? Defining Decanting According to the Cambridge English dictionary decanting means “pouring a liquid from one container to another.” In the case of liquid, it is the wine, the first container is the wine bottle and the pouring into another container refers to the […]

February 12th, 2021 marks the beginning of the Lunar New Year heralding in the Year of the Ox. Food served during the Lunar New Year period is very symbolic and the names of the dishes selected must sound similar to very positive words and meanings. This event is celebrated all over Asia, it is also known […]

Following our three part series in Wine Careers, of which you can read the other blogs here, we wanted to dive deeper into WHAT exactly employers are looking for when hiring. In the wine industry, employers look for the qualities, intelligence, hard-working and integrity. If, you don’t have integrity the other two are invalid, full stop. Most […]

Dr. Keith Herndon is an expert in journalism, an accomplished media industry leader, professor and a wine enthusiast. We had the opportunity to speak with Dr. Herndon about his wine journey and how COVID-19 changed his teaching and online learning experience this year. Q: Where did your passion of wine come from? I never had […]

VANCOUVER, BC – January 21st, 2021 – Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute (www.apwasi.com) is extremely honoured to announce the official launch of the World’s first certified and dedicated online course about the Wines of China. Dr. Clinton Lee, the Executive Director of APWASI said, “For too long, too many non-mainstream wine-producing countries have been ignored on […]

Guest post: by Augusto Oriani Today we delve into the world of blue wine. Many people are stunned by the prospect of seeing a blue wine. They would think about, what devilry or artifacts have been added to obtain this colour, perhaps a white wine with the addition of Curacao, a coloured liqueur blue or […]

We have been discussing about wine industry jobs on a micro level in Parts 1 and 2. Today we discuss wine jobs in retail, restaurants and hospitality and education. Retailer The list of wine retailers is endless, but of interest is these larger establishments have a buyer’s role, specific to each category, they also have […]

As the second part of our wine career series, we put together a list of jobs for a variety of career options in the wine industry. We offer insight into salary expectations and winery job descriptions based on references in Canada. EXPORT Manager for a Winery As an export winery sales manager, you will be […]

Wine Job Opportunities (Part 1) Are you looking to start a career in wine? Working in a vineyard is not easy work. It is tiring, exhausting and oftentimes frustrating, yet you will also feel exhilarated and rewarded at the end of the day. Here are the most common wine jobs that are available in vineyards: [...]

Food, Wine, and Love Combined in an Italian Dinner We all love food and wine. We all look forward to having a delicious meal shared with our family and loved ones. Especially, during the holiday season and celebratory events like Thanksgiving where we might pair a three-year-old Pinot Noir from Burgundy with the Turkey, or [...]

Interview with Recent Student of APWASI Wine Tasting Course: Neely Dhanoa As the pandemic spread around the world, the year 2020 has been difficult and life-changing for many. With lockdowns and social distancing, many schools and institutions have had to pivot to online learning for their students. As a result, online courses have become very [...]

A Wine for Every Season – The Ultimate Pairing Guide Just like the weather changes, some choose to drink wines based on the season. Maybe it is because of the different foods you eat; pairing it with the right wines go a long way. We explore the top wines and food pairings for every season. [...]

I recall with great fondness when I first began the best adventure of my life – the studying of wine. Naturally, as any self-proclaimed respected scholar would confess, researching which wine course to study and select is of prime importance. The choices were few then and the instruction delivery limited, unlike, today where students face […]

Something very different this week on our ongoing "Wines Across Borders" video series with Dr. Clinton Lee! This week's video is all about cigars... what makes cigars different, and where they are primarily produced. Check out the video here. If this is of interest then you are invited and encouraged to learn more from our [...]

Something new in this week's video for our "Wines Across Borders" series! APWASI Executive Director Dr. Clinton Lee talks about Whisky – The Water of Life. You'll learn more from this informative 3-minute video than you would have thought possible... including whether it's a good idea to evaluate the color and aroma of your whisky [...]

Continuing with this week's "Wines Across Borders" video series, Dr. Clinton Lee discusses this important question! It's interesting to think about how to approach this topic depending on whether you're a professional with extensive knowledge of the world of wine, or simply a wine enthusiast and perhaps don't even consider yourself to have an "educated [...]

Have you ever wondered if there's a reason behind the shapes of different wine bottles? APWASI Executive Director Dr. Clinton Lee answers this question in this week's "Wines Across Borders" video entitled "Wine Styles and Wine Bottle Essentials". Learning about wine styles and bottles is truly essential knowledge if you enjoy drinking wine! Check every [...]

If there was one question you could ask about wine, what would it be? How about: what makes a great wine? Dr. Clinton Lee shares his extensive knowledge and expertise in the newest YouTube video of our "Wines Across Borders" series! By the end of this short but informative video you will know all about [...]

Covid-19 has obliterated the word “normality” in countless lives and activities across all colors, races, creeds and continents. The devastating impact has ramifications far beyond a generation, yet to be measured effectively, but it is undeniably agreed, it is unfathomably deep and the effects could well match or surpass the negative impacts of the “Black” […]

10 and counting. That is the number we have initially set up on Youtube under the title" APWASI CHANNEL". Like wine, videos take time and the initial set,  long awaited and highly demanded by colleagues, students and fellow professionals has finally arrived. We have new videos scheduled to be added to our channel every week. [...]

Prestigious Wine Organization Drops use of the term “Master”. The New York times June 22, 2020 reported the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, will drop the name “Master”. It was stated that Ashtin Berry who is a hospitality industry advocate said,” The industry is classist and centered on white people and their palates. That information [...]

Prowine China, considered to be the benchmark for wine trading in China is scheduled to take place in November 2020. Before this major wine event, the tour organizers have embarked on a gigantic promotion covering 40 cities in China to encourage, empower and enthuse the wine industry in China during these challenging times.

Two weeks ago in Hong Kong a bottle of DRC Romanee-Conti 1999 vintage was sold for over $272,100 USD. It was a 6 litre Methuselah bottle. The auction was held at the Sotheby’s office in Hong Kong and the auction was comprised of two single-owner collections. The final sales brought in $23 million USD and [...]

APWASI today launched over 20 online wine and spirit certification courses in 26 languages. The newly released programs include the world’s first certified courses in “Icewine”, “Wines of China”, “Caviar” and “Truffles”. APWASI (Asia Pacific Wine and Spirit Institute) board unanimously agreed to move the launch forward to offer support to those in the airline, […]

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia […]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia […]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia […]

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Integer nec odio. Praesent libero. Sed cursus ante dapibus diam. Sed nisi. Nulla quis sem at nibh elementum imperdiet. Duis sagittis ipsum. Praesent mauris. Fusce nec tellus sed augue semper porta. Mauris massa. Vestibulum lacinia arcu eget nulla. Class aptent taciti sociosqu ad litora torquent per conubia […]