Pursue Your Wine PhD
(at the Beach!)
while making some
Amazing Friends
Your Journey Begins Here
Are you ready to transform your understanding of wine, unlock your palate, and confidently navigate wine choices like a true expert? Imagine hosting gatherings with the perfect wine pairings, impressing friends and colleagues with your wine knowledge, and embracing a world of flavor with ease.
The journey begins now with Your Wine PhD Weekend Retreat!
Learn Wine Techniques in a Weekend Instead of Years
Step Into the World of Wine with Confidence
It’s time to release the overwhelm, confusion, and limiting beliefs that have held you back from fully enjoying the incredible world of wine. Whether you’ve been told wine education is too complicated, too expensive, or not for you, Your Wine PhD Weekend Retreat will empower you to break through those barriers and embrace wine as both an art and a lifestyle
REGISTER NOW
Your Wine PhD Essentials
Our Core Foundational Curriculum Provides a Solid Foundation as you Expand Your Palate and Begin to Fully Appreciate the Art, Science, Culture and History of ALL that Wine has to Offer
Module 1: Sensory Characteristics
- What to Look for when Tasting Wine
- Breaking Down the Five Core Sensory Characteristics
- Primary, Secondary & Tertiary Flavors
- Why (& How) Does Any of This Matter?
Module 2: Eight Noble Grapes & the Five S’s of Tasting
- Eight Need-to-Know Noble Grapes
- Five S’s and How They Help You Build Your Sensory Mastery
- Understanding Tasting Notes – writing them and interpreting them
Module 3: Geography, Climate, Laws, and Labels
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Old World vs. New World Wines
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Warm Climate vs. Cool Climate Wines
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Wine Laws – Europe, US & more
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Reading Wine Labels, Quality Terms and Vocabulary
Module 4: Flavor Profiles
- Tasting WIne with Food
- Flavor Profiles for Food
- Complement & Contrast
- How Wine and Food Affect the Other
Module 5: Mastering Wine Menus
- Three Main Formats of Modern Wine Lists
- How to Pace by Courses
- Wines to Start with and How to Build through a Meal
Module 6: Bringing It All Together
- Sharpening Your Sensory & Tasting Skills
- Review of Terrior
- Review of Pairing Techniques
- Expressing which Elements of Wine that You Enjoy, or are looking to find, to Servers and Shop Clerks
Enroll Today and Start Your Journey
What’s Holding You Back?
Do any of these sound familiar?
- “I don’t understand wine jargon.”
- “I don’t think I’ll ever understand (or taste) wine ‘properly’.”
- “I’m afraid of choosing the wrong wine and wasting money.”
- “I only drink one type of wine—I’m not sure how to try others.”
These doubts are common but no longer need to define your wine journey. With Your Wine PhD Weekend Retreat, you’ll gain the tools, confidence, and skills to move from uncertainty to mastery.
👉 THE TRUTH IS: You don’t need an expensive sommelier certification to elevate your wine knowledge. You just need the right mentor and system to guide you.
Hi, I’m Anne – Your Wine Guide
Welcome! I’m Anne Kjellgren, a Level 3 Sommelier, French Wine Scholar and wine educator.
I didn’t have a traditional journey into the world of wine – I started as a curious host who loved entertaining friends and wanted to understand wine better.
Without a mentor to guide me, I struggled a bit before finding the opportunity to dive in headfirst into the art, science, history and culture of wine. Now I want to be the mentor I never had and inspire others to drink wine with confidence and curiosity.
Through Food Wine & Flavor and Your Wine PhD, I teach wine lovers of all levels in a very unconventional way.
Let’s demystify wine, broaden your palate and empower you to choose, pair and drink wine with confidence.
Let’s change the way you eat, drink and the way you look at wine. You deserve the best. Can’t wait to share this with you! 🍷
Join other Wine PhD Students and learn to fully engage your senses and enjoy wine like never before!
Immerse Yourself – Our Schedule of FUN, Wine & Relaxation
Thursday
Arrival:
Settle into your luxurious Wrightsville Beach weekend home anytime between 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM. Unwind, take in the ocean breeze, and prepare for an immersive weekend of wine education and sensory exploration.
Evening Session: The Five Sensory Characteristics of Wine
We’ll kick off our studies with a guided wine tasting, diving deep into the five key sensory characteristics—Dryness, Crispness, Oak, Tannins, and Body. You’ll learn what each means, how they originate, and how they shape the wines you love.
Dinner: A Sensory Surf & Turf Experience
Anne will curate a multi-course Surf & Turf-inspired dinner, designed to highlight and enhance the five sensory characteristics of wine. Each course will be thoughtfully paired with wines that bring these elements to life, elevating both your palate and your understanding of food and wine harmony.
Let the weekend of discovery begin! 🍷✨
Friday
Day 2: From Theory to Practice
Morning Renewal & Reflection
Start the day your way—catch a breathtaking sunrise, join a refreshing yoga session, take a walk or run along the shore, or simply savor a well-earned sleep-in.
After a light, thoughtfully curated breakfast, we’ll dive back into class.
Mastering the Art of Wine Selection
Anne will guide the group through the key questions and thought processes behind purchasing wine—helping you shop with confidence, whether at a wine shop or restaurant.
Field Trip & Wine Pairing Challenge
Our next stop is a local wine store with a restaurant, where guests will put their knowledge to the test in a real-world pairing experience. Working in teams, you’ll review the restaurant menu, analyze potential pairings, and decide on wines that best complement selected dishes.
With Anne available for guidance, teams will shop for their chosen wines and make final purchasing decisions based on lessons learned. Once selections are made, each team will present their wine to the group—explaining why they chose it over other options, what characteristics they expect it to highlight, and how it enhances the dining experience.
Lunch: A Celebration of Learning
At the restaurant in the wine shop, we’ll uncork our chosen wines and enjoy them over lunch, discussing the pairings and refining our understanding of food and wine harmony.
Afternoon at Leisure
Relax, explore, or simply soak in the coastal serenity before we regroup for the evening session.
Evening: Hands-On Food & Wine Pairing Experience
The night’s culinary adventure awaits! Guests will engage in a hands-on pairing experience, tasting a variety of sauces with the same protein to understand how different flavors interact with wine. This interactive session will deepen your appreciation of food and wine harmony—one bite and sip at a time.
Saturday
Day 3: Confidence at the Table
Morning Renewal & Reflection
Ease into the final day of the retreat with another opportunity to stretch with yoga, stroll along the beach, go for a run, or simply relax and soak in the coastal tranquility.
Mid-Morning Brunch & Class
We’ll gather for a leisurely, beautifully prepared brunch, fueling up for one last round of enriching wine education.
Mastering the Restaurant Wine List
Anne will guide the group through the two different types of wine menus commonly found in restaurants, breaking down how to read, navigate, and confidently order like a pro. You’ll gain practical strategies for choosing wines that align with your preferences, meal selections, and price point—ensuring you always feel in control of the experience.
Afternoon at Leisure
Spend the afternoon however you choose—relax with a book, review your studies, take a nap, or simply enjoy the peaceful ambiance of the retreat.
An Elegant Evening: Putting It All to the Test
As the sun sets on an unforgettable weekend, it’s time to get dolled up for a special night out! Our final field trip takes us to a local restaurant known for its unique wine menu, where we’ll put all of our new skills to the test.
Each guest will confidently navigate the wine list, select wines that complement the meal, and fully embrace the art of ordering with ease and expertise. This celebratory dinner is not just a meal—it’s the moment where your knowledge turns into action, leaving you ready to approach any wine list with excitement rather than hesitation.
A Toast to Growth & Connection
We’ll raise our glasses one last time, reflecting on all we’ve learned, the friendships we’ve built, and the unforgettable experiences shared. 🍷✨
Sunday
Day 4: A Fond Farewell & A Celebratory Send-Off
Our Final Morning…
As our incredible weekend comes to a close, we’ll gather for a light farewell breakfast, savoring one last moment together in our beautiful coastal retreat.
Before we part ways, we’ll celebrate your hard work and dedication by confering upon each guest a Certificate of Completion for their Wine PhD – Essentials designation. This milestone marks not only the knowledge gained but also the confidence and expertise you’ll carry forward in your wine journey.
Check-out is at 9:30 AM, and while it’s time to say our “see you later”, this is far from the end of your wine adventure. You’ll leave with a wealth of knowledge, newfound confidence, unforgettable memories, and plenty of laughter shared with an amazing group of wine-loving friends.
Most importantly, you’ll return home ready to impress, inspire, and become the go-to wine expert among your friends and colleagues—turning every glass into an opportunity to savor, share, and celebrate.
Until next time, cheers! 🍷✨
Questions ? ?
If you have questions you need answered before signing up, you can email me at anne.kjellgren@foodwineandflavor.com
or text me at (972) 922-1411
What’s Included?
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Includes 3 nights LUXURY accommodations in Wrightsville Beach
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Full tuition to all weekend learning courses with Wine Educator ($995 value)
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Wine hand picked by a Level-3 Sommelier – during your welcome, pairings and wine store field trip
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Chef-inspired meals & pairings prepared on-site, 3 breakfasts and 2 dinners
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Lunch & Wine on Friday
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*Finale dinner/wine at restaurant not included
King w/ private bath *1 room
Queen w/ semi-private bath *1 room
Double Full Bed per person *2 rooms / 4 spots
Your Path to Mastery
When you join Your Wine PhD Weekend Retreat, you’re not just learning about wine—you’re learning an approach for being in the moment and for nurturing yourself. You will learn how to make your meals paired with wine a more impactful experience. This course is perfect for:
- Beginners looking to establish a solid foundation.
- Enthusiasts eager to refine their palate and explore new wines.
- Aspiring experts ready to impress at tastings, dinners, and events.
- Ladies looking to make new friends during a lovely retreat.
Start Your Transformation Today
Don’t wait another moment to step into a world of wine mastery. This is your opportunity to gain the confidence, skills, and knowledge to become the go-to wine expert in your circle.
Embrace the flavors. Expand your palate. Enjoy the journey. Your Wine PhD Weekend Retreat is the next step to unlocking a lifetime of wine appreciation.
REGISTER NOW
There are very few things that have happened in human history, of much importance, where there wasn’t a good bottle of wine nearby…
Look at ancient history, the rise and fall of the Roman Empire, the economic dynamics of the Church since the Middle Ages, Napolean’s military dominance and strategies used during both World Wars…wine played a part in all of it!
Reserve Your Spot!
<< OR >>
(only one King available)
(you must have another guest to reserve with you at the same time)
(only one Queen available)
(2 Shared Rooms with 2 Full Beds = 4 spots)
A Few More Testomonials...
This wine tasting was the best wine experience I’ve ever had! I learned SO much and gained so much knowledge that I have already shared with some of my friends and family! I got so many wine recommendations and am so excited to share with the people in my life 🙂
Our Wine PhD weekend was the best! Great location! Everyone got along great, lots of laughter and joy, and of course great food! I loved how we got to test our senses and try varietals that we wouldn’t “typically” go for! It was such a treat, I wish it lasted longer!
Anne blends her knowledge and love of wine with her engaging personality to put guests quickly at ease. She imparted a lot of information in a short amount of time, answering questions, sharing historic tidbits, and keeping everyone interested.
At dinner with some friends and I’m totally curating the wines!! Thanks for all of the Wine PhD education!
Awesome experience! Both fun and informative! Anne was great and I highly recommend this to anyone interested in tasting and learning about wine.
The Wine PhD program is amazing! I thought I understood wine. Now I feel like I was only having the same experience over and over. Now I know there is SO MUCH more to it! Looking forward to continuing with our Alumni Advanced Tasting Series.
Anne is creative, extremely knowledgeable, and makes wine tastings fun and approachable! Anne creates a safe space for learning, exploring, and asking questions about each of the wines. She knows how to “read the room” and guide the class based on the guests. I can’t recommend Anne enough; she has created an incredible experience!