Classes
Wine should be
fun! Learn how
to swirl, sniff,
sip wine and
gain confidence
about wine.
View our class
schedule...
Meet Pooch...
G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski, CWE, is a dynamic and exciting
speaker, whose enthusiasm for wine is balanced by his
30+ years of teaching and educating both consumers
and members of the trade. A certified wine educator,
prolific writer and highly sought-after speaker, Pucilowski
brings his infectious enthusiasm and dedication to
educating others about the myths and misconceptions
people have about wine and the industry. What began
as an intense curiosity about wine and the industry
decades earlier has turned into a lifelong passion for
Pucilowski.
Today, he is a nationally known wine educator and
consultant, who continues to educate wine lovers every-
where through public seminars and private lectures,
bus tours, corporate presentations, and his popular
Wine Appreciation 101 classes aboard the historic
Delta King, in Sacramento, California. With his ability
to talk to wine enthusiasts on any level, Pucilowski
breaks down the “complications” of wine into easy to
understand segments. From how to taste wine to
food pairings, any “student” will get the facts he or
she needs to know to make an informed decision about what wine to buy.
Serving for the past 26 years as the Chief Judge and
Consultant to the California State Fair Commercial Wine
Competition, one of the largest and most respected
tastings of California wines in the country, has given
Pucilowski the credibility and knowledge necessary to
serve as a wine judge at some of the most prestigious
wine competitions in the country, including the
San Francisco Chronicle, Dallas Morning News, Houston
Livestock, Rodeo & Wine Competition Fingerlakes Int'l,
and Santa Rosa Press Democrat.
My philosophy? Wine should be fun!
(read more about Pooch's
thoughts on wine and tasting.)
Plan a day tasting at some
of California's
finest wineries.
Add a dinner
or meal for an
added delight.
Have a private
session or an
exclusive wine
seminar for a
group. Each
session is a
customized.
A prolific and engaging writer, Pucilowski has served as wine consultant/writer
for Sacramento
Magazine for nearly 10 years, and has written numerous articles for various
wine publications
throughout Northern California. Pooch’s continued fascination and
interest in wine has prompted
Pucilowski to begin writing a book about his own experiences within the
industry. With decades
of experience to draw from, the book promises interesting anecdotes and
illustrations about
wine and the industry.
His unique blend of humor and expertise landed Pucilowski his own “Pooch
on Wine” segment,
aired weekly on Sacramento’s KOVR Channel 13. Today, he continues
to make regular guest
appearances on television and radio shows throughout the country.
Pucilowski is Past-President of the Society of Wine Educators, an international
organization of
1,500 wine educators from all over the world. He earned his credentials
as a Certified Wine
Educator (CWE) through the Society, which acknowledges an exceptional
standard of both
academic knowledge and sensory capability in the field of wine. He was
a Charter Member of
this Association and served on the Board of Directors for over 12 years.
As President/Owner of the University of Wine, (previously known as Wine
Educators, Ltd.) he
has had the opportunity to travel around the country, Canada and the Virgin
Islands giving
lectures and seminars to wholesalers /distributors, restaurateurs, retailers
and winery personnel.
Through his consulting work, he has designed, created, produced and sold
educational programs
to train these same groups.
His passion for the grape and his love of teaching keeps Pucilowski in
demand as a speaker,
writer and, most importantly, an educator. With more than three decades
of training, experience
and knowledge, he has become one of the most well-respected wine educators
around the
country.
Emerson once said, “To be great is to be misunderstood.” If
I
didn’t know any better, I would think he was referring to wine.
During my thirty-plus years as a Certified Wine Educator, I
have found that, to this day, people still view wine as too
complicated to understand. If there’s anything at all
complicated about wine I can assure you it is only in the
process of making it. For the rest of us, discovering our own
tastes should be about as complicated as it gets.
But as wine’s popularity continues to grow, understanding
wine--from how to taste wine to how to pick a good $10
bottle--still remains a mystery. Walk down the aisle of any
wine shop and you’ll find many varietals from various parts
of the world. White or red? Chardonnay or Zinfandel? Rosé
or sparkling? With so many wines to choose from, it is no
wonder that many of us are confused, possibly intimidated or
just plain clueless about how to taste and purchase wine.
To help you on your educational journey to understanding the
wide world of wine, I encourage you to indulge your passion for
wine through wine events, seminars, educational classes and
presentations—all of which I offer. Most of my classes and
seminars are open to the public. At other times I am invited to
be the keynote speaker at a corporate event, or to preside over
some of the most prestigious wine judging competitions in
Northern California.
From Wine Tasting Basics to three-day workshops, each can
be customized to create a fun and memorable wine tasting
experience for the public-at-large, at corporate functions or
private gatherings. Whatever your preference, I promise to
engage your senses and expand your knowledge about how to
taste and enjoy wine—just like a pro!
In Vino Veritas!
– G.M. “Pooch” Pucilowski
Pooch is the Chief Judge and Consultant for the California
State Fair Commerical Wine
Competition, Home Winemaker
Competition and the very
successful Grape & Gourmet
where wines that won an award
at the commercial competition
are poured along with tastes
from local restaurants.
