The Ian D’Agata Wine Academy (IDWA) is a teaching institution based in Shanghai, China, and Montalcino, Italy that offers wine courses on Italian and International wines. Its scientific focus is on the authentic characteristics of Italy’s native grape varieties and their wines, but broaches with its courses the varied biodiversity of wine-producing countries everywhere. The Ian D’Agata Wine Academy therefore holds courses not just on Italian wines, but also on international wines from other Old World countries such as France and Germany and New World countries like New Zeland, Australia, Canada, USA, Argentina and more.

The Ian D’Agata Wine Academy aims to provide not just a learning experience, but rather a means of connecting global wine enthusiasts and professionals to the heart of Italy’s winemaking identity. As one of Tuscany’s historic estates, Castiglion del Bosco offers an authentic setting where tradition meets innovation. The estate serves as a bridge between the timeless heritage of Italian wine and the modern passion for learning and exploration, making it an ideal partner for this initiative. In this light, we are extremely grateful to be allowed to use the Castiglion del Bosco Private Member Cellars tasting room as our classroom for the Ian D’Agata Wine Academy courses in Montalcino.

A truly unique teaching institution featuring classroom learning as well as teaching in the vineyards and wineries, the Ian D’Agata Wine Academy benefits from the presence of Ian D’Agata as classroom teacher and wine course creator. Recognized as the world’s most credible and important expert on Italy’s native grapes and their wines today, D’Agata is a multi-award-winning author who has been writing about the wines of Italy and the rest of the world for close to thirty years. With his Academy, Ian is keen to pass on his knowledge to young and not so young wine lovers who will be working in the field of wine in different capacities.

As such, and unlike other courses that feature “ambassadors” , the Ian D’Agata Wine Academy aims to create and nurture a community of truly knowledgeable wine students who will have no trouble emerging as Key Opinion Leaders and recognized world experts in their chosen field. In order to achieve this goal, and ensure that his students receive the best possible training, the Academy’s wines are chosen directly by Ian D’Agata. Though the Academy may collaborate with a few meritorious consortiums and winery associations from time to time, in general the Ian D’Agata Wine Academy does not rely on sponsored wines or money from consortiums and other institutions, setting it clearly apart from all other Italian wine schools. Wines are chosen based on their merits and what they have scored in the past, for example in the Ian D’Agata Wine Review (www.iandagatawine.com), scores that are also available on Wine Searcher (three months after the date of publication in the Ian D’Agata Wine Review. Wine visits are arranged with wine estates that do not pay the Academy to have its students brought to them, another fundamental, important distinguishing feature of the Ian D’Agata Wine Academy. Therefore, if and when we take our students to visit a winery, it is because we truly believe that winery has something to say, and that its wines are benchmarks for their varieties and terroirs.