Company Profile

All courses are taught by WSET accredited educator, Laurie Smorthwaite. Laurie is the winemaker, together with her father, at Abingdon Wine Estate in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands. She is a WSET Diploma graduate and member of the Associate Institute of Wines and Spirits (AWIS).
Accredited WSET educator, founder of the KZN School of Wine and a recipient of the Codorniu Raventos scholarship for achieving the top mark globally for the sparkling wine diploma exam. Laurie was a distinction graduate at Michael Fridjhon Wine Judging Academy in 2016 and has served as a judge for the SAA wines selection panel as well as the Old Mutual Trophy Wine Show in 2016 .

Class numbers are limited and kept intimate to ensure students get the most out of the personalised tuition offered. All classes will be held on KZN's own Abingdon Wine Estate offering top class facilities for wine tasting, classroom lectures and lunch overlooking the vineyard. Students gain an added advantage of hands on experience in the vineyard and cellar, taking part in the winemaking process and learning about the life cycle of the vine first hand.