Certified sommeliers leading DMACC wine courses this fall

Des Moines Area Community College is offering an introductory wine class this fall, as well as a new food and wine seminar.

The three-credit “Introduction to Wine” class will be from 6 to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays starting Aug. 30 in Building #7 on the DMACC Ankeny Campus.

The class is being taught by Paul Gospodarczyk, who earned his degree in fruit science and enology from Missouri State University. Enology is wine science. Gospodarczyk, who is one of only seven certified sommeliers in central Iowa, has worked for four wineries, one each in Colorado, New Zealand, Oklahoma and Oregon. He also has been the consulting winemaker for three winery start-up operations in the midwest.

The “Introduction to Wine”class is intended for casual wine drinkers interested in expanding their knowledge, wine enthusiasts and those employed in professional wine service positions.

“I learned so much and enjoyed the fellow students so much that I took the class twice,” said Diane Larson, tasting room manager at Snus Hill Winery. “It was challenging but a lot of fun.”

Gospodarczyk also will be co-teaching a Food and Wine Seminar this fall. The three-credit course — which begins at 6 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 1, in Building #7 on the DMACC Ankeny Campus — introduces a broad array of topics, including food-wine pairing, stocks/sauces, meat cooking methods, poultry preparation, shellfish cookery, cheese, dairy products and bakeshop principles.

The course is co-taught by Chef Karla Boetel and Gospodarczyk. Boetel is a graduate of the Iowa Culinary Institute at DMACC and the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She has been the executive chef at The Wine Experience and at Iowa State University. Boetel also has completed a chef’s apprenticeship in Le Cergne, France.

“This is a unique opportunity for Iowans who have a passion for good food and wine to greatly enhance their culinary skills and abilities,” Gospodarczyk said.  “There will be plenty of hands-on exercises, too.”

If interested in the course, apply to be a part-time student at http://go.dmacc.edu/admissions/pages/applyonlinefull.aspx. Upon acceptance, register for VIN 150 (CRN 13505) for the introductory wine class or HCM 550 (CRN 15374) for the Food and Wine Seminar. For more information, go to www.dmacc.edu/Schedule/result.asp or contact Gospodarczyk at (515) 964-6406 or ptgospodarczyk@dmacc.edu.