Konstantin Baum MW launches e-learning platform, Cellar Class: “wine education can be in-depth but not snobby”
Germany’s youngest Master of Wine believes the biggest misconception about his subject to be that it is “a serious thing.”
“I think wine should not be taken too seriously,” says Konstantin Baum MW, a recurring Star Wine List of the Year jury member.
Konstantin is a wine educator on a mission to “make the world taste better” and may be a familiar face if you are one of his 162,000 YouTube subscribers or 51,000-odd Instagram followers. “The best thing that can happen to me is if someone comes up to me with a big smile, telling me that after following me online they have started on their wine journey,” he says. “They tell me how they travel to wine regions, enjoy talking to winemakers, and have found their passion for wine. Some of my followers have quit their jobs and started working in the wine industry instead.”
Offline, Konstantin hosts masterclasses across Europe and has acted as a brand ambassador and competition judge globally. In addition to overseeing the wine program at Baden Baden’s Brenners Park-Hotel and Spa, Konstantin has run Baum Selection, an artisanal wine distribution business, since 2014 and was named a Future 50 global influencer by the IWSC in 2020.
Now he has created Cellar Class, an independent e-learning platform offering two English-language courses and a community subscription, harnessing his knack for snappy videos into formalised online courses.
The entry-level Cellar Class Start “is aimed at people interested in wine who would like to learn a little more about production and tasting.” By contrast, Cellar Class Grow “is intended for ambitious wine lovers who want to delve deeply into the subject and surprise friends and acquaintances with their knowledge at wine evenings.” Cellar Class Plus is a monthly membership offering exclusive content, quizzes, regular live stream tastings, Q&As with Konstantin, discounts from Cellar Class partners and, most importantly, the chance to interact with fellow wine lovers and learners across the world.
I don't want to preach from a pulpit"
“The content is scientifically based, but is conveyed in a relaxed way,” explains Konstantin. The high-quality pre-recorded videos that comprise the courses “combine entertaining video content with in-depth information, detailed downloadable coursebooks, and quizzes to test participants' knowledge.”
Students get lifelong access to the videos, which can be watched at any time. They will learn about the history and production of wine, how to taste and how to pair it with food, with a few deep-dives into specific grape varieties and regions along the way.
“Wine knowledge is a bottomless barrel,” says Konstantin. “I want Cellar Class to be accessible, educational, and entertaining – I don’t want to preach from a pulpit. Instead, I believe that wine education can be in-depth and well-researched but not snobby.” After honing his wine communications skills online over the past decade, Konstantin is excited to be using these to create “educational and entertaining courses for a new generation of wine lovers.”
Cellar Class launched in August 2024 with Coravin, iDealwine and Wine Access as partners. As an introductory offer, any course purchases are currently accompanied by three months’ free access to Cellar Class Plus.
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