Observe before you adjust
Record your ingredient, ripeness, aroma and measurements before making a formulation decision. Start with what this batch tells you.
November cohort begins 14 November 2026
Tropical ingredients.
Extraordinary possibility.
Learn the art and science of tropical winemaking. Build the judgment to create balanced, expressive wines—with a method that respects our ingredients and our place.
8 theory sessionsSaturdays · 2:00–3:30 p.m. AST (UTC−4)
6 hoursindividual mentorship over six months
Caribbean-ledbuilt for tropical ingredients
The Institute
Caribbean knowledge. Caribbean possibility.
The Tropical Wine Method Institute helps people turn tropical ingredients into wines they can understand, evaluate and reproduce.
Our work connects practical winemaking, fermentation science and sensory judgment. We teach beginners, experienced home winemakers and agro-processors to make informed decisions for their own ingredients and conditions.
The purpose reaches beyond a single batch: to build Caribbean capability and a body of knowledge that the next generation can develop further.
The shift
Recipes don’t adjust. A method does.
Fruit structure is never fixed. Acidity, sugar, tannin and ripeness change from fruit to fruit, season to season and place to place. A recipe can tell you what to add. A method teaches you what to notice—and how to decide.
Real winemaking begins when the question changes from “How much do I add?” to “What does this fruit need?”
01
Understand
Read your ingredients and recognise what is happening at each stage.
02
Build
Develop balance, structure and length with intention.
03
Repeat
Create a process you can evaluate, adjust and confidently reproduce.
November 2026 cohort
From following steps to designing your wine.
This guided programme brings fermentation science, sensory thinking and practical decision-making together for serious hobbyists, agro-processors and emerging wine businesses.
BeginsSaturday, 14 November
Live sessions2:00–3:30 p.m. AST (UTC−4)
FormatZoom + individual mentorship
Duration8 theory sessions
Registration closes: Thursday, 12 November 2026Christmas break: 20 December 2026–8 January 2027Final theory session: Saturday, 16 January 2027
What you will strengthen
Develop a foundation for informed decisions, thoughtful practical work and more consistent wines.
Ingredient assessment
Yeast selection
Fermentation stability
Sugar and alcohol control
Acidity and tannin balance
Sensory evaluation
Batch consistency
Production planning
Complete the Interest & Readiness Form. We will follow up with payment instructions. Your place is confirmed once the required payment is received, verified and acknowledged by TWMI.
Why TWMI exists
I am a winemaker who became a method-builder.
I learned that tropical wine cannot be mastered by collecting recipes alone. Our fruit changes from harvest to harvest, and much of the formal knowledge available to us was never built around Caribbean fruit or Caribbean conditions.
So I began developing the Tropical Wine Method—not simply to teach people how to make a batch, but to help them understand the decisions behind the wine.
My dream is to contribute to a credible Caribbean tropical wine industry and leave behind a body of knowledge that future winemakers can expand rather than having to start from scratch.
I still make wine. I simply build the tools, systems and knowledge for other tropical winemakers now, too.
Stacy Herbert
Founder, Lead Winemaker and Educator
A meaningful standard
Certification is earned through completion.
Participants work toward a capstone evaluation that demonstrates practical understanding—not simply attendance.
Your November tuition covers the full programme
Includes eight live Zoom theory sessions, recordings, WhatsApp learning summaries and six hours of individual mentorship at no additional charge.
Your included mentorship has a standalone value of TT$2,100. You do not pay this amount on top of your tuition. This value is based on TWMI’s standalone hourly consultation rate of TT$350.
Certificate requirements
- Complete the required learning sessions
- Meet the capstone evaluation standard
- Complete full programme payment
Tuition paid in fullTT$2,500
Tuition by instalments4 × TT$700TT$2,800 total
Support as your wine develops
Six hours of individual mentorship included.
Use your mentorship within six months after the final theory session, as you work through fermentation, maturation and preparation for bottling.
For this cohort, the final theory session is January 16, 2027. Your six included hours must be used by July 16, 2027. Some wines will need longer to mature; this date defines your mentorship support period.
Arrange 15-, 30- or 60-minute appointments. Each appointment is deducted from your six-hour allowance. These six hours are included in your tuition at no additional charge. Send your enrolled name and email when requesting a session so TWMI can check your remaining time.
Appointments are arranged after the eight theory sessions. Availability is Tuesday–Friday, 10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:00 p.m.; Saturdays, 4:00–6:30 p.m. for 15- or 30-minute sessions. All times are Trinidad and Tobago time (UTC−4), subject to confirmation.
Your request is checked against your enrolment and remaining hours. A session is booked only when TWMI confirms the date and time.
Private consultations
Focused guidance for your wine.
For people seeking guidance outside the programme, choose a session to suit your question. Each consultation includes a short intake, the appointment and a brief written recap. Detailed formulation development, extensive document review and ongoing support are quoted separately.
Focused question15 minutes · TT$100
One defined concern30 minutes · TT$200
Fuller batch review60 minutes · TT$350
DeliveryPrivate online session
Tuesday–Friday: 10:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m. and 3:00–5:00 p.m. Saturdays: 4:00–6:30 p.m., for 15- or 30-minute sessions. Trinidad and Tobago time (UTC−4).
Send your preferred duration, date and time, ingredient, batch stage and main question. TWMI will confirm availability and payment instructions. Payment must be verified before the appointment is confirmed. Times shown are availability windows, not automatically reserved slots.
Winemaker resources
Build the habit of understanding your wine.
Keep a batch record
Document quantities, additions, dates, fermentation observations and finishing decisions. A useful record lets you trace what happened and improve the next batch.
Request the readiness checklist
Use TWMI’s Batch-Readiness Checklist to reflect on your process and identify where you need more structure.
Request on WhatsAppBefore you apply
Your November cohort questions
Who is the programme for?
Beginners, experienced home winemakers, agro-processors and people exploring tropical wine production. The readiness form helps us understand your experience and goals.
When and where are classes?
The cohort begins Saturday, November 14, 2026. Eight theory sessions take place on Zoom, Saturdays from 2:00–3:30 p.m. Trinidad and Tobago time (AST, UTC−4). Session recordings and WhatsApp learning summaries support revision and catch-up. The programme includes a Christmas break; see the dates above.
What does tuition cost?
Tuition is TT$2,500 paid in full or TT$2,800 through four instalments of TT$700. Registration closes November 12, 2026. Contact TWMI for payment deadlines and arrangements before paying.
Does submitting the form secure my place?
The form records your interest and readiness. Your place is confirmed after the required enrolment payment has been received, verified and acknowledged by TWMI.
What happens after I pay?
You will receive payment acknowledgement and enrolment confirmation, followed by your welcome pack with preparation guidance. Class access details will be provided before the first session.
What equipment and ingredients will I need?
Contact TWMI for the confirmed project materials list, what tuition includes and any additional costs before purchasing equipment or ingredients. You can begin preparing with a notebook, your questions and a list of tropical ingredients available to you.
Does the certificate qualify me to sell wine?
The programme certificate reflects completion of TWMI’s learning and capstone requirements. Selling wine also requires meeting the applicable production, licensing and other requirements where you operate.
Have another question? Speak with Stacy on WhatsApp.
Choose your next step
Are you ready to move beyond recipes?
Begin with the November Interest & Readiness Form. Tell us about your experience and goals, then we will follow up with your next steps and payment instructions.
1. Complete the readiness form
Tell us about your experience and learning goals so we can guide your next step.
2. Arrange your bank transfer
Pay by bank transfer in Trinidad and Tobago dollars (TTD). Tuition is TT$2,500 paid in full or four instalments of TT$700 (TT$2,800 total).
View bank transfer details
- Bank
- Scotiabank
- Account holder
- Stacy Herbert
- Account type
- Checking Account
- Account number
- 1200510037890
- Branch code
- 12005
- Currency
- TTD
Include your name and “TWMI November 2026” in the payment reference where available. Email or WhatsApp your proof of payment with your name and selected payment option.
3. Receive your confirmation and welcome pack
Once payment is received and verified, TWMI will confirm your place and acknowledge the amount paid, any remaining balance and your agreed payment dates.
Your welcome pack will explain what to expect, how to prepare and your next steps. Class access details will follow before the first session.
Full payment is required before capstone evaluation and certification. November 2026 tuition is TT$2,500 in full or TT$2,800 by instalments. Tuition will increase for 2027 cohorts; the new rate will be announced separately.
Unable to join this cohort? Join the 2027 priority list by email.
Wine education for adults 18+. Completing the form is an expression of interest and does not itself confirm enrolment.