Why not earn a certificate in viticulture – aka wine science – from the comfort of your couch while sipping on chilled Chardonnay? Wine101x is one of the latest courses to emerge from MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) platform EdX. It's possible to do this for free or pay $50 for a signed, verified certificate upon successful completion. The course was developed at the University of Adelaide, Australia, by wine experts who teach about the practices and processes of growing grapes and making wine, as well as the latest research into vineyard sustainability. There's even a chance to do some virtual winemaking. Okay, so you can't drink your creation, but it will make for some sparkling dinner party conversation.

edx.org (search for “world of wine”)