Over the past two decades Irish consumers have discovered wine in a big way. Supermarkets started stocking it, people began experimenting to find out what they liked and it has become an integral part of family meals in many households.

With this familiarity has come a maturing of taste and a thirst to know more about the subject; thus wine classes and clubs have become a growing feature of both city and country living.

The Wine Development Board (WDB) was set up by the Wine and Spirit Association of Ireland in 1977 with the aim of promoting and educating people about wine. It runs classes in all the major cities for both the wine trade and the general public.

"The last 20 years have seen a huge growth in people's interest in wine," says Jean Smullen, administrator of the WDB. "There has been a significant increase in consumption, and while we have a beer and spirits tradition rather than a wine growing culture, Irish people have warmed to the subject very strongly. Many have wanted to back up their growing interest with some sort of formal knowledge."

The WDB organises a series of courses at different levels, normally in the autumn and spring months. There are 654 people participating in its courses, which take the form of a six week wine appreciation course, an eight week certificate course, a 15 week higher certificate course and a two year diploma course.

Some 50 people have graduated from the diploma course; this year the numbers enrolling took a quantum leap forward - there are now 43 students studying for the diploma. All WDB courses are accredited by the British based Wine and Spirit Trust, and its qualifications are recognised internationally.

"The appreciation course covers the different wine regions and it is aimed at consumers who like to drink wine regularly and would like to know more about it," Smullen says. "The certificate course is intended to de mystify the world of wines and spirits and to give participants the confidence to broaden their tasting experience.

"The higher certificate goes into things in more detail, and the diploma is for those who want to take things further again and to gain a knowledge of the management of the wine and spirit trade.

"Wine knowledge is useful - not just for business purposes, but it is also a great asset socially. It is not as difficult to learn about as many people may think, and it is a lot of fun too," Smullen says.

Wine courses are a growing business. Many of the adult education programmes running throughout Ireland include wine appreciation classes. The WDB courses start winding down as the summer approaches, but there are still some places available on the ones beginning in March and April.

The cost of these courses to the general public is £95 for the appreciation course and £135 for the certificate course. The autumn schedule begins in September, and details of when and where these courses will be run will be available from the WDB office from May onwards.

FOR the most dedicated of wine enthusiasts the ultimate aim is to become a Master of Wine. This, however, is an extremely tough qualification: there are only 200 people worldwide who have reached this pinnacle of knowledge. There are roughly 12 Irish people at various stages of the master's programme, which demands a significant commitment of money and time. The programme is run over two years, and the Irish students travel to London to participate.

Roughly 200 people sit the final exam each year, but it is the exceptional student who passes first time - about one per class; and for most people the process will take five or six years.

"I suppose it was a question of stretching myself and seeing how well I would meet the challenge which lies ahead," says Liam Campbell, who started the programme earlier this year. "Two people from my diploma class have also started, so we took the courage from each other - it is very helpful to have other people with whom to share moral and study support," he says.

Now in his mid 30s, Liam first became interested in wine in the early 1980s. In 1989 he joined the Noble Rotters wine club and enrolled on a Wine Development Board course. Since then he has completed the higher certificate and diploma courses and is enjoying the master's programme enormously.

"The participation has always been a big part of the fun for me," he says. "You meet interesting and like minded people, and in our master's group we have students from Greece, France, Britain, Germany and the Netherlands.

"I'm under no illusions about the programme, however. It is very demanding and not for the fainthearted. You need the support of your family and your employer to make it work."

For the first time ever, Ireland has a resident Master of Wine, in the person of Martin Moran of Gilbeys - so the aspiring Irish masters have the opportunity to benefit from his expertise. "It is really fantastic to have him," Campbell says, "and I am sure his presence is going to be a great asset to us in the time to come."