Food & DrinkExplain Like I'm 5Beginner
The Wine Manager's Playbook course icon

The Wine Manager's Playbook

Like Duolingo, but for The Wine Manager's Playbook. Tomo turns the whole topic into a game you play five minutes a day, until it actually sticks.

For the part of you with thirty open tabs that never became anything.

175 bite-size levelsAbout 5 minutes each

Free during early access · No credit card · iPhone & Android

Vinny the Vineyard Vulpine
The Wine Manager's Playbook
with Vinny the Vineyard Vulpine
175
Levels
8
Sections
5
Min/day
What you'll learn

Key ideas in The Wine Manager's Playbook

  • Yeast consumes sugar during fermentation
  • Aromas of fruit are independent of sugar content
  • Dryness means all or most grape sugar has been converted to alcohol
  • Fruitiness is a flavor profile, while sweetness is a physical sensation of sugar
  • The technical definition of 'dry' in winemaking
  • Distinguishing between fruitiness and sweetness
  • Sauvignon Blanc is a benchmark dry white
  • Moscato is defined by high residual sugar
  • Lower alcohol often indicates unfinished fermentation (leftover sugar)
  • Identifying varietals by their typical sweetness profile
  • Higher alcohol indicates the yeast ate more of the sugar
  • Using ABV as a proxy for sweetness levels
  • Tannins create a drying, sandpaper feel on the gums
  • High acidity creates a mouth-watering sensation that cleanses sugar
  • Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) is classically bone dry
  • Factors that create a 'drying' sensation on the palate
Why not just Google it

You've tried the other tabs

Wikipedia

Thirty open tabs. Four facts you actually kept.

YouTube

You watched. You nodded. By Sunday it was gone.

ChatGPT

One answer, then back to scrolling.

Online courses

Eight weeks. You meant to finish. You didn't.

Tomo gives The Wine Manager's Playbook the Duolingo treatment: levels, streaks, and quick quizzes that test what you just learned. That game loop is what the tabs above never had, so it's the one you actually finish.

Try a question

Here's what playing it feels like

A real question from this course. Take your best guess.

The Mystery of the Missing Sugar

What do those tiny yeast 'monsters' eat during the winemaking process?

Get it right to open this lesson and 174 more in the app.

Course map

Where The Wine Manager's Playbook takes you

Master the art of selling wine by helping customers find exactly what they need. From decoding sweetness levels to suggesting the perfect dinner pairing, you'll become the most trusted expert on the floor.

  1. 1

    Answering the Most Common Customer Questions

    • Is this wine sweet or dry?
    • Finding a 'smooth' red for a beginner
    • What to recommend when they have no idea what they want
    • How to read a wine label quickly
  2. 2

    The Art of the Perfect Pairing

    • What goes with steak and heavy meats
    • Matching white wines with fish and salads
    • The secret to pairing spicy food
    • Dessert wines and sweet treats
    • The 'What grows together, goes together' rule
  3. 3

    Mastering the Sweetness Scale

    • The difference between fruity and sweet
    • Understanding Residual Sugar (RS)
    • From Bone Dry to Dessert Sweet
  4. 4

    Navigating the Main Varieties

    • The Big Reds: Cab, Merlot, and Syrah
    • The Big Whites: Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Sauv Blanc
    • The Rise of Rosé
    • Sparkling wines for every budget
    • Lesser-known gems to boost your sales
    • Why Pinot Noir is a crowd favorite
  5. 5

    Handling Wine Like a Pro

    • The right temperature for every bottle
    • When to suggest a decanter
    • How long does an open bottle actually last?
    • Spotting a 'corked' or spoiled wine
  6. 6

    Impressive Trivia for the Sales Floor

    • Why some wines cost $10 and others cost $100
    • The truth about sulfites and headaches
    • What 'Tannins' actually feel like
    • The story behind the 'legs' on a glass
    • Old World vs. New World styles
  7. 7

    Managing the Inventory and Trends

    • Understanding 'Vintages' and why years matter
    • The boom of organic and natural wines
    • Boxed wine and alternative packaging
  8. 8

    The Science Under the Cork

    • How grapes turn into alcohol
    • The role of oak barrels in flavor
    • Soil, sun, and rain: The concept of Terroir
    • How bubbles get into the bottle
    • The chemistry of aging wine

8 sections · 35 units · 175 levels. Built to play, not to enroll.

How it's taught

You pick the voice

This course
Explain Like I'm 5

The Wine Manager's Playbook is taught in the Explain Like I'm 5 style: no big words. promise.. Want a different feel? In the app you can spin up the same topic in any of Tomo's teaching styles. Same facts, totally different vibe.

Keep going

More Food & Drink on Tomo

Beyond the Label: Mastering Wine

Explain Like I'm 5

Move past the basics and learn to decode complex flavors, pair like a pro, and navigate any wine list with confidence. Discover the hidden factors that make a great bottle stand out from the rest.

54 levels1h 48mIntermediate

Mastering Your Morning Cup

Professor

Stop settling for bitter coffee and start brewing like a pro. Learn to fix your flavor, master the Moka Pot, and unlock the science behind the world's favorite bean.

205 levels6h 50mBeginner

Mastering French Wine

Professor

Stop feeling lost at the wine shop and start picking bottles like a pro. Learn to navigate the famous regions of France by taste, label, and location.

170 levels5h 40mBeginner

The Art of the Pour

Bestie

Move beyond basic brewing and master the fluid dynamics of microfoam. Learn to manipulate texture, temperature, and tension to create stunning visual patterns and perfect matcha bowls.

170 levels5h 40mIntermediate

The Art of the Espresso Bar

Professor

Move beyond the basic latte and master the subtle ratios that define world-class coffee. Learn to navigate a specialty menu and understand how milk texture and water volume transform a single bean into dozens of distinct experiences.

24 levels48mIntermediate

The Home Barista's Espresso Guide

Professor

Master the art of the perfect espresso shot and learn how to build every classic cafe drink right in your own kitchen. From silky lattes to bold americanos, you'll learn the exact ratios that make each drink unique.

170 levels5h 40mBeginner
Start free

Start The Wine Manager's Playbook today.

Download Tomo, search The Wine Manager's Playbook, and play your first lesson in under a minute.