Project: Sommelier Secrets

This project is made in Articulate Storyline. It focuses on teaching learners how to pair wine like a sommelier.

The full project write-up is below.

Press the purple button to experience the project!

Problem and Solution

People often struggle to choose the right wine for a meal. They may:

  • Feel overwhelmed by too many wine options

  • Mismatch wines with food, leading to unpleasant flavor combinations

  • Lack confidence in their wine knowledge when hosting or dining out.

This course provides a fun and interactive way to learn basic wine pairing principles. Learners will:

  • Gain quick, practical knowledge to apply immediately

  • Learn why certain wines work with specific foods

  • Feel more confident when selecting wines for meals or social occasions.

Process

Before development, I identified the primary audience as beginner-to-intermediate wine enthusiasts, casual hosts, and hospitality staff. The goal was to help learners quickly and confidently pair wines with different foods using an engaging, scenario-based approach.

I used a simple scenario-based learning (SBL) approach to make the content interactive and application-driven. Instead of simply presenting facts about wine, I designed real-world decision points where learners must choose the right wine for different courses.

This approach:

  • Encourages active participation instead of passive content consumption

  • Mirrors real-life situations, making learning more relevant

  • Provides immediate feedback, reinforcing correct choices and explaining mistakes.

Before development, I created a storyboard to outline:

  • The learning flow (intro, 3-course scenario, conclusion, bonus tips)

  • Decision points where learners select a wine

  • Branching outcomes based on correct and incorrect choices

I sketched rough wireframes to map out each slide’s layout and interactions before moving into Articulate Storyline.

I designed the custom graphics using Canva. I used the Hex codes for wine to create a distinguishable color for each type of wine. I chose a simple, but elegant dinner party theme and incorporated menus to encourage the real-life application and engage the learner.

I also added voiceover narration and closed captions to increase accessibility and immersion.

Analysis and Takeaways

User testing with a small group proved very useful. Key insights included:

  • Adjusting some feedback wording to make it clearer

  • Ensuring navigation was intuitive for first-time users

If I were to expand this course further, I would:

  • Add gamification elements, including a Guest Satisfaction Score to track progress. The Guest Satisfaction Score would reflect how well the learner paired the wine, and wqould update after each course

  • Include a Quick Reference Guide for the learners to have on hand for future dinner parties

  • Design a mobile-friendly version for learners on the go.

Overview

  • Audience:

    Beginner to Intermediate Wine Enthusiasts – People who enjoy wine but want to learn how to pair it properly with food.
    Casual Hosts & Entertainers – Individuals who frequently host dinner parties and want to impress guests with well-matched food and wine.

  • Tools Used: Articulate Storyline and Canva

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