Privacy Policy
Last updated: September 2026
We take your privacy seriously. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use and protect your personal information when you visit master-classes.org, sign up for our communications, download resources, register for an event or course, or otherwise interact with us.
Who we are
Master Classes provides wine education, courses, seminars, events and related educational resources led by Natasha Hughes MW and Cathy van Zyl MW.
For the purposes of applicable data protection law, including the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR), we are responsible for the personal information we collect and use through this website and our activities.
If you have any questions about this Privacy Policy or how your information is used, please contact us using the contact details provided on our website.
What information we collect
Depending on how you interact with us, we may collect information including:
- your name;
- email address;
- country or location;
- wine education or professional level;
- information you provide when registering for a course, seminar or event;
- information submitted as part of a scholarship or other application;
- your communication and marketing preferences;
- correspondence you have with us;
- information about courses, events or resources you have registered for, purchased or downloaded; and
- technical information relating to your use of our website, such as IP address, browser type and website usage data, where collected through cookies or analytics tools.
If you make a payment, your payment details are processed securely by our payment provider. We do not normally receive or store your full card details.
How we collect your information
We may collect your information when you:
- subscribe to our mailing list;
- request or download one of our educational resources;
- register for a webinar, seminar, course or event;
- apply for a scholarship;
- purchase a course or other service;
- complete a form on our website;
- contact us directly; or
- use our website.
How we use your information
We use your personal information to:
- provide courses, seminars, events and educational resources you have requested;
- process registrations, applications and bookings;
- manage payments and our relationship with you;
- send information relating to an event, course or resource you have registered for;
- respond to enquiries;
- administer scholarships and applications;
- improve our courses, communications and website;
- maintain appropriate business and financial records; and
- send educational resources, news, course information and other marketing communications where we have an appropriate legal basis to do so.
Downloadable resources and email communications
From time to time, we may offer free educational resources in return for your name and email address.
Where this is made clear on the sign-up form, by requesting the resource you will also be joining our mailing list and may receive occasional emails from Natasha Hughes MW and Cathy van Zyl MW containing educational material, course information, events and related news.
You can unsubscribe from marketing emails at any time by clicking the unsubscribe link contained in any marketing email.
Unsubscribing from marketing will not prevent us from sending essential administrative communications relating to something you have booked or purchased.
Our legal bases for using your information
Under data protection law, we must have a lawful basis for processing your personal information.
Depending on the circumstances, we may process your information because:
- it is necessary to fulfil a contract with you or take steps at your request before entering into a contract;
- you have given us your consent;
- we have a legitimate interest in operating, improving and promoting our educational activities, provided that those interests do not override your rights and interests; or
- we are required to retain or process information to comply with a legal obligation.
Where we rely on consent, you can withdraw that consent at any time.
Email marketing
We use MailerLite to manage our mailing lists and send email communications.
Information you provide through our subscription and resource-download forms may therefore be processed by MailerLite on our behalf.
We may use information such as the resources you have requested, courses you have attended or your stated level of wine education to make our communications more relevant to you.
You can unsubscribe at any time using the link provided in our emails.
Payments
Payments made through our website may be processed by third-party payment providers such as Stripe.
These providers process payment information in accordance with their own privacy policies and security requirements. We do not normally store your full payment-card information ourselves.
Events and online seminars
Where you register for an online seminar or webinar, information necessary to administer the event may also be processed through the platform used to deliver it, such as Zoom.
We will only use registration information for purposes connected with the event and our communications with you in accordance with this Privacy Policy.
Cookies and analytics
Our website may use cookies and similar technologies to make the website function properly, understand how it is being used and improve our services.
Where required by law, non-essential cookies will only be used with your consent.
More information about the cookies used on the website and how you can manage your preferences should be available through our cookie notice or cookie settings.
Who we share your information with
We do not sell your personal information.
We may share information with trusted service providers where necessary to operate our business, including providers of:
- website hosting and administration;
- email marketing;
- payment processing;
- event and webinar technology;
- analytics; and
- other technical or administrative services.
These providers may only use your information for the purposes for which it has been provided to them and in accordance with applicable data protection requirements.
We may also disclose information where required by law or where necessary to establish, exercise or defend legal rights.
International transfers
Some of the service providers we use may process information outside the UK or the country in which you live.
Where personal information is transferred internationally, we take appropriate steps to ensure that it receives an adequate level of protection in accordance with applicable data protection law.
How long we keep your information
We keep personal information only for as long as reasonably necessary for the purposes for which it was collected, including satisfying legal, accounting and reporting requirements.
If you unsubscribe from our marketing communications, we may retain limited information necessary to ensure that your preference to opt out is respected.
Keeping your information secure
We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect personal information against loss, misuse, unauthorised access, alteration or disclosure.
However, no method of transmitting or storing information electronically can be guaranteed to be completely secure.
Your rights
Depending on where you live and the applicable data protection law, you may have rights relating to your personal information, including the right to:
- request access to the personal information we hold about you;
- ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete information;
- request deletion of your information in certain circumstances;
- restrict or object to certain processing;
- request transfer of your information in certain circumstances;
- withdraw consent where processing is based on consent; and
- object to direct marketing at any time.
To exercise any of these rights, please contact us.
If you are in the UK and are unhappy with how we have handled your personal information, you also have the right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO).
Third-party websites
Our website may contain links to other websites. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party websites and recommend reviewing their privacy policies when you visit them.
Changes to this Privacy Policy
We may update this Privacy Policy from time to time to reflect changes to our services, technology or legal obligations.
The latest version will always be published on this website with the date it was last updated.
Contact us
If you have questions about this Privacy Policy, want to exercise your data protection rights or have concerns about how your information is being used, please contact us through master-classes.org.