Hi ,

You may have seen the Inquirer’s coverage of our federal case. A competitor asked the court to stop us from using “Philly Wine School,” a name Philadelphians have used to refer to us for years. Recently, Judge Joshua Wolson denied that emergency request, finding that PhillyWine had not shown it was likely to succeed on its claim to the phrase.

It is a strange way to enter our 25th year, but also a fitting one for a Center City school that has always taken an independent path in wine education.

The local peg is August. We are running Summer Wine School at our 22nd Street space: an accelerated sommelier course starting Aug. 17, followed by an instructor certification the week after. It is a concentrated version of what we have done here for a quarter century: serious wine education, taught in Philadelphia, using a Philly-built credentialing pipeline.

Details are here: https://www.vinology.com/summer-wine-school/

The better story may be the people who came through the school. Our graduates include Tahiirah Habibi, founder of The Hue Society; Jack Cunicelli, co-owner of 320 Market; Massimo Boni, owner of Vita Restaurant; and Neil Ross, manager of the Philadelphia Country Club.

I would be glad to walk you through the ruling, connect you with graduates, or get you a seat in the August room to see how the week-long program actually works.

Worth a call?

Keith Wallace
Founder, Wine School of Philadelphia
(267) 307-9220

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If you want to verify before we talk:

• The ruling, in plain English (Wine Industry Advisor): https://wineindustryadvisor.com/2026/05/28/federal-judge-rejects-emergency-bid-to-strip-the-wine-school-of-philadelphia-of-its-trademarked-name/

• Our federal trademark, "Philly Wine School" — USPTO Reg. No. 8,055,977 (searchable at tsdr.uspto.gov)

Hi ,

Summer Wine School returns to Center City this August, and 2026 marks the school's 25th year. Sending a heads-up in case it's useful for a summer story.

A few things that might make it one: it's the only program in the country where a student can earn their sommelier pin in a single week; graduates are behind restaurants and wine lists around the city, among them Zach Morris of Bloomsday Cafe and Massimo Boni of Vita. Plus, the Philadelphia Inquirer just named the school its 2026 Silver Medal Winner for Top Trade School.

Happy to answer questions or set up an interview. Full release below.

Keith
(267) 307-9220 (Cell)

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 9, 2026

Wine School of Philadelphia Marks 25 Years With Intensive Summer Program

Accelerated sommelier course and instructor training run this August; the school says it is the only U.S. program where students can earn a sommelier pin in a week.

PHILADELPHIA — The Wine School of Philadelphia marks its 25th year in 2026 with the return of Summer Wine School, an intensive August wine program. The school says it is the only wine bootcamp in the United States where students can earn a sommelier pin in a week, become a certified wine instructor, or do both.

Summer Wine School opens with the Accelerated Sommelier Course on Aug. 17. The evening class condenses the Core Sommelier Course into a single week, covering blind tasting, wine theory, and the essential wine regions. It is taught by school founder Keith Wallace, a professional winemaker and author, and Alana Zerbe, the school's director of education.

The Wine Instructor Certification begins Aug. 24. It is built for wine professionals, educators, and advanced students who want to teach or speak about wine for a living. The weeklong program includes the practical teaching methods and business framework behind the school's 25-year success in wine education.

"The brutal truth is people are turning on wine snobs, and we think that's healthy," said Wallace, who founded the school in 2001. "Our job is to teach the subject with delight and enthusiasm, not intimidation."

The 2026 summer program coincides with the school's 25th anniversary. Since 2001, the Wine School of Philadelphia has trained thousands of students: consumers, restaurant staff, importers, retailers, writers, and winemakers. Wallace says the student body has grown more diverse over the past two decades, with more graduates building careers in the trade — among them Tahiirah Habibi, founder of The Hue Society, and Jill Weber, owner of Philadelphia's Jet Wine Bar.

The summer program has become one of the school's signature offerings because it gives students a concentrated path into professional-level wine education without a full-semester commitment.

"The Wine School of Philadelphia is the real deal," said Habibi. "It teaches wine seriously without the gatekeeping."

"One of my students from Summer Wine School was a hospital executive," Wallace said. "She is now one of my wine instructors and couldn't be happier. Another was a municipal worker and now runs his own wine event company."

The Philadelphia Inquirer named the school the 2026 Silver Medal Winner for Top Trade School. In its August–September 2024 edition, WineMaker magazine described the school as "one of the best sommelier training programs in America."

Summer Wine School 2026 takes place at the Wine School of Philadelphia in Center City. Details and registration are at https://www.vinology.com/summer-wine-school/.

Program Details

• Accelerated Sommelier Course: begins Aug. 17, one week of evening sessions
• Wine Instructor Certification: begins Aug. 24, limited seats

About the Wine School of Philadelphia

Founded in 2001, the Wine School of Philadelphia is an independent wine education center in Center City Philadelphia. It offers public wine classes, professional certification, advanced wine education, and instructor training through a hands-on, science-based approach to tasting.

Media Contact

Keith Wallace
Wine School of Philadelphia
wsop@vinology.com
(215) 965-1514