Core Sommelier Course — Spring Semester
Attend the Spring semester of the Core Sommelier Program at the Wine School of Philadelphia: an integrated wine education built for career changers, working professionals, and serious students who want real authority in wine.
- One Semester to earn your sommelier pin.
- In-person Levels Two & Three, designed to build professional fluency
- Sundays, April 12th to June 7th from 1:30 to 6pm. No Class on Mother’s Day.
- Online Level One is included for free, but is not required.
Enroll in the Spring Core Program
- $1,129 total tuition
- Membership is discounted to less than $20/month for students.
- Payment plans available at checkout via Affirm
Questions before enrolling? Talk with an advisor →
Is This Wine Course For You?
The Core Sommelier Program is designed for people who take wine seriously, whether or not they plan to work in the wine trade.
Some students enroll for professional reasons; just as many are dedicated wine enthusiasts who want structure, rigor, and the confidence to taste and speak about wine at a high level.
- Serious wine enthusiasts seeking real fluency
- Career changers exploring a path into the trade
- Winemakers and aspiring winemakers
- Owners and staff of wineries, wine shops, and restaurants
- Professionals in distribution, import, or education
This program is designed for people who want real fluency and authority in wine: not prestige signaling, rote memorization, or artificial gatekeeping.
How the Core Sommelier Course Is Structured
Important: Level One is optional, included at no cost, and not required to begin Levels Two and Three.
Within the Core Sommelier Program, Levels Two and Three work together to build professional-level fluency.
- Level Two focuses on applied tasting skills, grape and region mastery, and structured wine analysis.
- Level Three emphasizes synthesis, context, and the ability to speak and work confidently across styles, regions, and markets.
As part of enrollment, students receive complimentary online access to Level One through the National Wine School. This material is provided strictly as optional support to help students reinforce fundamentals at their own pace while classroom time remains focused on higher-level, in-person instruction.
Credibility with Great Outcomes
For more than 17 years, the Wine School of Philadelphia has trained over 1,200 students through its certification programs.
Graduates of the Core Sommelier Program work across the wine trade, including:
- Winemaking and winery operations
- Wine education and teaching
- Distribution and importing
- Ownership and management of wineries, restaurants, and wine shops
This program is designed to produce usable authority, not just certificates.
Teaching Philosophy
Instruction in the Core Program is rigorous, engaged, and direct — focused on tasting, context, and conversation rather than passive slides or memorization.
Classes are built for questions and clarity. The goal is not performance, but fluency: the ability to taste, think, and communicate clearly about wine in real-world settings.
What Students Say
“This program gave me the confidence and language to move into the wine world. I’d taken other courses before, but this was the first time everything actually clicked.”
— Jim Mish, Senior Operating Partner, Inverness Graham
“Their support helped launch my winemaking career.”
— Jenny Shultz, Co-owner, Jolie-Laide Wines (Sonoma)
Syllabus
Want to see the full syllabus?
Download the Core Sommelier Program syllabus (PDF) to explore topics, tasting objectives, and weekly focus areas.
Ready to Begin?
Tuition: $1,129 with the Best Available Rate (with membership).
Payment plans available at checkout via Affirm.