Become a Sommelier in a Week: Wine School Turns 25!

Most wine programs ask for a year. Summer Wine School asks for a week.

This August, the Wine School of Philadelphia celebrates its 25th year, and Summer Wine School is back: a fast, focused path for people who are done being intimidated by wine and ready to take it seriously. In a single week of evening classes, you can earn your sommelier pin, complete your wine instructor certification, or both.

The idea behind Summer Wine School hasn’t changed in 25 years: wine should be taught with delight and precision, not snobbery.

Students come for all kinds of reasons. Some want to work in the wine trade. Some want to teach. Some want to taste with more confidence and less guesswork. Over the years, the student body has grown more diverse, and more graduates have gone on to build careers in wine, including restaurateurs across Philadelphia, among them Zach Morris of Bloomsday Cafe and Massimo Boni of Vita.

The Accelerated Sommelier Course begins Aug. 17 and condenses the full Core Sommelier Course (blind tasting, wine theory, and the essential regions) into one week. The Wine Instructor Certification begins Aug. 24, training wine professionals and educators to lead tastings, structure classes, and run wine education as a business.

“The Wine School of Philadelphia is the real deal,” says Tahiirah Habibi, founder of The Hue Society. “It teaches wine seriously without the gatekeeping.” The school was named the Philadelphia Inquirer’s 2026 Silver Medal Winner for Top Trade School, and WineMaker magazine called it one of the best sommelier training programs in America.

Seats are limited. Summer Wine School runs this August in Center City.