The Wine School of Philadelphia has teamed up with the National Wine School to offer the highest level of sommelier certification available in America. Classes listed on this page can be taken in conjunction with earning both advanced and master-level qualifications. Prior to attending these courses, the student should register for the Core Wine Course.
To earn the Advanced Sommelier Pin, the student must satisfactorily complete four advanced wine courses, which includes our winemaking course.
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If you are ready to earn your Advanced Pin, then Wine School will invest in you. This payment plan gives you access to all our advanced certification programs.
Advanced (Level 4) Sommelier Pin
To earn the Advanced Sommelier pin, the student must complete four sections of the Advanced program. At the National Wine School, the Advanced Sommelier Certification is awarded along with the Baccalaureate Vigne et Vin. However, the BVV is awarded only to exemplary students who have earned a recommendation by a member of the National Wine School’s Board of Directors. The honor carries with it the right to the post-nominal letters of BVV.
Each section of the Advanced program also comes with its own certification. Students are not required to complete the whole Advanced Sommelier program to earn these individual world-class certifications.
Master (Level 5) Sommelier Pin
Master-Level Sommelier certification one of the top achievements in the wine trade. At the National Wine School, the award is also known as the Diploma Oenotropae. It is only awarded to the top 1% of sommelier candidates. To achieve this award, one must earn the Advanced Sommelier award and complete the Master’s Thesis. The honor carries with it the right to the post-nominal letters of DOE.
There are several agencies that certify master-level sommeliers, each has its own trademark. Master of Wine, Master SOMM, Diploma Oenotrope, and Master Sommelier all refer to the same credentials: a Level 5 Sommelier Certification.
California’s Sommelier School
The National Wine School (NWS) is located in Los Angeles, California. The school offers the highest level of accreditation for sommeliers in America. NWS offers the same level of national and international certification as the Court of Master Sommelier and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Plus, the NWS offers professional California certification, which no other agency can offer.
Wine courses should be fun and engaging. Accreditation should be boring. It doesn’t need TV shows or movies. It’s about ensuring that people who earn the qualification can earn their sommelier certification, no matter where they go to school. Not only is this the right thing to do, it’s the law.
The National WIne School is the highest rated sommelier school for a reason. We don’t hire PR firms, and we sure don’t have movies made about us. We offer industry-grade sommelier exams, accreditation, and professional certification. Our protocols are used in universities and trade schools, including some of the top wine schools in America.
If a student cannot attend a course, they must notify us at least thirty (30) in advance prior to the start date. With due notice, the student has the following options: first, transfer the registration to another person approved in advance by the Wine School; second, receive a non-refundable credit on account which can be applied toward another course. At the discretion of the school, reasonable administrative costs may be deducted from the total credit.
If a student does not give thirty days’ notice, a school administrator may offer a refund, at the administrator’s sole discretion. The total of any refund will be no great than 25% of tuition paid, minus any class fees and reasonable administrative costs.