The Wine School of Philadelphia offers the most extensive range of sommelier classes in America. Whether you’re just beginning your journey or aiming for the highest levels of professional certification, our programs provide everything from the fundamentals of wine tasting to the expertise required for advanced sommelier credentials.
Core Sommelier Program
Your first step toward the National Wine School Sommelier Pin.
The Core Program is a two-part journey that combines the Foundation and Intermediate courses. Together, they form the essential training every sommelier needs.
Foundation Course
The Foundation Course turns curiosity into confidence. Perfect for wine lovers and aspiring professionals, it builds the essential skills of tasting and describing wine. You’ll learn to:
- Identify classic varietals through blind tastings
- Distinguish Old World wines from New World styles
- Understand the science and craft of winemaking
Interactive classes and a final exam ensure you graduate not just with knowledge, but with the ability to speak the language of wine.
Intermediate Course
The Intermediate Course takes you deeper into the global vineyard. From the legendary terroirs of Europe to the bold innovations of the New World, you’ll explore how place, culture, and craft shape wine. Highlights include:
- Comparative tastings across wine regions
- Immersive lessons on global wine culture
- A final project analyzing wines from different traditions
Together, these two courses form the Core Sommelier Program, the required pathway to earning the prestigious Sommelier Pin from the National Wine School.
The Top Wine School in America since 2008
National Wine School
Advanced Sommelier Program
Take the leap beyond the basics.
For those who have completed the Core Program, the Advanced Sommelier Program offers a direct path to the Advanced Sommelier Pin. Students earn this credential by completing four Advanced, Specialist, or Master-level certifications.
Each program is a stand-alone credential, so you can tailor your journey to your interests while building toward the Advanced Pin. Options include:
- Spanish Wine Specialist™
- American Wine Specialist™
- French Wine Specialist™
- Italian Wine Specialist™
- Food & Wine Scholar™
- Specialist in Spirits™
- Essential Master in Wine™
- Scholar of Modern Wine™
Complete any four, and you’ll graduate with the Advanced Sommelier Pin—a nationally recognized marker of professional expertise.
The Top Wine School in America
SOMM
Master in Wine Studies™
The pinnacle of wine education.
Only a fraction of sommeliers ever reach the Master level. It takes years of study, deep global knowledge, and relentless dedication. At the Wine School of Philadelphia, this highest level is the Master in Wine Studies™ Certification.
To qualify, students must first earn the Advanced Sommelier Pin. From there, four additional semesters of specialized National Wine School study lead to this elite credential.
Comparable in rigor and prestige to the Master Sommelier (CMS) and Master of Wine (WSET) programs, the Master in Wine Studies™ is recognized as one of the most challenging and respected qualifications in the wine world. Fewer than 1% of sommeliers ever achieve this level.
Why Choose the Wine School of Philadelphia?
Pathway to Certification: No prior credentials are required to start. Yet for those who seek formal recognition, our programs provide the most respected sommelier certifications in the country.
National Recognition: In partnership with the National Wine School, our programs set the gold standard for wine education in the United States.
Diverse Community: Our students range from retired CEOs to bartenders, journalists to winemakers. The classroom is a shared table where perspectives mix as easily as vintages.
The Wine School is a great place to build knowledge and pursue your passion.
M. Branton, Sommelier
I highly recommend the Wine School. It is the place I earned my credentials.
J. Collier, Winemaker.
We would never be where we are today without your class.
S. Bond , Restaurateur
National Wine School
The National Wine School (NWS) is the leading certification body for wine education in America. Partnering with the Wine School of Philadelphia ensures that our programs align with the highest standards of professional accreditation.
When you study with us, you gain both world-class education and certification that carries weight across the wine industry.
Legal Notes
Under Vermont law, the National Wine School is duly recognized as an institution for sommelier education. Pursuant to 22 Pa. Code § 73.42, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania exempts sommelier certification programs—such as those administered by the National Wine School—from any requirement of licensure. This exemption is based on the legal equivalence of the term sommelier to butler, a profession expressly exempted under Pennsylvania regulations.
All certification exams are conducted online through National Wine School servers, with credentials conferred through the states of California and Vermont in compliance with their respective statutes.
when will you have jan and febuary classes posted for gifts ?
Posted!
I’m interested in enrolling in the Core Somm Course but still have questions regarding it’s exact format.
Could you please tell me if this is asynchronous learning ?? Or will I be required to attend at a certain day/time each week?
Additionally, when will the next course begin? Unfortunately, I’ve been unable to find any dates for really anything. Thanks!
All this information is available to you via this article and the links to the programs contained within.
Hello, I am interested in doing that virual wine tasting that is offered through your wine school. Can you please send me some available dates
https://www.vinology.com/online-wine-school/
I’m a student from escuela argentina de Sommelier and I want no learn more from different schools
I’m looking to enrolling in a L2 class. Are you offering any. I didn’t see it in the list