Last Updated: September 3, 2026
Terms Version: 2026-09-03.1
These Terms & Conditions (“Terms”) govern purchases, registrations, memberships, participation in classes, courses and events, and use of vinology.com and related services offered by KSWCO LLC, operator of the Wine School of Philadelphia (“Wine School,” “we,” “us,” or “our”).
By affirmatively accepting these Terms at checkout, creating an account where acceptance is required, purchasing a product or service subject to these Terms, or participating in an offering for which these Terms were accepted, you agree to be bound by them.
Specific terms displayed for a particular product, membership, course, event, promotion or checkout transaction are incorporated into these Terms. If a product-specific or checkout disclosure conflicts with these general Terms, the more specific disclosure applicable to that transaction controls.
Purchasers registering other participants are responsible for communicating applicable attendance and classroom rules to their guests.
Age Requirements and Alcohol Service
Unless an offering expressly states otherwise, participants in Wine School classes, courses, tastings and events at which alcoholic beverages are served must be 21 years of age or older. We may require valid government-issued photo identification.
Alcohol consumption is voluntary. No participant is required to consume any alcoholic beverage.
The Wine School will not serve alcohol to anyone under 21 or to anyone we determine is visibly intoxicated. We may refuse alcohol service, discontinue service or require a participant to leave when reasonably necessary for safety or legal compliance.
Participants are responsible for arranging safe transportation and must not drive while impaired.
Classes, Courses and Educational Offerings
Wine School offerings are educational experiences. Single-session classes generally last approximately 90 minutes, although actual duration may vary.
Unless a specific offering expressly guarantees otherwise, the Wine School may make reasonable substitutions involving wines, vintages, foods, instructors, teaching materials, classroom arrangements or similar components when necessary because of availability, educational considerations or circumstances outside our reasonable control.
A reasonable substitution does not by itself entitle the purchaser to a refund.
Descriptions, syllabi and schedules are intended to accurately describe an offering but do not constitute a guarantee that every example, wine, instructor or instructional element will remain unchanged.
Educational and Credential Disclaimer
Wine School classes and programs provide wine education and, where expressly stated, may prepare participants for examinations or credentials offered by the Wine School, National Wine School LLC or another identified organization.
Enrollment, completion or certification does not guarantee employment, promotion, compensation, professional licensure, admission to another institution, transfer credit, recognition by a particular employer or recognition by any third-party credentialing organization unless expressly stated in writing.
Educational information is provided for instructional purposes and is not medical, legal, financial or other individualized professional advice.
Ticket Purchases
Purchasers are responsible for verifying the class, course, date, time, number of seats and ticket type before completing checkout.
Except as expressly provided in these Terms or required by applicable law:
All Wine School class tickets, course registrations, tuition and course fees are non-refundable.
A purchaser’s inability to attend does not convert a non-refundable ticket into a refundable purchase.
If an obvious pricing, technical or inventory error occurs, the Wine School may correct the error or cancel the affected transaction before performance. If we cancel a transaction for this reason after payment has been collected, the amount actually charged for the canceled item will be returned or otherwise resolved as required by law.
Single-Session Class Rescheduling
Single-session classes are non-refundable.
Eligible tickets may be rescheduled under the Wine School’s Rescheduling Policy. Rescheduling fees vary based on the type of ticket and the amount of notice provided.
The policy and fee applicable when a reschedule request is submitted will govern that request unless another policy was expressly incorporated into the original transaction.
A rescheduling request does not guarantee availability in any particular future class.
Failure to attend a class without completing an eligible rescheduling request may result in forfeiture of the ticket.
Academic Courses and Multi-Day Programs
Registrations, tuition and fees for multi-day academic courses and certification programs are non-refundable except where expressly stated or required by law.
Transfers and rescheduling, where permitted, are governed by the applicable course-rescheduling policy and may require a rescheduling or administrative fee.
Missing individual sessions does not ordinarily entitle a student to a refund, prorated tuition or automatic transfer to another program.
Classroom and Attendance Rules
By attending, participants agree to comply with reasonable classroom, safety and instructional rules.
Unless advance approval has been provided:
- Groups larger than four may not attend a public class as a group.
- Reserved seating is not guaranteed.
- Admission more than five minutes after the scheduled start time may be denied.
- Perfume, cologne and strongly scented products should not be worn.
- Disruptive cell-phone use is prohibited.
- Unauthorized audio recording, photography, video recording or livestreaming is prohibited.
Reasonable accommodations may be made when appropriate.
A participant who is disruptive, threatening, harassing, unsafe, visibly intoxicated, repeatedly interferes with instruction or materially violates these Terms may be refused admission or removed.
To the extent permitted by law, removal for the participant’s own misconduct does not create a right to a refund.
Cancellations, Rescheduling and Events Beyond Our Control
The Wine School may cancel, postpone, relocate or reschedule an offering because of severe weather, governmental action, emergency conditions, utility or transportation failures, instructor illness, unsafe conditions or other circumstances that reasonably prevent the offering from proceeding as planned.
When we cancel or materially reschedule an offering, we may provide a replacement date, transfer, Wine School credit or gift certificate equal to the amount paid for the affected offering.
Where applicable law requires a different remedy, we will provide that remedy.
The Wine School is not responsible for incidental expenses resulting from a cancellation or schedule change, including transportation, parking, lodging, childcare, lost wages or other third-party costs, except where liability cannot lawfully be excluded.
Gift Certificates and Reschedule Credits
Purchased Wine School gift certificates do not expire.
Gift certificates:
- Have no cash value except where cash redemption is required by law.
- Are not refundable except where required by law.
- May be used only for eligible Wine School products and services.
- May be subject to exclusions stated when the certificate is issued or redeemed.
Current gift certificates are generally redeemable for classes and programs and are not automatically redeemable for dinners, travel or other separately identified extracurricular activities unless expressly stated.
Reschedule codes and other promotional or customer-service credits are governed by the terms applicable when they are issued.
Wine School Membership
Monthly Membership
The standard Wine School Membership is $19.99 per month.
The first $19.99 payment is charged when the membership begins.
The membership has an initial commitment of three monthly membership payments.
After the third scheduled monthly membership payment has been successfully processed, the member may cancel future renewals through the online account-management system.
After the initial commitment, the membership renews automatically at $19.99 per month until canceled.
Cancellation stops future renewal charges. Cancellation does not ordinarily refund a membership payment that has already been charged.
Membership benefits continue through the applicable paid-through period unless the membership is terminated for fraud, abuse or another material violation of these Terms.
There is no early-termination fee, no discount clawback and no reinstatement fee.
Core Sommelier Included Membership
Eligible Core Sommelier enrollment includes six months of Wine School Membership at no separate membership charge.
The included membership begins in connection with the qualifying Core enrollment.
After the included six-month period, the membership automatically continues at $199 per year unless canceled before the first annual renewal.
The first annual membership charge is $199.
The customer may cancel the future annual renewal before that renewal is charged. Cancellation during the included period stops the future annual renewal and does not itself create a membership charge.
After an annual renewal has been paid, cancellation stops the next annual renewal. The already-paid annual membership remains available through its paid-through period and is not prorated or refunded except where required by law.
The Wine School may send advance renewal reminders using the email address associated with the customer’s account.
Customers are responsible for maintaining a current email address and managing their subscription through their account.
Automatic-Renewal Authorization
By purchasing a recurring membership or completing a Core transaction that includes the continuing membership offer, you authorize the Wine School and its payment processor to charge the payment method you provide according to the recurring billing terms displayed at checkout.
Recurring billing continues until canceled in accordance with the applicable membership terms.
Membership cancellation is available online through the customer’s account.
We do not require a telephone call to stop eligible future membership renewals.
Changes to Membership Pricing
Membership pricing may be changed prospectively.
If we change the amount of a future recurring membership charge, we will provide advance notice when required by law and provide an opportunity to cancel before the new price is charged.
A price increase will not be applied retroactively to a completed billing period.
Failed Membership Payments
If a recurring payment fails, we may retry the payment and may suspend membership benefits while the account remains unpaid.
The member is responsible for maintaining a valid payment method.
An On Hold or payment-failed membership should be restored rather than replaced with a duplicate subscription.
Cellar Credit balances are not automatically forfeited because of a temporary payment failure, but credits may not be redeemable while membership is inactive.
Membership Benefits and Member Pricing
Active members receive the benefits published for their membership, which may include:
- 20% member pricing on eligible classes and courses.
- Eligible member events and experiences.
- Cellar Credits.
- Guest privileges at designated member events.
Not every Wine School product, event or service is necessarily eligible for member pricing.
Special dinners, premium events, trips and similar offerings may have separate pricing.
Where separate member tickets are offered, the purchaser is responsible for selecting the appropriate ticket type.
Membership benefits are personal and non-transferable.
Cancellation does not retroactively reprice a completed class or course purchase that was validly purchased at the member price while the membership was active.
Cellar Credits
Cellar Credits are a Wine School loyalty benefit available to eligible active members.
Active members earn Cellar Credits with a redemption value equal to approximately 5% of eligible purchases, as calculated by the Wine School’s rewards system.
Cellar Credits may be redeemed for up to 50% of an eligible purchase.
Membership dues do not earn Cellar Credits. Gift certificates, taxes, fees, excluded products and other items may also be excluded from earning or redemption.
Cellar Credits:
- Have no cash value.
- Cannot be transferred or sold.
- May not be redeemed while membership is inactive.
- May be reversed when the purchase that generated them is refunded, reversed or canceled.
- May be subject to product- or promotion-specific restrictions disclosed at checkout.
A member who cancels does not automatically lose an existing Cellar Credit balance.
The balance remains associated with the account but cannot be redeemed unless the account again has an active qualifying membership, subject to future program terms.
Cellar Credits may generally be used in addition to normal member pricing unless a particular product or promotion states otherwise.
The Wine School may modify the Cellar Credits program prospectively, but credits already earned will not be retroactively confiscated solely because program rules change, except where necessary to correct error, fraud, abuse or an improper award.
Accounts, Payment Methods and Account Security
Customers must provide accurate billing, contact and account information.
You represent that you are authorized to use any payment method submitted through your account.
You are responsible for protecting your account credentials and for activity occurring through your account.
Passwords and online-course credentials may not be shared.
Notify the Wine School promptly if you believe your account has been compromised.
Customer Support
Current support methods are published through the Wine School’s Customer Support pages.
Free online or email-based support may be available, and paid or other support channels may be offered where expressly stated.
We do not guarantee an immediate response time unless a specific service expressly provides one.
Customers are responsible for maintaining a working email address and reviewing transactional messages relating to purchases, classes, courses and memberships.
Consent to receive transactional communications does not constitute consent to receive marketing communications where separate consent is required.
Health, Alcohol and Food Risks
Wine and food tasting involve risks that may include alcohol impairment, allergic reactions, food sensitivities and interactions with health conditions or medications.
Participants are responsible for deciding whether consumption is appropriate for them.
Anyone who is pregnant, taking medication, managing a health condition, has food allergies or has another concern regarding consumption should consult an appropriate healthcare professional.
Participants may taste, spit or decline any wine or food.
The Wine School cannot guarantee that food, beverages or facilities are free of particular allergens.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, participants assume the ordinary and inherent risks associated with their voluntary consumption of food and alcoholic beverages.
Nothing in these Terms releases the Wine School from liability that cannot lawfully be waived.
Conduct, Harassment and Safety
The Wine School expects respectful conduct toward instructors, staff, students and guests.
Harassment, threats, discrimination, violence, deliberate disruption, unsafe behavior and abusive conduct are prohibited.
We may refuse admission, discontinue service or remove a participant when reasonably necessary to protect students, staff, property or the educational environment.
Intellectual Property
Course materials, curricula, examinations, videos, recordings, written materials, graphics, trademarks, software and other instructional or website content are owned by or licensed to KSWCO LLC, National Wine School LLC and/or their respective licensors.
Purchasing or enrolling in a class or course grants only a limited, personal, non-transferable right to use supplied materials for the participant’s own authorized educational use.
Without written permission, you may not:
- Record or livestream classes or lectures.
- Copy, reproduce or distribute course materials.
- Publish examination content or answers.
- Share passwords or online-course access.
- Upload materials to file-sharing, artificial-intelligence training, course-sharing or similar systems.
- Sell, sublicense or commercially exploit Wine School or National Wine School materials.
Unauthorized use may result in termination of access and may expose the responsible party to actual damages, statutory remedies, injunctive relief and other remedies available under applicable law.
Billing Disputes and Chargebacks
Customers are encouraged to contact the Wine School promptly if they believe a billing error has occurred so that we have an opportunity to investigate and resolve it.
Nothing in these Terms limits any non-waivable right to dispute a charge with a credit-card issuer, bank, payment service or government agency.
The filing of a chargeback does not automatically determine that the underlying obligation was invalid.
While a payment relating to a product, course, membership or account is disputed, we may temporarily suspend access to the disputed product or benefit when reasonably appropriate and permitted by law.
If a dispute is resolved in the Wine School’s favor, any valid outstanding balance remains due.
We may pursue lawful remedies for knowingly fraudulent transactions or intentionally false representations.
We do not impose an automatic chargeback fee merely because a customer exercises a lawful billing-dispute right.
Privacy
Our collection, use, storage and disclosure of personal information are described in the Wine School’s Privacy Policy, which is incorporated into these Terms by reference.
Payment-card information may be processed and stored by third-party payment processors rather than directly by the Wine School.
Where applicable law requires specific consent for a particular use of information, that consent will be obtained separately.
Website Use
You may use the Wine School website only for lawful purposes.
You may not:
- Attempt unauthorized access to accounts, systems or data.
- Interfere with website security or operation.
- Scrape or systematically harvest protected content except as permitted by law.
- Impersonate another person.
- Use stolen or unauthorized payment information.
- Introduce malware or malicious code.
- Misuse customer accounts, passwords, coupons or promotional systems.
We may restrict access when reasonably necessary to prevent abuse, fraud or security threats.
Website and Educational Disclaimers
The website and digital services are provided on an “as available” basis.
We do not warrant that the website will be uninterrupted, error-free or continuously available.
The Wine School does not guarantee a particular educational, professional, employment or financial result from any class, course, credential or membership.
To the fullest extent permitted by law, implied warranties are disclaimed to the extent they may lawfully be disclaimed.
Nothing in these Terms disclaims any warranty or consumer right that applicable law does not permit us to waive.
Limitation of Liability
TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW, THE WINE SCHOOL WILL NOT BE LIABLE FOR INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, EXEMPLARY OR CONSEQUENTIAL ECONOMIC DAMAGES ARISING FROM WEBSITE USE, A CANCELED OR RESCHEDULED OFFERING, OR A BREACH OF THESE TERMS.
FOR A CLAIM INVOLVING A SPECIFIC PURCHASE, OUR AGGREGATE LIABILITY FOR DIRECT ECONOMIC LOSS WILL NOT EXCEED THE AMOUNT ACTUALLY PAID TO THE WINE SCHOOL FOR THE PRODUCT OR SERVICE GIVING RISE TO THE CLAIM, TO THE EXTENT SUCH A LIMITATION IS PERMITTED BY LAW.
This limitation does not apply to liability that cannot lawfully be limited, including liability for gross negligence, reckless or intentional misconduct, or other claims for which applicable law prohibits contractual limitation.
Binding Arbitration, Jury-Trial Waiver and Class-Action Waiver
PLEASE READ THIS SECTION CAREFULLY. IT AFFECTS YOUR LEGAL RIGHTS. EXCEPT FOR THE EXCEPTIONS BELOW, YOU AND THE WINE SCHOOL AGREE TO RESOLVE DISPUTES THROUGH INDIVIDUAL BINDING ARBITRATION RATHER THAN A LAWSUIT BEFORE A JUDGE OR JURY. YOU AND THE WINE SCHOOL THEREFORE WAIVE THE RIGHT TO A JURY TRIAL AND TO PARTICIPATE IN A CLASS, COLLECTIVE OR REPRESENTATIVE ACTION TO THE EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
Informal Resolution
Before commencing arbitration, either party must provide the other with written notice describing the dispute and requested resolution.
The parties will attempt in good faith to resolve the dispute for at least 30 days after receipt of that notice.
A customer may submit a dispute notice through the Wine School’s Customer Support system or by mail to:
Wine School of Philadelphia
109 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Arbitration
If the dispute is not resolved informally, either party may initiate individual binding arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association (“AAA”) under its then-current Consumer Arbitration Rules.
The Federal Arbitration Act governs the interpretation and enforcement of this arbitration agreement.
The arbitrator may award any individual remedy that would otherwise be available in court, subject to applicable law.
Arbitration may be conducted by documents, telephone, video conference or at another location permitted under the AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules.
Fees will be allocated under the applicable AAA Consumer Arbitration Rules and applicable law.
Small Claims
Either party may bring an individual claim that qualifies for small-claims court rather than arbitration.
Government Agencies
Nothing in this arbitration agreement prevents a customer from communicating with or filing a complaint with a federal, state or local government agency.
Claims That Cannot Be Forced Into Arbitration
A claim will not be required to proceed in arbitration where federal or state law gives the claimant a non-waivable right to elect a judicial forum.
This includes disputes involving sexual assault or sexual harassment to the extent provided by federal law.
Temporary Court Relief
Either party may seek temporary or preliminary court relief when reasonably necessary to protect intellectual property, account security, confidential information or against imminent unlawful conduct while the underlying dispute is being resolved.
Individual Proceedings Only
Arbitration must proceed only on an individual basis.
Neither party may pursue arbitration on behalf of a class, collective, consolidated or representative group except where applicable law makes such a waiver unenforceable.
Arbitration Opt-Out
You may opt out of this arbitration agreement without affecting your ability to purchase from or participate in the Wine School.
To opt out, send written notice within 30 days after first accepting these Terms through Customer Support or by mail to the address above.
The notice must state your name, account email and that you are opting out of the Wine School arbitration agreement.
An arbitration opt-out applies only to the arbitration provisions and does not cancel or modify the remainder of these Terms.
Governing Law and Venue
Except to the extent governed by the Federal Arbitration Act or another controlling federal law, these Terms are governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, without regard to conflict-of-law principles.
Any dispute properly proceeding in court rather than arbitration must be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, or the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, except where applicable consumer law requires another forum.
Changes to These Terms
The Wine School may update these Terms prospectively.
The version accepted at the time of a completed purchase governs that purchase except where applicable law requires otherwise or the parties expressly agree to a subsequent change.
Material changes affecting an existing recurring membership will be communicated when required by law before those changes take effect.
We will not use a later version of these Terms to retroactively impose a new material financial obligation on a completed transaction without the consent required by applicable law.
The current version and effective date will be published on this page.
Severability
If any provision of these Terms is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions remain in effect to the maximum extent permitted by law.
If a portion of the arbitration agreement is found unenforceable as to a particular claim, the treatment of that claim will be determined under applicable law without automatically invalidating unrelated provisions.
No Waiver
A failure by the Wine School to enforce a provision on one occasion does not waive the right to enforce that provision later.
Assignment
Customers may not assign membership, account or contractual rights without written authorization from the Wine School.
The Wine School may assign these Terms in connection with a merger, reorganization, sale of substantially all relevant business assets or other lawful transfer of the business, subject to applicable law.
Entire Agreement
These Terms, together with the specific product terms, checkout disclosures, Privacy Policy, applicable Rescheduling Policy and other policies expressly incorporated into a particular transaction, constitute the agreement governing that transaction.
Contact
Wine School of Philadelphia
109 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
Customer-service requests should be submitted through the Wine School’s published Customer Support system.