Wine Courses
Sommelier and Professional Wine Certification Available via the National Wine School
Wine programs can last for as little as a week for our Accelerated Summer School up to two years to complete the Advanced Wine Course. All courses are held at our main classroom in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood.
Professional certification is authorized by the National Wine School, one of the major professional wine certification agencies in the United States. The NWS issues sommelier certification and pins up to the master somm level. For online wine classes, please check out the Online Wine School page.
Foundation
Super-charge your palate and learn how to taste like a master sommelier. The patent-pending approach to wine tasting is nothing less than exhilarating.
CERTIFICATION
- National Wine School
- Level 2 Certification
- Top Rated on SOMM
- A Core Program
- One Semester
PRO TIP
You will save hundreds of dollars if you register for the Core Program, which includes the Foundation and the Intermediate wine courses in a single semester.
Intermediate
The entire world of wine in a single semester. All major wine regions and grape varietals are covered in this exhaustive overview of modern winemaking.
CERTIFICATION
- National Wine School
- Level 3 Certification
- Top Rated on SOMM
- A Core Program
- One Semester
PRO TIP
Professional certification comes with the most up-to-date reading material available in the wine trade. Only students and graduates of the program have access.
Advanced
Earn your Advanced Somm pin in one year. Rigorous and engaging, each semester comes with its own world-class certification at no additional charge.
CERTIFICATION
- 4 Professional Certifications
- Advanced Sommelier Pin
- Top Rated on SOMM
- National Wine School
- Four Semesters
PRO TIP
Advanced program students are eligible for one-on-one counseling from the executive director of the school. This often results in great new opportunities.
Master
Only the top tier of Advanced Sommeliers in America are invited into the Master Wine Program. A six-month program guided by your professional mentor.
CERTIFICATION
- Personal Mentorship
- Master Somm Pin
- Top Rated on SOMM
- National Wine School
- Master Thesis Required
PRO TIP
There are five names for the same certification: Master of Wine, Master Sommelier, Master Somm, Diploma Enotropae, and Level IV Sommelier.
The Wine School is a great place to build knowledge and pursue your passion.
I highly recommend the Wine School. It is the place I earned my credentials.
It is due to the Wine School of Philadelphia that I attended UC Davis.
We would never be where we are today without your class.
PHILADELPHIA
Wine Program Structure
Programs at the Wine School fall into line with national standards for the highest level of wine education. We offer five levels of wine courses, which correspond directly to the programs offered by all major wine certification bodies in the United States. Our programs also have the option for national sommelier certification via the National Wine School in California.
Due to our premier status, we can offer certification coupled with our independently-developed curriculum. Our programs have been the basis for wine education programs at many schools, including the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel.
The Core Program
The first and second levels are covered in our critically acclaimed Wine Foundation Program. The second level is the Intermediate Wine Program. These are the essential wine courses for a well-rounded education. These two programs can be taken in tandem (this is known as “taking the Core”) or in two separate semesters. If taken in tandem with professional wine certification supplied by the National Wine School in California, the student can earn their certified sommelier pin.
By enrolling in the Core program the student can attend Wine School at a discounted rate. This program includes both the Foundation and Intermediate Program
Wine Foundation Course
Foundation Wine Courses
Along with the Intermediate Program, the Foundation is part of the Core series of wine courses. By enrolling in the Core program (both the Foundation and Intermediate programs in a single semester) the student can attend Wine School at a discounted rate.
Wine Course Curriculum
The world of wine is built on the foundation of taste. The top professionals in the food, wine, and hospitality industries understand this: the committed student of wine must learn this. To stand tall in the wine world, the student must learn to unravel the hidden flavors of wine and speak the language of the senses.
Most wine enthusiasts remain tourists of the grape: they drink and enjoy without ever knowing the greater joys hidden just below the surface. The Foundation Course is your key to unlocking that world. With it, you just may be able to turn a mere hobby into a deeply passionate and highly creative calling.
“The Foundation program is truly a unique and enjoyable learning experience… it is the only chemistry class you will fall in love with.” Bob Pigeon, Executive Editor of De Capo Press.
In an eight week semester, students will learn the techniques and knowledge to become extraordinary wine tasters. Graduates are able to identify major wine varietals in a blind tasting: a skill many seasoned sommeliers cannot accomplish.
Course Contents:
- The Science of Wine
- Understanding White Wines
- Old World and New World Styles
- Understanding Red Wines
- Wine Components
- Introduction to Winemaking
- Blind Tasting
In this eight-week program, you will be taught to taste wine with a higher proficiency than most sommeliers. The final exam of this program is a series of blind tastings along with a multiple choice exam. It is expected that our graduates will be able to identify the varietal, style, and region of every wine presented in the blind tasting. We currently have a 93% pass rate, which is the highest in the country. At-home study prior to both the written exam and blind tasting is highly recommended.
REQUIREMENTS
There are no prior requirements to attend this program. The program is designed to be accessible to anyone, regardless of experience or knowledge level.
Intermediate Wine Course
Intermediate Wine Education Course
Along with the Foundation Program, the Intermediate is part of the Core series of wine courses. By enrolling in the Core program (both the Foundation and Intermediate programs in a single semester) the student can attend Wine School at a discounted rate.
Wine Course Curriculum
From the Italian peninsula to the docks of Bordeaux, the Intermediate Certificate of Global Wine Studies is a breathtaking exploration of the world of wine.
“It is due to The Wine School of Philadelphia that I attended and graduated from the School for Oenology and Viticulture at the University of California at Davis.” Jenny Schultz
In a whirlwind of a semester, the secrets of the global wine society are unlocked. Students learn about the wine styles, varietals, and winemaking techniques of all the important wine producing countries. Upon completion of the program, graduates have a working knowledge of the types and styles of wine available throughout the world: our students become masters of the global vineyard.
Course curriculum includes the following wine countries:
- Spain
- Italy
- France
- United States
- Argentina
- Chile
- Australia
- South Africa
- New Zealand
The Advanced Wine Education Program
The third level is the Advanced Wine Program. There are two required semesters and two electives in this program. The full program takes approximately two years to complete. If taken in tandem with professional wine certification supplied by the National Wine School in California, the student can earn their Diploma and advanced sommelier pin.
The Master in Wine Society and MWS Sommelier Pin
The capstone of our program is our Master Certification and MWS Sommelier Pin. This achievement is reserved for those students who have exhibited a mastery of the subject and have been inducted into the Master in Wine Society. Students who have completed this ultimate wine program have gone on to become winemakers, wine writers, sommeliers, importers, and educators, among other careers. Graduated earn their master-level sommelier pin from the National Wine School, the highest available in the wine trade.
Diploma Oenotropae
Diploma Oenotropae Program
The crowning achievement in wine education. The wine diploma program requires the student to have successfully have completed the requirements for both the Core and Advanced programs. The final element is completing a Thesis Project under the tutelage of a Master Sommelier-Instructor.
History of the Wine School
History of the Wine School
The Wine School of Philadelphia is the oldest independent wine school in America. The school was founded in 2001 by Keith Wallace, a graduate of the country’s most prestigious viticulture and enology program. Mr. Wallace developed the entirety of the School’s curriculum. It was based on his work as a consulting winemaker and training wine executives.
His aim: To create an academic experience that instills in students a knowledge of wine that goes beyond memorization and recitation. The programs at the incorporate the most up-to-date and effective teaching methodology available. In fact, the Wine School’s programs have now been used by several universities, including Drexel and the University of Pennsylvania.
LOS ANGELES
Professional Wine Certification
Wine classes are held at our facilities in Philadelphia. Professional certification it is not required to attend a course at the Wine School. Like all wine education schools in the USA, we do not directly confer professional or sommelier certifications.
For those looking for certification, the National Wine School in California is our preferred national accreditor. As a professional certifying body, we believe NWS offers the most professional and reliable certification in the wine trade. For details, we suggest checking out SOMM. Students who achieve a Level III and above qualify for sommelier pins.
Core Sommelier Diploma
To earn the core sommelier certificate, the student must pass both of these wine exams. This will take between one and two semesters to complete.
- Foundation Wine Exam
- Intermediate Wine Exam
Advanced Sommelier Diploma
Complete four semesters in the Advanced Program to earn your diploma and pin. Not only does each semester take you one step closer to the coveted Advanced Sommelier pin, you also earn an essential independent professional certification in each and every semester.
The National Wine School offers several dozen amazing professional wine certifications. They include the Winemaker Certification, the Italian Wine Specialist, Luxury Wine Scholar, and many more. Earn four of these professional wine certifications and you qualify for your Advanced Sommelier Diploma.
- Winemaker Program
- French Wine Specialist™
- Italian Wine Specialist™
- Spanish Wine Specialist™
- Old World Sommelier™
- New World Sommelier™
- Luxury Wine Scholar™
- American Wine Scholar™
- Noble Grape Scholar™
- Food & Wine Scholar™
- International Wine Studies
- Advanced Wine Instructor™
- Advanced Wine Critic™
- Advanced Wine Business Certificate™
Master Level Sommelier Certificate
To earn the master-level sommelier pin, the student must first be accepted into the Master in Wine Society. If accepted, the wine student must complete a demanding master thesis project. The project takes one to two years to complete.
For a tutorial on the levels of certification in the wine trade, we suggest this article on Quora: What is the difference between the different sommelier organizations?
