Our critically acclaimed academic programs range from online wine courses to master-level certification. Certification can take as little as a week for our Accelerated Summer School, and up to two years to complete the Advanced Wine Course. Classes are held at our main classroom in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood with options to take sommelier certification programs online, as well.
Professional sommelier certification is authorized by the National Wine School (NWS), one of the major professional wine certification agencies in the United States. The NWS issues sommelier certification and pins up to the master sommelier level. The Wine School of Philadelphia itself does not issue professional certification.
Introductory Wine Courses
Level one is an online program that can be completed at your own pace. Level one courses are not required to take the Core program. However, it is a great place to start if you haven’t attended wine classes before.
Core Sommelier Courses
To begin your wine education, you will start with the Core Sommelier program. The Core includes two sections: the Foundation (Level Two) and the Intermediate (Level Three). The two Core programs can be taken separately or together.
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Advanced Wine Courses
Learn from our top sommelier-professors. Advanced and Master wine courses are offered every semester. Our top alumni earn their Advanced pins and go on to do great things. Programming includes full-semester programs, including winemaking certification.
Master Sommelier
Master in Wine Society Membership
The Master in Wine Society is a membership-based beneficial society for the wine trade. Members with a minimum of four Advanced certifications are onboarded into the Master program to work one-on-one with their academic advisor to develop and defend their thesis, which typically takes two years to complete. Membership includes full access to the school’s private wine club.
Sommelier Class Information
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.
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The Core Sommelier Classes
Level one certification is not required to attend the Core Wine Couse. To earn the core sommelier certificate, the student must complete the Foundation (L2) and Intermediate (L3) programs. These two critically acclaimed programs can be taken in tandem (this is known as “taking the Core”) or in two separate semesters. By enrolling in the Core program the student can attend Wine School at a discounted rate.
Foundation Wine Course
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 Wine Course
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 Sommelier Classes
Complete four semesters in the Advanced Program to earn your Advanced Wine Diploma and pin. Every semester take you one step closer to the coveted Advanced Sommelier pin, Moreover, each Advanced Wine Program is a certification unto itself. These programs include Food and Wine Pairing, Winemaker Certification, Italian Wine Specialist, Luxury Wine Scholar, and many more. Earn four of these professional wine certifications and you qualify for your Advanced Sommelier Diploma.
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 Wine Course
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. The capstone of our wine programming 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.
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.
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.
Master Sommelier Class
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.
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