Hi there,

Quick heads-up from the Wine School of Philadelphia: for the first time in our 20+ year history, we’ve opened a complete pathway from student to wine instructor—a structured track that can lead all the way to teaching certification and even to opening a National Wine School franchise.

This is a major shift in how wine education works in the U.S., and it arrives at a moment when demand for wine classes is skyrocketing. We expect to bring on at least six new instructors over the next two years through this pathway.

More details are here: https://www.vinology.com/wine-instructor/

If you’re in Philly, you’re invited to stop by one of our Quick Pour™ classes, where instructor-candidates get their first taste of teaching. It’s a fast, fun ten-minute format—and the best way to see the new system in action.
Schedule here: https://www.vinology.com/series/quick-pours/

If you'd like to cover the story or talk more, I’m happy to chat.

 

Best,
Keith Wallace

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Wine School of Philadelphia
wsop@vinology.com
www.vinology.com

Headline:
Wine School of Philadelphia Launches First-Ever Pathway From Student to Certified Instructor

Subhead:
New program offers a direct route to teaching credentials—and even the opportunity to open a National Wine School franchise.

Philadelphia, PA — 11/18/2025 — The Wine School of Philadelphia announced today the launch of its first fully structured pathway for students who want to become certified wine instructors. For the first time in the school’s two-decade history, aspiring educators can now progress step-by-step from foundational wine studies to advanced teaching credentials, culminating in eligibility to operate a National Wine School franchise.

The new pathway answers a long-standing question from students and alumni: how can someone go from taking classes to teaching them? According to founder Keith Wallace, this development has been years in the making.

“People have asked me about teaching here since the early days of the school,” Wallace said. “Until now, there simply wasn’t a structured way to do it. This pathway finally changes that. It opens the door for the next generation of wine educators—and for people who want to build independent wine schools in their own cities.”

The pathway consists of three stages:

  • Wine Instructor Certification (entry-level teacher training)

  • Advanced Wine Instructor Certification (supervised teaching experience)

  • Certified Sommelier Instructor (CSI), an invitation-only credential granting authority to teach Level One certification courses and eligibility to open a National Wine School franchise

With demand for wine education continuing to rise nationwide, the Wine School expects to hire at least six new instructors through this program over the next two years.

Wallace notes that the pathway is the most comprehensive of its kind in the United States.

“No other wine education body offers a direct, practical route from student to instructor,” he said. “This is about building leaders—not just credentialing them.”

Local media and influencers are invited to observe the process firsthand by attending the school’s Quick Pour™ classes, short ten-minute tastings that serve as the first teaching platform for instructor candidates.
Schedule: https://www.vinology.com/series/quick-pours/

Complete details on the new pathway can be found at: https://www.vinology.com/wine-instructor/

About the Wine School of Philadelphia
Founded in 2001, the Wine School of Philadelphia is one of the country’s leading centers for wine education, offering certification programs, professional development, and tasting experiences for wine lovers of all levels. The School is the flagship institution behind the National Wine School, an independent certification body operating nationwide.