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The Wine Scholar Guild Logo - The Wine Scholar Guild is the leading provider of specialized certification programs on the wines of France, Italy, and Spain with a school network spanning more than 30 countries on 5 continents.  The Zürich Wine Academy is the first and only school to offer Wine Scholar Guild programs in Switzerland. 

Courses

The Wine Scholar Guild organization is the world's leading provider of specialized certification programs on the wines of France, Italy, and Spain with a school network spanning more than 30 countries on 5 continents.  The Zürich Wine Academy is the first and only school to offer Wine Scholar Guild programs in Switzerland. 

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The  Wine Scholar certification programs offer students of wine the opportunity to specialize in the wine country of their choice. These advanced wine education programs provide current, accurate, and in-depth information on the wines of France, Italy, and Spain.  They are designed for advanced students of wine, whether professionals or serious wine hobbyists. Individuals who follow these in-depth programs and pass the exam earn the French, Italian or Spanish Wine Scholar title and corresponding post-nominal, which may be incorporated into a professional signature (e.g. John Smith, FWS)

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The Wine Scholar Guild and the Zürich Wine Academy are fully committed to our students' success and helping achievers achieve. 

The Wine Scholar Guild French Wine Scholar Logo - The French Wine Scholar program includes six 3-hour sessions, ensuring students leave with a deep understanding of every major wine region in France.  Students have the opportunity to taste 36 wines throughout the course, will receive the official 330-page French Wine Scholar study manual, and gain one full year of French Wine Scholar Online access.

French Wine Scholar

Wine Scholar Guild Courses

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About this Course

Do you love French wine? Want to become an expert on the wines of France?  Join the French Wine Scholar program at the Zürich Wine Academy, taught by a world-class Wine Expert and Certified Sommelier.  The French Wine Scholar program includes six 3-hour sessions, ensuring students leave with a deep understanding of every major wine region in France.  Students have the opportunity to taste 36 wines throughout the course, will receive the official 330-page French Wine Scholar study manual, and gain one full year of French Wine Scholar Online access.

 

Developed with the support of the French Ministry of Agriculture, the French Wine Scholar program delivers current, accurate, and detailed information on the wines and wine regions of France.  Designed for serious wine enthusiasts and members of the wine trade, the program validates competency and serves as a point of distinction among peers.  The French Wine Scholar credential holds true international recognition, with an education network spanning 30 countries across five continents.  As Switzerland's first and only French Wine Scholar program provider, Zürich Wine Academy offers unparalleled expertise.

Syllabus

The French Wine Scholar program covers the following French regions:

 

• Burgundy

• Bordeaux

• Champagne

• Loire Valley

• Rhone Valley

• Alsace

• Beaujolais, Jura & Savoie

• Languedoc & Roussillon

• Southwest France, Provence & Corsica

 

Students will explore grape varietals, wine profiles, and labeling terms, with the instructor presenting wines within a regional and cultural context.  The program also highlights local landmarks and traditional cuisines, adding depth to the wine knowledge gained.

Hybrid Course Options

Zürich Wine Academy leverages state-of-the-art video and audio technology to provide an exceptional experience for classroom attendees and virtual students.  We offer two learning options per course:  In-Person or Live Online.  In-Person students attend classes at our centralized Zürich location while Live Online students learn virtually in the Google Meet classroom.  Don't worry if you miss a class as recordings are available within two business days following the session.  In-Person students taste the wines in the classroom, while Live Online students receive a special tasting kit of 50ml wine samples that will be tasted in the live virtual sessions.  Students may pick up the tasting kit at the Zürich Wine Academy or we can ship it within Switzerland and Lichtenstein at no additional charge.  For those outside our shipping area, we provide the list of wines we will taste and potential substitutes for you to purchase on your own.  In-Person students have the flexibility to attend class online, but will forgo the tasting component occurring in the classroom.  

​

The Examination

The French Wine Scholar Examination takes place in-person at the Zürich Wine Academy approximately one month after the final class.  Consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions over 60 minutes, the exam requires a passing score of 75%.  All exam questions are based on the study manual, and the examination does include a wine tasting component.  Successful candidates receive the coveted French Wine Scholar lapel pin and certificate, along with the right to use FWS as a post-nominal on professional signatures (Ex: Maria Müller, FWS).  Exceptional performers surpassing the instructor's previous score, will be rewarded with a congratulatory bottle of wine.

 

Fee Inclusions

The 1,000 CHF Registration Fee Includes:

• 18 hours of live instruction, either in the classroom or virtually, with the Zürich Wine Academy’s expert wine instructor

• Guided tasting of 36 high-quality French wines carefully curated by Certified Sommelier and WSET Diploma graduate Joe Benvenuto

• Official 330-page, full-color French Wine Scholar study manual

• French Wine Scholar in-person examination fees

• One full year of French Wine Scholar Online access with webinars on regional wine styles, review quizzes, forums, downloadable maps, etc.

• French Wine Scholar lapel pin and certificate upon successful exam completion

 

Recommendations

France's diverse wine regions and complex wine law requires intermediate and advanced students to plan additional study preparation outside of the classroom for the examination.  This comprehensive program serves as an excellent supplement for individuals preparing for the Court of Master Sommeliers qualifications, and those preparing for the WSET Level 3 and WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.  For Live Online students, we recommend a high-speed internet connection and a computer with a Dual Core processor and a minimum of 2GB memory. 

​

Course Policies

All attendees must be over 18 years of age.  Course change requests after the first class will incur an administrative charge of CHF 300.  While Zürich Wine Academy will do its best to find suitable alternative course dates, availability is not guaranteed.  If you cannot attend the In-Person examination at the designated date/time, please inform us when you register for the course, and we can attempt to find a solution.  For whatever reason you cannot attend the examination after the start of the course, we must charge a CHF 150 WSG Exam Rescheduling Fee.  Exam Resits are CHF 150. 

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The Wine Scholar Guild Italian Wine Scholar Prep Course - Develop the foundation for mastering Italian wine through the Italian Wine Scholar Prep In-Person Course!  This is your passport for exploring Italy's 20 wine regions and forms the basis for you to progress onto the Italian Wine Scholar curriculum.  Designed by the Wine Scholar Guild for wine enthusiasts and aspiring wine professionals, this 9-hour course is divided into three sessions that will adequately prepare you for an in-depth Italian wine journey that lies ahead.  Students will taste 18 diverse wines from Italy and receive the official full-color Wines of Italy: Glass by Glass study book.  At the end of the course, students will be prepared to progress to the Italian Wine Scholar program, the wine industry’s most respected certification course on the wines of Italy.

Italian Wine Scholar Prep

Wine Scholar Guild Course

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About this Course

Develop the foundation for mastering Italian wine through the Italian Wine Scholar Prep In-Person Course!  This is your passport for exploring Italy's 20 wine regions and forms the basis for you to progress onto the Italian Wine Scholar curriculum.  Designed by the Wine Scholar Guild for wine enthusiasts and aspiring wine professionals, this 9-hour course is divided into three sessions that will adequately prepare you for an in-depth Italian wine journey that lies ahead.  Students will taste 18 diverse wines from Italy and receive the official full-color Wines of Italy: Glass by Glass study book.  At the end of the course, students will be prepared to progress to the Italian Wine Scholar program, the wine industry’s most respected certification course on the wines of Italy.

 

Endorsed by the Italian Trade Commission (ITA), Wines of Italy:  An Italian Wine Scholar Prep Course program has been recognized for its depth and accuracy of Italian wine.  The program is designed for interested wine enthusiasts and spiring wine and hospitality professionals wanting to become more familiar with the intricacies of Italian wine.  With an education network encompassing 30 countries on five continents, the Italian Wine Scholar credential has true international recognition.  The Zürich Wine Academy is Switzerland's first and only Italian Wine Scholar Prep Course provider.

Syllabus

The Italian Wine Scholar Prep Course consists of three 3-hour classes covering the 39 most well-known appellations from the following areas:

 

  • Northern Italy

  • Central Italy

  • Southern Italy

 

Grape varietals, wine profiles, and labeling terms are explored, and each wine is presented within a regional and cultural context.  Local landmarks and traditional cuisines are also highlighted throughout the program.

Hybrid Course Options

Zürich Wine Academy leverages state-of-the-art video and audio technology to provide an exceptional experience for classroom attendees and virtual students.  We offer two learning options per course:  In-Person or Live Online.  In-Person students attend classes at our centralized Zürich location, while Live Online students learn virtually in the Google Meet classroom.  Don't worry if you miss a class as recordings are available within two business days following the session.  In-Person students taste the wines in the classroom, while Live Online students receive a special tasting kit of 50ml wine samples that will be tasted in the live virtual sessions.  Students may pick up the tasting kit at the Zürich Wine Academy or we can ship it within Switzerland and Lichtenstein at no additional charge.  For those outside our shipping area, we provide the list of wines we will taste and potential substitutes for you to purchase on your own.  In-Person students have the flexibility to attend class online, but will forgo the tasting component occurring in the classroom. 

​

Fee Inclusion

The 500 CHF Registration Fee for Each Unit Includes:

​

  • 9 hours of instruction with Zürich Wine Academy’s expert wine instructor and Sommelier

  • Guided tasting of 18 Italian wines carefully curated by Certified Sommelier Joe Benvenuto

  • A beautifully designed 125-page official Wines of Italy: Glass by Glass coursebook rich with photographs and maps

  • Access to high-quality e-learning activities designed to enrich the coursework

  • In-person examination fees

  • Italian Wine Scholar Prep certificate upon successful completion of the examination

 

Recommendations

Italy is the world's most complicated and challenging wine region, and the  Italian Wine Scholar Prep Course is designed for beginner and intermediate students.  This course is an excellent supplement for students preparing for the Introductory and Certified Sommelier qualifications through the Court of Master Sommeliers or the WSET Level 2 and 3 Awards in Wines.  Some additional study time outside of the classroom is necessary to complete the courses successfully, but not to the same extent as the Italian Wine Scholar Unit 1 and Unit 2 courses.  For Live Online students, we recommend a high-speed internet connection and a computer with a Dual Core processor and a minimum of 2GB memory. 

 

Course Policies

All attendees must be over 18 years of age.  Course change requests after the first class will incur an administrative charge of CHF 200.  While Zürich Wine Academy will do its best to find suitable alternative course dates, availability is not guaranteed.  If you cannot attend the In-Person examination at the designated date/time, please inform us when you register for the course, and we can attempt to find a solution.  For whatever reason you cannot attend the examination after the start of the course, we must charge a CHF 150 WSG Exam Rescheduling Fee.  Exam Resits are CHF 150. 

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Wine Scholar Guild Italian Wine Scholar certification program - Study to become an expert in Italian wines with the most advanced and comprehensive Italian wine certification in the world! Due to the vast content and unparalleled detail of Italian wine regions, grapes, and history, the course is divided into two parts: Unit 1 - The Wines of Northern Italy and Unit 2 - The Wines of Central & Southern Italy. Both programs are taught by our world-class wine expert and Certified Sommelier in live classroom and virtual formats. Both courses consist of six 3-hour sessions, and students will leave the complete program with a deep understanding of every major wine region in Italy. Students of the courses receive the official Italian Wine Scholar study manuals, taste 36 high-quality wines during throughout course, and have one full year of Italian Wine Scholar Online access. Students may take the courses in any order, but must pass both units to achieve the Italian Wine Scholar.

Italian Wine Scholar

Wine Scholar Guild Courses

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About this Course

Study to become an expert in Italian wines with the most advanced and comprehensive Italian wine certification in the world!  Due to the vast content and unparalleled detail of Italian wine regions, grapes, and history, the course is divided into two parts:  Unit 1 - The Wines of Northern Italy and Unit 2 - The Wines of Central & Southern Italy.  Both programs are taught by our world-class wine expert and Certified Sommelier in live classroom and virtual formats.  Both courses consist of six 3-hour sessions, and students will leave the complete program with a deep understanding of every major wine region in Italy.  Students of the courses receive the official Italian Wine Scholar study manuals, taste 36 high-quality wines during throughout course, and have one full year of Italian Wine Scholar Online access.  Students may take the courses in any order, but must pass both units to achieve the Italian Wine Scholar designation.  The Italian Wine Scholar program is the wine industry’s most respected certification course on the wines of Italy.

​

Developed with the support of the Italian Trade Commission (ITA), the Italian Wine Scholar program has been recognized for its exceptional depth, accuracy, detail, and academic rigor.  The program is designed for serious wine enthusiasts and members of the wine trade, validating competency and serving as a point of distinction amongst peers.  With an education network encompassing 30 countries on five continents, the Italian Wine Scholar credential has true international recognition.  The Zürich Wine Academy is Switzerland's first and only Italian Wine Scholar program provider.

Syllabus

Unit 1 - The Wines of Northern Italy consists of six 3-hour classes covering the following Italian regions:

 

  • Piemonte (including Barolo and Barbaresco)

  • Veneto

  • Emilia-Romagna

  • Lombardia

  • Valle d’Aosta

  • Trentino

  • Alto Adige

  • Friuli-Venezia Giulia

  • Liguria

 

Unit 2 – The Wines of Central & Southern Italy consists of six 3-hour classes covering the following Italian regions:

 

  • Tuscana (Including Chianti, Brunello di Montalcino, & Vino Nobile di Montepulciano)

  • Marche

  • Lazio

  • Umbria, Abruzzo, & Molise

  • Campania

  • Calabria

  • Puglia & Basilicata

  • Sicilia

  • Sardegna

​

Grape varietals, wine profiles, and labeling terms are explored, and each wine is presented within a regional and cultural context.  Local landmarks and traditional cuisines are also highlighted throughout the program.

Hybrid Course Options

Zürich Wine Academy leverages state-of-the-art video and audio technology to provide an exceptional experience for classroom attendees and virtual students.  We offer two learning options per course:  In-Person or Live Online.  In-Person students attend classes at our centralized Zürich location while Live Online students learn virtually in the Google Meet classroom.  Don't worry if you miss a class as recordings are available within two business days following the session.  In-Person students taste the wines in the classroom, while Live Online students receive a special tasting kit of 50ml wine samples that will be tasted in the live virtual sessions.  Students may pick up the tasting kit at the Zürich Wine Academy or we can ship it within Switzerland and Lichtenstein at no additional charge.  For those outside our shipping area, we provide the list of wines we will taste and potential substitutes for you to purchase on your own.  In-Person students have the flexibility to attend class online, but will forgo the tasting component occurring in the classroom.  

​

The Examination

There are two separate exams to earn the Italian Wine Scholar designation, and each exam will be given in person at the Zürich Wine Academy approximately one month after the final class for Units 1 and 2.   Consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions over 60 minutes, both exams require a passing score of 75%.  All exam questions are based on the study manual, and the examination does include a wine tasting component.  Students who successfully pass both Unit 1 and Unit 2 exams will receive the coveted Italian Wine Scholar lapel pin and certificate and earn the right to the IWS post-nominal on professional signatures (Ex: Maria Müller, IWS).  Students who score higher than the instructor's combined Unit 1 and Unit 2 previous scores will receive a congratulatory bottle of wine.  

 

Fee Includes

The 1,000 CHF Registration Fee for Each Unit Includes:

 

• 18 hours of live instruction, either in the classroom or virtually, with the Zürich Wine Academy’s expert wine instructor

• Guided tasting of 36 high-quality Italian wines carefully curated by Certified Sommelier and WSET Diploma graduate Joe Benvenuto

• Official  Italian Wine Scholar Unit 1 or Unit 2 study manual

• Italian Wine Scholar in-person examination fees

• One full year of Italian Wine Scholar Online access with webinars on regional wine styles, review quizzes, forums, downloadable maps, etc.

• Italian Wine Scholar lapel pin and certificate upon successful exam completion of both Unit 1 and Unit 2 examinations

 

Recommendations

Italy is the world's most complicated and challenging wine region, and the Italian Wine Scholar is designed for intermediate and advanced students.  Before enrolling in the Italian Wine Scholar program, we highly recommend students complete the Italian Wine Scholar Prep Course at the Zürich Wine Academy if they do have previous wine industry experience or advanced wine credentials like the Intro Sommelier qualification from the Court of Master Sommeliers or the WSET Level 2 Award in Wines.  The Italian Wine Scholar is an excellent supplement for individuals preparing for the Court of Master Sommeliers qualifications, and those preparing for the WSET Level 3 and WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.  Significant additional study time outside of the classroom is necessary to complete the courses successfully.  For Live Online students, we recommend a high-speed internet connection and a computer with a Dual Core processor and a minimum of 2GB memory. 

​

Course Policies

All attendees must be over 18 years of age.  Course change requests after the first class will incur an administrative charge of CHF 300.  While Zürich Wine Academy will do its best to find suitable alternative course dates, availability is not guaranteed.  If you cannot attend the In-Person examination at the designated date/time, please inform us when you register for the course, and we can attempt to find a solution.  For whatever reason you cannot attend the examination after the start of the course, we must charge a CHF 150 WSG Exam Rescheduling Fee.  Exam Resits are CHF 150. 

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The Wine Scholar Guild Spanish Wine Scholar certification program - Master the wines of Spain with the most comprehensive course on Spanish wines taught by a world-class wine expert and Certified Sommelier! In six 3-hour sessions, students will leave the Spanish Wine Scholar course with a deep understanding of every major wine region in Spain. Students will taste 36 wines throughout the program, receive the official 315-page Spanish Wine Scholar study manual, and have one full year of Spanish Wine Scholar Online access.

Spanish Wine Scholar

Wine Scholar Guild Courses

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About this Course

Master the wines of Spain with the most comprehensive course on Spanish wines taught by a world-class wine expert and Certified Sommelier!  In six 3-hour sessions, students will leave the Spanish Wine Scholar course with a deep understanding of every major wine region in Spain.  Students will taste 36 wines throughout the program, receive the official 315-page Spanish Wine Scholar study manual, and have one full year of Spanish Wine Scholar Online access. 

​

Developed with the support and endorsement of Spain’s Trade & Investment Government Agency, ICEX, the Spanish Wine Scholar program provides current and detailed information on the wines and wine regions of Spain.  The program is designed for serious wine enthusiasts and members of the wine trade, validating competency and serving as a point of distinction amongst peers.  With an education network encompassing 30 countries on five continents, the Spanish Wine Scholar credential has true international recognition.  The Zürich Wine Academy is Switzerland's first and only Spanish Wine Scholar program provider.

Syllabus

The Spanish Wine Scholar program consists of six 3-hour classes covering the following regions of Spain:

 

  • La Rioja & The Ebro River Valley

  • The Duero River Valley

  • Cataluña

  • Green Spain

  • Central Mediterranean Coast & Meseta

  • Andalusia

  • The Canary Islands and Balearic

 

Grape varietals, wine profiles, and labeling terms are explored, and each wine is presented within a regional and cultural context.  Local landmarks and traditional cuisines are also highlighted throughout the program.

Hybrid Course Options

Zürich Wine Academy leverages state-of-the-art video and audio technology to provide an exceptional experience for classroom attendees and virtual students.  We offer two learning options per course:  In-Person or Live Online.  In-Person students attend classes at our centralized Zürich location while Live Online students learn virtually in the Google Meet classroom.  Don't worry if you miss a class as recordings are available within two business days following the session.  In-Person students taste the wines in the classroom, while Live Online students receive a special tasting kit of 50ml wine samples that will be tasted in the live virtual sessions.  Students may pick up the tasting kit at the Zürich Wine Academy or we can ship it within Switzerland and Lichtenstein at no additional charge.  For those outside our shipping area, we provide the list of wines we will taste and potential substitutes for you to purchase on your own.  In-Person students have the flexibility to attend class online, but will forgo the tasting component occurring in the classroom.  

​

The Examination

The Spanish Wine Scholar Examination takes place in-person at the Zürich Wine Academy approximately one month after the final class.  Consisting of 100 multiple-choice questions over 60 minutes, the exam requires a passing score of 75%.  All exam questions are based on the study manual, and the examination does include a wine tasting component.  Successful candidates receive the coveted Spanish Wine Scholar lapel pin and certificate, along with the right to use SWS as a post-nominal on professional signatures (Ex: Maria Müller, SWS).  Exceptional performers surpassing the instructor's previous score, will be rewarded with a congratulatory bottle of wine.

 

Fee Includes

The 1,000 CHF Registration fee Includes:

​

• 18 hours of live instruction, either in the classroom or virtually, with the Zürich Wine Academy’s expert wine instructor

• Guided tasting of 36 high-quality Spanish wines carefully curated by Certified Sommelier and WSET Diploma graduate Joe Benvenuto

• Official 315-page, full-color Spanish Wine Scholar study manual

• Spanish Wine Scholar in-person examination fees

• One full year of Spanish Wine Scholar Online access with webinars on regional wine styles, review quizzes, forums, downloadable maps, etc.

• Spanish Wine Scholar lapel pin and certificate upon successful exam completion

 

Recommendations

Spain's diverse wine regions and complex wine law requires intermediate and advanced students to plan additional study preparation outside of the classroom for the examination.  This comprehensive program serves as an excellent supplement for individuals preparing for the Court of Master Sommeliers qualifications, and those preparing for the WSET Level 3 and WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines.  For Live Online students, we recommend a high-speed internet connection and a computer with a Dual Core processor and a minimum of 2GB memory. 

​

Course Policies

All attendees must be over 18 years of age.  Course change requests after the first class will incur an administrative charge of CHF 300.  While Zürich Wine Academy will do its best to find suitable alternative course dates, availability is not guaranteed.  If you cannot attend the In-Person examination at the designated date/time, please inform us when you register for the course, and we can attempt to find a solution.  For whatever reason you cannot attend the examination after the start of the course, we must charge a CHF 150 WSG Exam Rescheduling Fee.  Exam Resits are CHF 150. 

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