Whether you are a wine enthusiast who wants to be able to order or collect with confidence, a hospitality industry professional who needs to be knowledgeable about wine, or someone who is ready to prepare to become a winemaker, there are online training programs that can help you master the skills you need. If you want to learn more about wine, taking a course is a good idea.
Four Online Wine Training Options
Wine education online is a growing field. There are some great options for people who want to learn about wine from experts in the comfort of their own home.
Wine Spectator School
Wine Spectator School offers a variety of online courses that can be started at any time. The courses are free to WineSpectator.com members. You can join the site for about $60 per year. If you'd like to see what the classes are like before committing to a membership, you can complete a free sample class.
Courses for wine lovers include:
- ABCs of Wine Tasting
- Understanding Wine
- Wine and Food Pairing
- Sensory Evaluation
- California Cabernet
- Tuscany
- Bordeaux
- Australia & New Zealand
Courses for professionals include:
- ABCs of Wine Sales and Service
- Understanding Professional Wine Sales and Service
Each class comes with worksheets, study guides, online quizzes, opportunity for instructor interaction, certificates of completion and more. There is also a Learn Wine Forum where students can ask questions.
Farleigh Dickinson University
Farleigh Dickinson University offers an online wine course through the institution's International School of Hospitality and Tourism Management. The course was developed by Ron Kapon and Pat Savoie, both noted wine writers and educators, and is designed to meet the needs of wine lovers and professionals who will benefit from becoming knowledgeable about wine, such as chefs, meeting and event planners, and restaurant staff members.
The course features 26 lessons delivered via seven sections, which include:
- Introduction
- White Wine
- Red Wine
- Important Wine Areas and Types
- Other Types of Wine
- Other Important Grapes
- The Social Side of Wine
As of October of 2019, the course fee is $149 per person. Group rates may be available to companies registering several employees. To register, call 201-692-6500.
International Sommelier Guild
The International Sommelier Guild has online wine training classes for both enthusiasts and professionals. Check the tuition page for current cost for courses.
- Wine Enthusiast: This course is designed to help enthusiasts become comfortable with the world of wine.
- IWC (Intermediate Wine Certificate): The first step on the road to becoming a sommelier, the IWC is also called level 1. It's for both enthusiasts and aspiring professionals.
- AWC (Advanced Wine Certificate): Level 2 deepens understanding of global wine markets and styles.
- ISGM Online Diploma (Professional Sommelier Certification): This is for true professionals and is a rigorous course of study to help students achieve the standardized requirements for becoming a sommelier.
UC Davis Online Winemaking Program
The University of California Davis Campus offers an online winemaking certificate program designed to meet the needs of individuals who are serious about becoming wine makers. The course is delivered over five ten-week quarters. Coursework is graded and successful completion requires a minimum of a "C" or higher.
The curriculum includes:
- Introduction to Wine and Winemaking
- Wine Production
- Quality Control and Analysis in Winemaking
- Wine Stability and Sensory Analysis
- Viticulture for Winemakers
It's important to note that courses taken cannot be applied to degree programs offered through the university.
As of October of 2019, tuition for the entire program is $8,810 plus a $75 application fee.
If you would like to apply for admission, complete the form on the Winemaking Certificate Program Application page.
Begin Your Wine Education
Whether your interest is that of a hobbyist or if you want to pursue a career that involves working with wine, completing online training courses is a great way to begin the process of acquiring the knowledge and skills that you want or need. Choose the training option that best meets your needs and you'll be on your way to developing expertise specific to wine.
