The Italian Wine Scholar™ program is the industry's most respected certification course on the wines of Italy.
The Italian Wine Scholar™ education program is the most advanced, comprehensive, and up-to-date Italian wine course available. The syllabus takes a regional approach and discusses all italian wine appellations and the factors that shape their identities. The program provides committed students of wine with an unparalleled set of study tools that are designed to maximize learning and boost knowledge retention.
The Italian Wine Scholar course is composed of two separate units:
- The Wines of Northern Italy (Unit 1)
- The Wines of Central & Southern Italy (Unit 2)
Students of wine who follow this in-depth curriculum and pass the exam for Unit 1 and Unit 2 will earn the Italian Wine Scholar™ (IWS) post-nominal.
Price for Unit 1 (Northern Italy): $690
The Italian Wine Scholar ™ Unit 1 (Northern Italy) online | Independent Study Format includes:
Plus:
- The Italian Wine Scholar™ online exam for Unit 1
- A suggested schedule of study with learning objectives for each region
- Online quizzes and learning games for self-evaluation
- Downloadable maps
- A list of of recommended wines to sample on your own or in a tasting group hosted by students enrolled in the online program
Price for Unit 1 (Northern Italy): $690
The IWS Unit 1 program is also available in a instructor-led online format with professional instructor support from with acclaimed wine educators
Study materials:
WE OFFER ALL THE NECESSARY TOOLS & SUPPORT TO MASTER THE WINES OF NORTHERN ITALY:
#1 ITALIAN WINE SCHOLAR STUDY MANUAL:
The 260-page, full-color study manual provides all the information from which the test questions are derived. You do not need to research you own study materials; everything you need to know is in the manual.
A comprehensive cover of Italy’s 9 distinct northern wine regions in the following manner:
- History, culture and traditions
- Location and climate with their effects on viticulture and wines
- Topography, geography and soils
- Grape varieties and their organoleptic profiles
- Viticulture and winemaking
- Wine industry trends and economics
- All DOCs and DOCGs with their regulations, wine styles and specificities
REGIONS COVERED: Valle d’Aosta, Lombardia, Piemonte, Trentino, Alto Adige, Veneto, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Emilia-Romagna
Italian Wine Scholar™ study manual features:

+A FOUNDATION UNIT:
A Foundation Unit provides an overview which pulls all of Italy and its wines into perspective.
#2 IWS Online Study Modules:
The IWS online study modules offer interactive presentations that are put into a measurable, meaningful format designed for maximum retention of content and ease of use. Each region of Italy are covered and dovetails nicely with the Italian Wine Scholar study manual. Study materials are available 24/7. If you’ve got a laptop and an internet connection, you’ve got a classroom!
Italian Wine Scholar™ online study modules features:
- Quizzes and learning games for self-evaluation
- Full audio narration to offer new insight and keep you engaged
- Your place is automatically bookmarked/saved to resume where you left off
- A progress bar tracks your accomplishments
#3 Professional Instructor Support
- Online Independent Study: via the Q&A forum answered by Italian Programs Director Andrea Eby
- Online Instructor-led Format: via the Q&A forum plus during live Monthly Meet-Ups with your instructor
- In Classroom: via a local, certified instructor
About the program:
It was created with the support of the Italian wine DOC/G consortia.
The Italian Trade Commission (ITA) endorsed the program in recognition of its exceptional level of depth, accuracy, detail, and academic rigor.
The Italian Wine Scholar study and certification program confers a post-nominal to wine professionals and enthusiasts who successfully pass the certification exams (Ex: John Smith, IWS). With a school network encompassing 30 countries on 5 continents, the IWS credential has true international recognition.
Questions about the exam?
*IWS Unit 1 online exam: You have one year from your registration date to take your exam (extension possible for a nominal fee). If you are registered for an online exam-sit and ready to schedule it, you may contact two weeks in advance the WSG office at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Online exam candidates shall be equipped with a PC or Mac Desktop or laptop computer with working microphone, speakers and webcam and possess a good internet connection. The exam cannot be taken from a tablet, nor a mobile phone or Chromebook.
Read this page to learn more about the exam