THE ITALIAN WINE SCHOLAR® PROGRAM IS THE INDUSTRY'S MOST RESPECTED CERTIFICATION COURSE ON THE WINES OF ITALY

Master the wines of Central & Southern Italy through self-study fully supported by a comprehensive study manual, interactive e-learning modules for each region, and 15 on-demand review webinars. The Italian Wine Scholar® Unit 2 curriculum via online learning offers an interactive program that is put into a measurable, meaningful format designed for maximum retention of content and ease of use.

Students who pass the exam for Unit 1 and Unit 2 will earn the Italian Wine Scholar® (IWS) post-nominal.

We provide stellar instruction from an acclaimed instructor, a flexible schedule of study designed for busy professionals and all the necessary tools to master the wines of Central & Southern Italy.

The Italian Wine Scholar course is composed of two separate units, which can be taken in any order:

• The Wines of Northern Italy (Unit 1)
• The Wines of Central & Southern Italy (Unit 2)

Plus:

• The IWS Study Roadmap: A Checklist For Success, providing a suggested schedule of study
• On-demand webinars with Italian Programs Director Andrea Eby
• Live Program kick-off and Q&A sessions with your instructor
• The Italian Wine Scholar® Unit 2 online exam
• Online quizzes and learning games for self-evaluation
• A list of recommended wines to sample on your own or in a tasting group organized by students enrolled in the online program
• Downloadable maps

Meet your instructor

Andrea Eby IWS, DipWSET, CSW

How does it work?

• You receive the full-color Italian Wine Scholar study manual for Unit 2 for independent reading and study. Work through the material when you have time in your schedule.
• You are provided access to on-line study modules and review quizzes corresponding to the course content found in the manual. These are available to you 24/7!
• Watch the 15 accompanying on-demand webinars, available anywhere, anytime on your computer, tablet or phone. These are available to you as recordings and can be rewatched anytime during your year-long registration period.
• Stay on track with your studies by joining the live program kick-off and Q&A sessions with your instructor.
• Have a question after watching a recorded webinar? Contact your instructor via and Instructor Q&A forum or email them directly.
• Track your progress through the course curriculum via our online tracking system.
• You have one year from your registration date to take your exam for Unit 2. The test consists of 100 multiple choice questions. There is no tasting component. All you need is a laptop equipped with microphone and webcam and an internet connection.
• We have structured the curriculum into a four-month program to keep you focused and disciplined in your study. But you have a full year to sit the exam…just in case life gets in the way.

Why this format?

1. It is manageable.

The program is designed to keep you on track, but it is also flexible enough to enable you to catch up should your schedule get interrupted, or even to suspend your studies should you get derailed. It is designed to accommodate the needs of a busy professional.

2. You have real human support.

Andrea is available for questions via the Q&A forum and via direct email. There is also a student forum should you wish to create a study group/tasting group in your area or just interact with your fellow students. You can be as interactive or as independent as you want to be.

3. You are part of a global student community.

Your classmates will hail from every segment of the wine industry from all over the globe and offer very different insights and points of view. The intellectual ferment adds to the depth of your learning.

4. Your classroom is mobile.

If you have a computer, cell phone or tablet, you have a classroom.

Schedule of study:

What's Included IWS STUDY TOOLS

Study Materials

WE OFFER ALL THE NECESSARY TOOLS & SUPPORT TO MASTER THE WINES OF CENTRAL & SOUTHERN ITALY:

#1 ITALIAN WINE SCHOLAR STUDY MANUAL: 

The 260-page 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 12 distinct central and southern 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: Toscana, Marche, Lazio, Umbria, Abruzzo, Molise, Campania, Calabria, Puglia, Basilicata, Sicilia, Sardegna

Italian Wine Scholar® study manual features:

#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 the program kick-off and Q&A sessions with your instructor
• In Classroom: via a local, certified instructor

Italian Wine Scholar Unit 2 Online Exam:

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.

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 over 30 countries on 5 continents, the IWS credential has true international recognition.