10-week Instructor-Led Format

French Wine Scholar ™ online | 10-week Instructor-Led Format

THE FRENCH WINE SCHOLAR™ PROGRAM IS THE INDUSTRY'S MOST RESPECTED CERTIFICATION COURSE ON THE WINES OF FRANCE.

Earn the French Wine Scholar™ (FWS) post-nominal through 10 weeks of self-study fully supported by a comprehensive study manual, interactive e-learning modules for each region, and 8 live review webinars.

This format provides the convenience and flexibility of an online study program with interactive live “classroom” instruction delivered to a global student network via computer or tablet.

We provide true tech support, stellar instruction from world renowned instructors, a flexible schedule of study designed for busy professionals and all the necessary tools to master French wines.

Preview of the Program:

Get your FWS certification in 10 weeks! Next online instructor-led session starts May 6, 2021. Registration is now open!
Get a head start! Gain instant access to online study materials... followed shortly by your study manual!

The French Wine Scholar™ education program is the most advanced, comprehensive, and up-to-date French wine course available. The syllabus takes a regional approach and discusses all French 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 by WSG Education Director, Lisa M. Airey CWE, with the support of the French Ministry of Agriculture which knighted her in recognition of the program's exceptional level of depth, accuracy, detail, and academic rigor as well as its impact on the global wine industry.

The French Wine Scholar study and certification program confers a post-nominal to wine professionals and enthusiasts who successfully pass the certification exam (Ex: John Smith, FWS). With a school network encompassing 30 countries on 5 continents, the FWS credential has true international recognition.

How it works Why this format? Schedule of study FWS STUDY TOOLS

The French Wine Scholar ™ online | 10-week Instructor-Led Format includes:

Plus:

A schedule of study with learning objectives for each region
The French Wine Scholar™ online exam*
Access to repeat-after-me pronunciation exercise
Online quizzes and learning games for self-evaluation
Downloadable maps
A list of recommended wines to sample on your own or in a tasting group organized by students enrolled in the online program

Price: $790

No vote

How it works Why this format? Schedule of study FWS STUDY TOOLS

Meet your instructors

Sharon McLean, CS, DipWSET, FWS, IWS

Certified Sommelier through the International Sommelier Guild Senior
Authorized instructor of Wine Scholar Guild and WSET courses on Vancouver Island
WSET Diploma with the highest marks in Canada
An accredited Bordeaux instructor

Lisa M. Airey, CWE, FWS

Director of Education for the Wine Scholar Guild since 2009
24 years of experience in the wine industry
Knighted by the French government for the FWS program’s significant contribution to the French wine industry.
Creator of the French Wine Scholar™ program

How it works:

You receive the full-color, 274-page French Wine Scholar study manual 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!
Attend 8 live webinars for 10 weeks via webinar accessible from computer or tablet. An opportunity to exchange freely with your instructor and fellow students. We always love to hear from you! Can’t make a webinar live? No problem. All are recorded for on demand replay in webinar or podcast formats…perfect on your way to work!
Have a question after watching a recorded webinar? Contact your instructors via and Instructor Q & A forum or email her directly. The choice is yours.
Track your progress through the course curriculum via our online tracking system.
You have one year from your registration date to take your final exam. 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 three-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.

How it works Why this format? Schedule of study FWS STUDY TOOLS

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 it should you get derailed. It is designed to accommodate the needs of a busy professional.

2. You have real human support.

Lisa and Sharon are available for questions via chat box during webinars, via the Q&A forum and via direct email/phone. 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:

Week 1 (May 3 -7)	Welcome webinar (30 mins) Thursday, May 6, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Meet your instructor and other students · General orientation · How to access online program and log-in to live webinars · How to use the discussion forum Self-study: Fundamentals Units
Week 2 (May 10 -14)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, May 13, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Fundamentals Units Self-study: Alsace, Jura and Savoie
Week 3 (May 17 - 21)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, May 20, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Alsace, Jura and Savoie Self-study: Champagne
Week 4 (May 24 - 28)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, May 27, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Champagne Self-study: Loire
Week 5 (May 31 - Jun 4)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, June 3, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Loire Self-study: Bourgogne, Beaujolais
Week 6 (Jun 7 - 11)	Self-study: Bourgogne, Beaujolais
Week 7 (Jun 14 - 18)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, June 17, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Bourgogne, Beaujolais Self-study: Bordeaux, South-West France
Week 8 (Jun 21 - 25)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, June 24, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Bordeaux, South-West France Self-study: Rhône Valley, Provence
Week 9 (Jun 28 - Jul 2)	Self-study: Rhône Valley, Provence
Week 10 (Jul 5 - 9)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, July 8, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Rhône Valley, Provence Self-study: Languedoc-Roussillon, Corsica
Week 11 (Jul 12 - 16)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, July 15, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Check-in on progress · Review of Languedoc-Roussillon & Corsica Self-study: Manual
Week 12 (Jul 19 - 23)	Live webinar (1 hr 15 mins) Thursday, July 22, 2021 @ 12:00 noon ET · Comparative review

How it works Why this format? Schedule of study FWS STUDY TOOLS

Study Materials:

WE OFFER ALL THE NECESSARY TOOLS & SUPPORT TO MASTER THE WINES OF FRANCE:

#1 FWS Study Manual:

The 270-page, full-color study manual (6th Edition) 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.

Comprehensive coverage of France’s 14 distinct wine regions is presented in the following manner:

Viticultural history, wine culture and traditions
Location and climate and their effects on viticulture and wine style
Topography, geography and soils and their impact on the vine
Grape varieties and their organoleptic profiles
Viticulture and winemaking practices
Wine industry trends and economics
All AOCs with their regulations, wine styles and specificities

Regions covered: Alsace, Champagne, Bourgogne, Beaujolais, Jura, Savoie, Loire, Bordeaux, Southwest, Languedoc, Roussillon, Rhône, Provence, Corsica

Plus: A Foundation Unit covering: French wine law, grape varieties, viticulture, viniculture and a discussion of Old World vs. New World wine styles

French Wine Scholar™ study manual features:

#2 FWS Online Study Modules:

The FWS 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 France is covered and dovetails nicely with the French 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!

French 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 Matthew Landry, French Programs Director
Online Instructor-led Format: via the Q&A forum plus email and live chat with acclaimed wine educators Sharon Mclean, DipWSET, FWS and French Programs Director Matthew Landry
In Classroom: via a local, certified instructor

No vote

FWS Online Exam:

The exam is composed of 100 multiple-choice questions and must be completed in 60 minutes.
The French Wine Scholar credential will be conferred to those individuals who sit the exam and achieve a score of 75 or higher.
Online exam candidates must have a computer (tablet not compatible), a good internet connection, a webcam and a microphone with speakers for proctoring purposes.
Candidate has one year from registration date to take the exam. When ready, the candidate may contact Andrea McEwan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. to schedule the exam.

Important notice: You can cancel or reschedule your exam at any point before your scheduled exam time by logging in to your ProctorU account and using the rescheduling link.
If not cancelled or rescheduled prior to the exam start time and you are not showing up for your exam or more than 15 minutes late, a $75 re-scheduling fee payable to WSG will be applied.

How it works Why this format? Schedule of study FWS STUDY TOOLS

Industry Testimonials

"The French Wine Scholar manual has once again proven why the Wine Scholar Guild is one of the best wine education programs in the world. What I particularly found helpful was the background information at the beginning of the manual. The detailed information on the vineyard cycle, the effect of temperature and wind, the vineyard pests and plagues, understanding different trellising methods, etc., all helps build a solid foundation permitting a deeper understanding of wine. The manual clearly explains the methods for both vineyard and winery work, which allow the student to fully appreciate the French wine regions.

I have found many students are visual learners, and the quality of maps used by the French Wine Scholar manual are incredible. It really helps in understanding the material more thoroughly.

I found the manual to be very well organized, enjoyable level of detail and a study guide I will continue to recommend. Thank you for sharing this manual with me."

Nicholas Poletto

Director of Education at Kobrand Corporation

"The French Wine Scholar manual has once again proven why the Wine Scholar Guild is one of the best wine…

Nicholas Poletto

Director of Education at Kobrand Corporation
“The Wine Scholar Guild’s French Study Manual is simply the best and most comprehensive guide to French wine available today. Indispensable for any wine trade professional who works with French wine. Bravo!”

Martin Sinkoff

VP and Director of Marketing, Frederick Wildman And Sons

"Indispensable for any wine trade professional who works with French wine. Bravo!”

Martin Sinkoff

VP and Director of Marketing, Frederick Wildman And Sons

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Disclaimer: WSG offers wine study courses that are targeted to both beginners and those more experienced in the wine industry. While WSG has received many accolades, awards, and testimonials, WSG is not an accredited institution or school. WSG does not guarantee or warrant that any employer or school will recognize WSG wine study courses. While WSG knows that it is a well-recognized institution within the multi-national wine community, it cannot guarantee anyone success in their profession or vocation.

"The French Wine Scholar manual has once again proven why the Wine Scholar Guild is one of the best wine education programs in the world. What I particularly found helpful was the background information at the beginning of the manual. The detailed information on the vineyard cycle, the effect of temperature and wind, the vineyard pests and plagues, understanding different trellising methods, etc., all helps build a solid foundation permitting a deeper understanding of wine. The manual clearly explains the methods for both vineyard and winery work, which allow the student to fully appreciate the French wine regions.

I have found many students are visual learners, and the quality of maps used by the French Wine Scholar manual are incredible. It really helps in understanding the material more thoroughly.

I found the manual to be very well organized, enjoyable level of detail and a study guide I will continue to recommend. Thank you for sharing this manual with me."

Nicholas Poletto

Director of Education at Kobrand Corporation

"The French Wine Scholar manual has once again proven why the Wine Scholar Guild is one of the best wine education programs in the world."

Nicholas Poletto

Director of Education at Kobrand Corporation
“The Wine Scholar Guild’s French Study Manual is simply the best and most comprehensive guide to French wine available today. Indispensable for any wine trade professional who works with French wine. Bravo!”

Martin Sinkoff

VP and Director of Marketing, Frederick Wildman And Sons

"Indispensable for any wine trade professional who works with French wine. Bravo!”

Martin Sinkoff

VP and Director of Marketing, Frederick Wildman And Sons
"The French Wine Scholar program… is the best, most comprehensive course of study for French wine, bar none. The program is well thought out and presented. Anyone wanting to learn about French wines needs to take this program; there is no better program out there"

Kevin Cleary

Owner/Director at Vermont Wine School

"Anyone wanting to learn about French wines needs to take this program; there is no better program out there"

Kevin Cleary

Owner/Director at Vermont Wine School
"Wine Scholar Guild is the new standard bearer for teaching wine to students of all learning styles.

The combination of their text book, online learning modules, quizzes and webinars combined with our presentation of their slides and wines of the regions makes in-depth learning great fun.

Their various Master programs are insanely challenging.

I cannot think of a better way to dive in deep on the wines of France to prepare for the Advanced & Master Sommelier exams, WSET Diploma or MW"

David Glancy MS, CWE, FWS

Founder of San Francisco Wine School

"I cannot think of a better way to dive in deep on the wines of France to prepare for the Advanced & Master Sommelier exams, WSET Diploma or MW"

David Glancy MS, CWE, FWS

Founder of San Francisco Wine School
"The French Wine Scholar Program is the most comprehensive approach that I have seen in regards to the wines of France, arguably the most important of all the wine-producing countries in the world. The level of detail and quality of the materials make this program a must-do for any serious student of wine"

Peter Neptune, MS, CWE, FWS

Founder of The Neptune School of Wine

"The level of detail and quality of the materials make this program a must-do for any serious student of wine"

Peter Neptune, MS, CWE, FWS

Founder of The Neptune School of Wine
"The French Wine Scholar Program is the industry's most comprehensive, in-depth course on the wines of France"

Jay Youmans, MW

Founder of Capital Wine School

"The French Wine Scholar Program is the industry's most comprehensive, in-depth course on the wines of France"

Jay Youmans, MW

Founder of Capital Wine School
"French wines are not easy to understand but for those committed to learn the result is uniquely rewarding.

The Wine Scholar Guild’s French Wine Scholar Study Manual provides a 360 guide that will take the student on an unparalleled journey through history, terroirs, winemaking, food paring and much more.

My most sincere appreciation goes to the WSG team for their great work to make French wines so much fun and easy to learn, for wine trade professionals and enthusiasts alike.

Bravo and “merci”!"

Xavier Barlier

Sr. VP, Marketing & Communication at Maisons Marques & Domaines

"My most sincere appreciation goes to the WSG team for their great work to make French wines so much fun and easy to learn"

Xavier Barlier

Sr. VP, Marketing & Communication at Maisons Marques & Domaines
"The 6^th edition of the French Wine Scholar study manual is a magnificent piece of work! It’s beautifully arranged in distinct segments in an easy to read format, with bring-to-life photos and graphics.

The regions are thoroughly presented starting with the history, then moving to climate, geology, grape varieties, wine styles, appellations and culminating with serving suggestions.

Numerous distinguished wine experts contributed to this newest edition with all the latest information. I only wish I had this book when I began studying French wine!"

Peter Marks, MW

VP of Education at Constellation Academy of Wine

"I only wish I had this book when I began studying French wine!"

Peter Marks, MW

VP of Education at Constellation Academy of Wine
"To anyone for whom knowledge of the subject of French wine is important, I would give the French Wine Scholar Study Manual my most complete commendation. It presents clearly, concisely, and accurately the sometimes intricate French viticultural appellations and rules, bringing them into one handy book where a quick reference provides one with the information. Organizing by region is practical and efficient for the reader.

As important as the technical knowledge is, though, I find equally interesting and important the work that has gone into explaining the history of each region--political, religious, social--and the geology and climate of each region. There is no true comprehension of wine without an understanding of the history of how a variety(varieties) came to be planted where they are, the geology of the soil on which these grapes are planted, and the effect of climate--in short to truly understand the term "Terroir" one must have knowledge of all of these aspects. This Manual provides a serious reader with these essentials.

Indeed, there is much to be learned by anyone who reads this book. At least there was for me.

To everyone who worked so diligently to prepare and write this Manual, I thank you."

Peter Weygandt

Founder & owner at Weygandt-Metzler Importing

"To anyone for whom knowledge of the subject of French wine is important, I would give the French Wine Scholar Study Manual my most complete commendation."

Peter Weygandt

Founder & owner at Weygandt-Metzler Importing
"Looking for informative, current and easy to understand materials to support your wine studies? WSG is the answer.

Access to top industry professionals, detailed information and insider-tips will help you achieve your goals".

Christophe Tassan MOF

Maitre Sommelier UDSf and MOF Sommellerie

"Looking for informative, current and easy to understand materials to support your wine studies? WSG is the answer."

Christophe Tassan MOF

Maitre Sommelier UDSf and MOF Sommellerie
"I would recommend the FWS program to any trade member wishing to increase his/her expertise in French wine and validate the same. This is wine education at its best!"

Louis-Fabrice Latour

Chairman at Maison Louis Latour
"I truly enjoyed studying and preparing the French Wine Scholar course. I found a lot of new facts and fascinating detail about French wine regions we do not cover in WSET programs. After every regional chapter, I took a nice trip to my local wine shop in Saint Louis, Alsace to buy and taste the many discoveries. There are no hidden corners any more in the vast French wine landscape for me and this is a value that I am really looking forward to passing on to many curious Swiss wine drinkers."

Juan Lo Bello

Wine Educator at Wein-Werkstatt

"I truly enjoyed studying and preparing the French Wine Scholar course. I found a lot of new facts and fascinating detail about French wine regions we do not cover in…

Juan Lo Bello

Wine Educator at Wein-Werkstatt