Why study Spanish wine with us?
- Recognizing the exceptional depth and accuracy of the program, Wines from Spain (ICEX - Spain's Trade & Investment Government Agency) has endorsed the program.
- The SWS study manual has already received many words of praise by wine professionals.
- The development of this course of study involved many Spanish wine consejos reguladores which shared resources, information and assistance.
- There is no other study and certification program in the world that covers Spain with such breadth and depth. The material is comprehensive and updated every year.
- Wine Scholar Guild (WSG) study programs have been taught internationally to over 10,000 of students of wine!
- WSG student evaluations have been very positive; students love learning with our innovative and multi-faceted educational tools.
- In the 10 years since its inception, the Wine Scholar Guild has become the world leader in specialization programs on the wines of France and Italy. We aim to do the same for Spain!
How does this program complement other, more general wine study program?
The Spanish Wine Scholar program is a great resource and supplement for students of wine moving toward advanced general wine study programs such as WSET Diploma (level 4), Master of Wine, Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Sommelier (level 3 and up) or Society of Wine Educator’s Certified Wine Educator (CWE).
Many of these programs ask their students to do extensive independent research in order to study for their exam. To this end, the Spanish Wine Scholar program serves as an advanced and comprehensive study supplement to help them master the complex and fast-evolving wines of Spain.
Are there any pre-requisites to enter this program?
While not a pre-requisite, we recommend that students have successfully completed, at a minimum, one of the following programs before enrolling in the Spanish Wine Scholar program: WSET level 2, Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) or Court of Master Sommelier’s Introductory Sommelier Certificate (Level 1).
Why study Spanish wine?
Spain has more land under vine than any other country and ranks third in production (behind Italy and France). Indigenous Spanish grapes such as Tempranillo, Garnacha, Monastrell, Verdejo and Albariño have become increasingly popular on the world wine stage. Spain has been making wine for 3,000 years; as a classic wine region that is commercially significant today, it merits study.
What information is covered in the course/study manuals?
The manuals structure the study of each of Spain's 16 distinct 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 appellations with their regulations, wine styles and specificities
Why invest in certification?
The era of self-professed wine experts is long over. Professionals need credentials. Certification is resume-building, validates competency and serves as a point of distinction midst trade and peers alike.
Questions about the exam?
