The Spanish Wine Scholar™ program is the most advanced and comprehensive certification course on the wines of Spain
The syllabus takes a regional approach and discusses all Spanish wine appellations and the factors that shape their identities. It provides committed students of wine with an unparalleled set of study tools that are designed to maximize learning and boost knowledge retention.
The program was created by Spanish wine specialist Rick Fisher, Spanish Wine Scholar™ Education Director.
Wines from Spain (ICEX - Spain's Trade & Investment Government Agency) has endorsed the program in recognition of its exceptional level of depth, accuracy, detail, and academic rigor.
The Spanish Wine Scholar study and certification program confers a post-nominal to wine professionals and enthusiasts who successfully pass the certification exam (Ex: John Smith, SWS). With a school network encompassing 30 countries on 5 continents, the SWS credential has true international recognition.
ONLINE LEARNING CLASSROOM LEARNING SWS STUDY MANUAL
SWS ONLINE STUDY MODULES INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT
STUDY OPTION 1 | DISTANCE-LEARNING:
Earn the Spanish Wine Scholar™ (SWS) post-nominal online via the independent study format or enroll in the 10-week instructor-led format with 10 live review webinars.
The Spanish Wine scholar™ distance-learning format includes:
PLUS:
- A suggested schedule of study with learning objectives for each region
- Live review webinars with Rick Fisher, SWS Education Director (*instructor-led format only)
- Online quizzes and learning games for self-evaluation
- Downloadable maps of all Spanish wine regions designed by Quentin Sadler
- Pronunciation exercises to boosts your credibility
- A list of recommended wines to sample on your own or in a tasting group hosted by students enrolled in the online program
PRICING FOR THE ONLINE STUDY FORMATS:
Independent study format
On-demand, start anytime
Price: $595Click here to see the difference between instructor-led vs independent study format.
Student Testimonials:
Marta Chiavacci, FWSon Apr 14, 2021"I thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish Wine Scholar program. The materials were well organized and presented. The flashcards and quizzes were helpful while studying for the exam."- Tyler Worthon Apr 10, 2021"Having taken the French, Italian, and now, Spanish Wine Scholar remote self-study courses, I would highly recommend them all. If you really want to get a complete understanding of the wine regions Europe's most iconic wine regions this is the place. Enjoyable to read, easy to understand and amazingly thorough. Avid enthusiast or industry professional, you will not be disappointed. "
- Richard Stockon Apr 10, 2021"The course was a lot more than a standard wine course it covered history/ culture / food and major sightseeing opportunities Whilst I learnt a lot about Spanish Wines I also learnt even more about Spain "
- KWOK KAI CHUNGon Apr 8, 2021"Excellent course materials with detailed wine maps. The on-line course is interesting and comprehensive. Recommend to those like Spanish wine."
- Michael Biggson Apr 2, 2021"This is a great course. It covers history of Spain (particularly in relation to the wine industry), geography, climate and of course all the different wine styles throughout the Country. All of the autonomous communities, and the main DOP's are covered in detail. I would highly recommend it."
- Nicholas Lotzon Apr 1, 2021"A great in depth look at Spanish wine for anyone looking to progress after WSET 3. "
- Stephen Kennardon Mar 10, 2021"The WSG qualifications are excellent and I recommend them to all those interested in wine. They build on the more generalist qualifications run by other bodies and enable a more in-depth review of the key countries and specific regions. The course material is well set out and goes well beyond the syllabus enabling students to expand their knowledge even further. They really are great books to research a country's wines. The historical and political background notes also add just enough detail to put everything into context."
- Aleksandron Feb 28, 2021"Spanish Wine Scholar has been a true revalation for me. After 8 years in wine industry this was the first time i was really able to dive deep into Spain as wine country. SWS helped me trully understand, appreciate and strengthen my love and passion for spanish wines and culture. Certainly it is a massive beggining of my spanish journey, that i hope will last a lifetime. I totally recommend taking any of WSG programms of one's choice for anyone who is as passionate as i am in order to get some really serious and in depth knowledge on subject. Bravo WSG! And thank you! "
- Adam Zhangon Feb 20, 2021"The content of this program is very well organized and the interactive e-learning modules is extremely helpful, one can certainly become an expert in Spanish wine once finished studying this program! "
- Francisco Riveroson Feb 11, 2021" I loved the depth of the materials, and Rick Fisher has a way of simplifying the hardest subjects. The book is one of the most important reference books I have, and can always count on it. "
- 0on Dec 15, 2020"The combination of text and well laid out and reinforcing on-line learning resource is excellent. "
- Sarah Timbrook-Nugenton Dec 4, 2020"Spanish wine is such an important category at retail but not well understood; the course content includes the very latest developments in DO regulations and grounds them in an understanding of history. Well done!"
- alexandremaon Oct 15, 2020"WSG offers me a giant window through which I am able to see the colorful wine world. "
- Richard F. LaMountainon Sep 26, 2020"I thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish Wine Scholar course, which provided detailed information about the wines and wine regions of Spain. The instructional materials were concise, comprehensive, and fun to read. Mimi Martin and her fellow instructors at Portland's Wine and Spirit Archive knew the subject matter inside and out and purveyed it in a clear, enthusiastic, and professional manner. "
- Catherine Oconnoron Aug 31, 2020"Great deep dive into the wine regions of Spain and the cultural aspects affecting wine styles. Rick Fisher's passion for Spanish wines jump off the pages of the book - it's like going on a wine country tour without leaving your seat."
STUDY OPTION 2 | CLASSROOM LEARNING:
The Spanish Wine Scholar™ program is offered by WSG Approved Program Providers, now including 80 wine schools in 30 countries and 5 continents.
- Classroom instruction with extensive tutored tastings
- A copy of the SWS study manual
- Access to the SWS online study modules & quizzes for class prep & review
- In-classroom exam sit
All SWS program providers teach from the same Wine Scholar Guild-developed presentations and are supplied with uniform teaching materials.
Naturally, each instructor has a unique teaching style, the wine selection will vary by market, the class length and class structure (weekly, biweekly, weekends etc.) will vary from location to location, but the content will be the same no matter where you take the class. For many, the classroom experience helps to reinforce the theory; a tutored tasting component brings each region to life. Many students find the set “schedule” helpful in keeping on top of their studies.
ONLINE LEARNING CLASSROOM LEARNING SWS STUDY MANUAL
SWS ONLINE STUDY MODULES INSTRUCTOR SUPPORT
Student Testimonials:
- Marta Chiavacci, FWSon Apr 14, 2021"I thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish Wine Scholar program. The materials were well organized and presented. The flashcards and quizzes were helpful while studying for the exam."
- Tyler Worthon Apr 10, 2021"Having taken the French, Italian, and now, Spanish Wine Scholar remote self-study courses, I would highly recommend them all. If you really want to get a complete understanding of the wine regions Europe's most iconic wine regions this is the place. Enjoyable to read, easy to understand and amazingly thorough. Avid enthusiast or industry professional, you will not be disappointed. "
- Richard Stockon Apr 10, 2021"The course was a lot more than a standard wine course it covered history/ culture / food and major sightseeing opportunities Whilst I learnt a lot about Spanish Wines I also learnt even more about Spain "
- KWOK KAI CHUNGon Apr 8, 2021"Excellent course materials with detailed wine maps. The on-line course is interesting and comprehensive. Recommend to those like Spanish wine."
- Michael Biggson Apr 2, 2021"This is a great course. It covers history of Spain (particularly in relation to the wine industry), geography, climate and of course all the different wine styles throughout the Country. All of the autonomous communities, and the main DOP's are covered in detail. I would highly recommend it."
- Nicholas Lotzon Apr 1, 2021"A great in depth look at Spanish wine for anyone looking to progress after WSET 3. "
- Stephen Kennardon Mar 10, 2021"The WSG qualifications are excellent and I recommend them to all those interested in wine. They build on the more generalist qualifications run by other bodies and enable a more in-depth review of the key countries and specific regions. The course material is well set out and goes well beyond the syllabus enabling students to expand their knowledge even further. They really are great books to research a country's wines. The historical and political background notes also add just enough detail to put everything into context."
- Aleksandron Feb 28, 2021"Spanish Wine Scholar has been a true revalation for me. After 8 years in wine industry this was the first time i was really able to dive deep into Spain as wine country. SWS helped me trully understand, appreciate and strengthen my love and passion for spanish wines and culture. Certainly it is a massive beggining of my spanish journey, that i hope will last a lifetime. I totally recommend taking any of WSG programms of one's choice for anyone who is as passionate as i am in order to get some really serious and in depth knowledge on subject. Bravo WSG! And thank you! "
- Adam Zhangon Feb 20, 2021"The content of this program is very well organized and the interactive e-learning modules is extremely helpful, one can certainly become an expert in Spanish wine once finished studying this program! "
- Francisco Riveroson Feb 11, 2021" I loved the depth of the materials, and Rick Fisher has a way of simplifying the hardest subjects. The book is one of the most important reference books I have, and can always count on it. "
- 0on Dec 15, 2020"The combination of text and well laid out and reinforcing on-line learning resource is excellent. "
- Sarah Timbrook-Nugenton Dec 4, 2020"Spanish wine is such an important category at retail but not well understood; the course content includes the very latest developments in DO regulations and grounds them in an understanding of history. Well done!"
- alexandremaon Oct 15, 2020"WSG offers me a giant window through which I am able to see the colorful wine world. "
- Richard F. LaMountainon Sep 26, 2020"I thoroughly enjoyed the Spanish Wine Scholar course, which provided detailed information about the wines and wine regions of Spain. The instructional materials were concise, comprehensive, and fun to read. Mimi Martin and her fellow instructors at Portland's Wine and Spirit Archive knew the subject matter inside and out and purveyed it in a clear, enthusiastic, and professional manner. "
- Catherine Oconnoron Aug 31, 2020"Great deep dive into the wine regions of Spain and the cultural aspects affecting wine styles. Rick Fisher's passion for Spanish wines jump off the pages of the book - it's like going on a wine country tour without leaving your seat."
STUDY MATERIALS
EMPOWERING STUDENTS TO SUCCEED
Modeled after the French Wine Scholar™ program, Spanish Wine Scholar™ students will receive the same complete set of study materials.
#1 THE SWS STUDY MANUAL:
The Spanish Wine Scholar™ manual is the most comprehensive and current coverage on the wines of Spain and follows a regional approach with strong tie-ins to terroir.
Each chapter is designed for maximum content retention and utilizes a systematic approach, allowing the student to compare and contrast each of the wine regions of Spain.
Manuals are current and discuss the most recent trends. They are printed in full-color, are rich in imagery and peppered with the iconic wine labels of each region.
Every Spanish wine appellation is discussed (vs. just mentioned) and triaged by "need-to-know" icons. Emphasis is given to the flavor and structure profiles of the wines.
A Fundamentals Chapter provides an overview which puts all of Spain and its wines into perspective.
#2 SWS Online Study Program:
The SWS online study program offers interactive e-learning modules that are put into a measurable, meaningful format designed for maximum retention of content and ease of use.
Each region of Spain is covered and dovetails nicely with the Spanish 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!
Spanish Wine Scholar™ online study modules features:
- E-learning modules loaded with videos and learning games to keep you engaged
- Your place is automatically bookmarked/saved to resume where you left off
- Quizzes and learning games for self-evaluation
- Hundreds of online flashcards
- Pronunciation exercises
- You earn badges to track your accomplishments
#3 Detailed Spanish Wine Maps:
Your study manual will be packed with beautiful wine maps which have been designed for this program by Quentin Sadler. Electronic versions of these maps, in addition to blank practice maps are also available for download on the online course page.
#4 Professional Instructor Support:
- Online Independent Study: via the Q&A forum answered by Rick Fisher, SWS Education Director
- Online Instructor-led Format: via the Q&A forum plus email and live chat with instructors
- In Classroom: via a local, certified instructor
COURSE CONTENT & STRUCTURE
The Spanish Wine Scholar™ course is composed of 10 chapters:
- Chapter One - Fundamentals
- Chapter Two - Green Spain
- Chapter Three - The Duero River Valley
- Chapter Four - La Rioja
- Chapter Five - The Ebro River Valley
- Chapter Six - Cataluña
- Chapter Seven - The Central Mediterranean Coast
- Chapter Eight - The Meseta
- Chapter Nine - Andalucía
- Chapter Ten - The Islands
Detailed Curriculum available here
CERTIFICATION EXAM & POST-NOMINAL
SET YOURSELF APART FROM YOUR PEERS. SPECIALIZE IN THE WINES OF SPAIN!
Individuals who follow this in-depth Spanish wine course and pass the exam, earn the Spanish Wine Scholar™ title and SWS post-nominal which may be incorporated into a professional signature (e.g. John Smith, SWS).
The exam is composed of 100 multiple-choice questions. Candidates need a score of 75% to receive the credential.
Students with a composite score of 85-90.5 pass with HONORS. Candidates scoring 91-100 pass with HIGHEST HONORS.
More information about the exam