Name: California Wine Appellation Specialist CWAS® Online - Asynchronous Format
SKU: 314065

Program Description

LEARN THE NUANCES OF CALIFORNIA WINE: An asynchronous 9-week online program to help students master the increasingly complex AVA landscape in California.

The CWAS or California Wine Appellation Specialist® is the first and only in-depth professional credential dedicated to California wine. CWAS® was pioneered by , in 2012 and has since earned the support of Wine Institute and grower associations throughout the state.

This one-of-a-kind program offers students a comprehensive, up-to-date, formal education on all the California , featuring material that is literally impossible to find from other resources. The topics will deeply enrich enthusiasts' knowledge and are critical to the success of today's wine professionals.

Learn the language of California wine labeling
Discuss the history and impact of California's American
Understand California's wine production
Analyze the distinctive climates, soils, grapes and wineries of each region that make up the landscape

The online program is part of the and includes university style curriculum with personalized instruction, engaging student interaction and creative weekly tasting assignments expertly designed to bring the classroom to you! Each week, students will tackle a new subject in our virtual classroom with an industry leading instructor, engage in discussion with their peers, and complete weekly in-depth tasting assignments.

San Francisco Wine School is an official external education provider for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, having certified many staff members with our proprietary California Wine Appellation Specialist® Program! and our !

2025 SESSION DATES

Session 1

January 26 - March 29

Also check out our in-person formats taking place at our gorgeous !

HOW DOES THIS ONLINE CLASS WORK?

Each week students will tackle a new subject in our virtual classroom, read materials at their own pace, engage in discussions with their instructor and peers, and complete weekly tasting assignments receiving instructor feedback to hone their skills. In addition, students will have access to Virtual Lectures by Master Sommelier David Glancy.

This is an asynchronous program where there are no set class hours and students participate on their own schedule. There are however assignment and quiz due dates within each week and we strongly recommend keeping pace with the group to get the most out of peer interaction and discussions.

Want to see how our online classes work? Email us at and we'll give you a tour of the virtual classroom!

Personalized Online Instruction

Your industry leading instructor will personally connect with you and your classmates in the virtual classroom, guiding you through the curriculum, answering your questions, providing feedback and taking an active role in the class discussions.

Self-paced learning

Our virtual class materials are designed to accommodate all different learning styles and schedules. Read the slides and articles, listen to lectures, watch the videos, view the maps - pause, skip ahead, go back, jump to a different section – all with the click of a mouse.

Student Interaction

Our online programs are designed to promote engagement with the other members of the class. Students gain a new network of wine professionals and serious enthusiasts from all over the world. In many ways, our online students are more connected than those who meet in a traditional program. Weekly discussions are known to get very lively and because there are no set classroom hours, students engage much more than they would during a traditional class. Some classes even decide to come together from far and wide just to meet in person at the end of the program.

Wine Tasting Assignments

Each tasting assignment is designed to impart the learning objectives for each region of study and has flexible parameters to allow for differences in wine availability in your area. Get to know your local wine shop, tasting bar, your own cellar, or hit the road to see the region in person! Locating wines that meet the assignment criteria is half the fun and enriches the learning experience.

SYLLABUS OVERVIEW

California Wine Appellation Specialist® ONLINE consist of an orientation and 9 learning modules over a ten week period. Modules cover the following areas:

Virtual Classroom Orientation
California Wine Overview & Mendocino
Napa Valley
Lake & The Sierra
Sonoma
Santa Cruz, Livermore & Lodi
Monterey & San Benito
Paso Robles & the Rest of San Luis Obispo
Santa Barbara & Beyond
Credential Exam

Want to learn more about California wine now? Watch Master Sommelier David Glancy in our filmed for Wine Institute and Discover California Wine.

ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION & EXAM

Students who score of 80% or higher in the program will be awarded a CWAS certificate and can proudly display the initials CWAS after their name. Program grading is weighted as follows: 85% exam, 5% weekly discussion, 5% weekly tasting assignments, 5% weekly quizzes.

Earning this credential will set you apart in the increasingly competitive wine industry and help you guide your customers through the complex and rapidly changing California wine scene.

ENROLLMENT INCLUDES

Exam Fees & Registration
10 weeks of access to our CWAS Online Classroom
Certificate upon successful completion

REQUIREMENTS

All attendees must be 21 years

Our online classroom and the resources within it are not completely compatible with all smartphones and tablets. We recommend having access to a computer to ensure all of the online resources will be available.