The Italian Wine Scholar® program is the industry's most respected certification course on the wines of Italy.
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.
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.
The Italian Wine Scholar course is composed of two separate units, that can be studied in any order:
- The Wines of Northern Italy (Unit 1)
- The Wines of Central & Southern Italy (Unit 2)
ONLINE LEARNING CLASSROOM LEARNING
STUDY OPTION 1 | ONLINE FORMAT
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
- Online quizzes and learning games for self-evaluation
- Downloadable maps of all Italian wine regions
- 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
Online Format:
Program Kick-Off: October 19
(Note: Unit 1 and Unit 2 can be taken in any order)
Price: $725 per-unit
STUDY OPTION 2 | CLASSROOM LEARNING
Each unit of the Italian Wine Scholar® is offered by licensed program providers and delivered by an approved IWS instructor. This study format includes:
- Classroom instruction with tutored tastings
- A copy of the IWS study manual
- Access to the IWS online study modules & quizzes for class prep & review
- In-classroom exam sit
All IWS program providers teach from the same Wine Scholar Guild-developed presentations and are supplied with uniform teaching materials.
ONLINE LEARNING CLASSROOM LEARNING
COURSE STRUCTURE
SPECIALIZE IN ITALIAN WINE:
While the sheer volume of information necessary to master Italian wine is extraordinary, we have broken down our course material and Italian wine regions into two manageable units:
UNIT 1: WINES OF NORTHERN ITALY
• Lombardia
• Piemonte
• Trentino
• Alto Adige
• Friuli-Venezia Giulia
• Liguria
• Emilia-Romagna
UNIT 2: WINES OF CENTRAL & SOUTHERN ITALY
• Marche
• Lazio
• Umbria, Abruzzo & Molise
• Campania
• Puglia & Basilicata
• Sicilia
• Sardegna
There are two separate study manuals and two separate exams. The Italian Wine Scholar® credential and pin is based on the final composite score (Unit 1 & 2).
This format makes it much easier to retain information and to pass the exam.
Students register for each unit separately. We highly recommend that students complete one unit before moving on to the next.
Note: Unit 1 & 2 can be taken in any order
ONLINE LEARNING CLASSROOM LEARNING
STUDY MATERIALS
#1 ITALIAN WINE SCHOLAR STUDY MANUALS:
The Italian Wine Scholar manuals follow 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 Italian wine regions.
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 Italian wine DOC/G is discussed (vs. just mentioned) and triaged by need-to-know icons. Emphasis is given to the flavor and structure profiles of DOC/G wines
ITALIAN WINE SCHOLAR® STUDY MANUAL FEATURES:
+A FOUNDATION UNIT:
A Foundation Unit provides an overview which pulls all of Italy and its wines into perspective.
#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 is 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 Format: via the Q&A forum plus during live, monthly Q&A sessions with your instructor
- In Classroom: via a local, certified instructor
ONLINE LEARNING CLASSROOM LEARNING
CERTIFICATION EXAM & POST-NOMINAL
SET YOURSELF APART FROM YOUR PEERS. SPECIALIZE IN THE WINES OF ITALY!
Individuals who follow this in-depth Italian wine education program and pass the exam, earn the Italian Wine Scholar post-nominal which may be incorporated into a professional signature (e.g. John Smith, IWS).
The exam for each unit is composed of 100 multiple-choice questions. Candidates need a composite score of 75% to receive the credential, i.e. the scores from both exams are added together and averaged for final assessment.
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
SUPPORT AND ENDORSEMENT
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.