Spanish Wine Scholar® Intensive in Málaga, Spain

April 16-21, 2023 in Málaga, Spain

Price: $3390 per person*

Program Schedule

This intensive format course will take place in the beautiful and historic city of Málaga, located on the southern coast of Andalucía, Spain. The month of April is one of the best times to visit Málaga and enjoy the beautiful weather and surroundings.

The Spanish Wine Scholar® (SWS) study and certification program is the most comprehensive course available on the wines of Spain.

Now you have an opportunity to study complete your studies in-situ! The course provides an in-depth certification program on the wines of Spain. This in-person session will take place from April 16-21, 2023. This 5-day, intensive classroom and tasting experience will be presented and taught by Rick Fisher, creator of the Spanish Wine Scholar® program, and Master of Wine Jonas Tofterup.

ABOUT THE COURSE:

Join us for five days of complete immersion into the amazingly diverse world of Spanish wines with structured, in-depth lectures covering the history, geography, climate, grapes, viticulture, and viniculture of all of Spain’s autonomous regions. In addition, enjoy extensive tutored tastings of wines from the islands and mainland Spain.

The SWS course materials, including the 315-page study manual and online study assists, are included in this study experience. It's highly recommended that students familiarize themselves with the course content before arriving in Málaga. Students have one year to take an online proctored exam. Students who do not wish to take the exam and become certified are also welcome to join the program.

Learning outcomes:

• Master the dynamic and fascinating world of Spanish wine
• Study and experience how the traditional and the modern are present throughout Spain
• Stay up-to-date on new developments in some of the country’s top regions, including changes to viticulture, winemaking, and wine styles
• Taste through more than 70 hand-selected wines representing the diversity of Spain
• Visit two of Spain’s premier wine regions, meet and learn from those who craft the wines

What's included:

• Registration in WSG’s Spanish Wine Scholar program*
• Five nights in a four-star hotel in central Málaga, located within walking distance of the classroom
• Welcome dinner at a Málaga restaurant
• Continental breakfast each day at the hotel
• Three and a half days of classroom instruction with extensive tutored tastings
• One day field-trip to the Sherry region with a visit to a winery, a vineyard walk, and lunch at a local restaurant
• Half-day vineyard tour and winery visit in the Axarquia sub-zone of DO Málaga
• Finale dinner in a top Málaga restaurant with selected wines
• A fine selection of Spanish wines served during included meals
• Individually-proctored online examination to be taken within one year of registration (PLEASE NOTE: The exam is NOT offered during the course week in Málaga)

*Access to the Spanish Wine Scholar® study program will be granted once the full balance payment is received (due 120 days prior to the trip start date). Those already enrolled in the program benefit from a discount on the SWS Intensive fee.

What's not included:

• Lunches on three days (students are given free time to eat lunch on their own, with many options within walking distance of the venue)
• Transportation to and from Spain and Málaga
• Dinners (aside from the welcome and farewell dinners)

About the wines tasted:

All wines in the SWS course will be hand-curated by your instructors. The selected wines will showcase a broad cross-section of different terroirs, winemaking philosophies, and styles. Spain is renowned for the quality and affordability of its wines, so be prepared for some special surprises! You will taste approximately 70 wines between the classroom study, field-trips, and included meals.

About Your Educators: 

Rick Fisher, DipWSET, SWS is the Spanish Programs Director for Wine Scholar Guild. Part Catalan, he has a passion for his Spanish heritage and a desire to educate others about Spanish wine, food, and culture. In April 2018, Rick left a successful 20-year career in finance to join the Wine Scholar Guild Team and begin work on the Spanish Wine Scholar program. The program, which launched in Fall 2019, has now enrolled more than 1,200 students. Rick holds the WSET Diploma in Wines, holds an MBA, and is a Certified Educator for the Spanish wine regions of Sherry, Rioja, and Cava. In addition to his role with the Wine Scholar Guild, Rick is a wine judge, educator, and writer.

Jonas Tofterup MW is the first Danish Master of Wine and one of only seven Masters of Wine currently residing and working in Spain. He holds a Master of Science in Viticulture and Oenology and has worked as a winemaker at a number of wineries – including those in numerous regions around Spain, Stellenbosch, Baden, Rheingau, and Denmark. Jonas is the owner and lead educator at Iberian Wine Academy (IWA), one of Spain’s premier wine schools and a WSG Approved Program Provider. Jonas is a partner at Bodegas Trenza in DO Yecla (Murcia) where he makes wine with his brother, David, as well as being an internationally sought-after speaker and wine judge.

Location and classroom Venue:

Price: $3390 per person* based on double occupancy.

*Deduct $300 if already enrolled in the Spanish Wine Scholar program. 

Single supplement: $380**

A deposit payment of $1000 is required to reserve your spot. You will be invoiced by email for the balance of the trip price, which is due 120 days before the trip’s start date. Payments are non-refundable and non-transferable. WSG Member discount is not applicable on this package.

Who is the program for:

The Spanish Wine Scholar® course is designed for wine professionals seeking proficiency on the wines of Spain, advanced students of wine hoping to specialize in the wines of Spain, and/or committed individuals with a deep passion for Spain. Advance study of the SWS course content is recommended in order to get the maximum benefit from your week in Spain.

The course is limited to 16 participants.

Program Schedule