Certified Specialist of Wine Program - A Prerequisite for Certified Wine Educator

Our 10-session Certified Specialist of Wine CSW certification program was created by Master Sommelier David Glancy to fully prepare students who want to become wine specialists for the notoriously rigorous CSW exam. David, a Certified Wine Educator CWE, knows CSW better than most; he is one of only 12 Master Sommeliers in the world to achieve this top credential from the Society of Wine Educators. Besides being a CWE, Master Sommelier David Glancy also sat on the Board of Directors for the Society of Wine Educators for 3 consecutive terms.

The certification program covers wine tasting, terminology, composition, chemistry, flaws, viticulture, enology, labels, laws and wine regions of the world. In addition, students will receive the official Society of Wine Educators' CSW Exam Study Guide, exam credit and more. 

Students will taste 70+ wines from around the world to bring learning objectives to life and hone your tasting technique.  All wines are selected by Master Sommelier David Glancy and our Cellar Master to represent a broad sampling of the classic wines of the world.

Registration Fee Includes*

• 30 hours of live class led by our industry-leading instructors 
• Over 70 wine tastings carefully curated by Master Sommelier David Glancy
• Tasting kit creation for online participants (free delivery is available across the US  LEARN MORE) 
• Exam fees & registration with the Society of Wine Educators
• Official Society of Wine Educators' CSW Study Guide
• San Francisco Wine School lecture manual
• CSW pin, certificate, and usage of the CSW post nominal upon successful completion of exam
• San Francisco Wine School water bottle

*Installment plans available.  Group rates available for parties of 5 or more.  Contact help@sfwineschool.com for more information

Certified Specialist of Wine consists of 10 three-hour individual classes covering the following areas. Each class within the full certification program can be taken as a single class.  Click the links to the individual classes to see an expanded description.

1. Tasting, Chemistry & Flaws Intensive
2. Viticulture & Enology Intensive
3. Wines of Northern France
4. Wines of Southern France
5. Wines of Italy
6. Wines of Spain, Portugal & Greece
7. Wines of Germany & Eastern Europe
8. Wines of North America
9. Wines of the Southern Hemisphere

The Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) is an internationally recognized credential conferred by the Society of Wine Educators (SWE), which has branches in countries around the globe. Obtaining the CSW demonstrates your mastery of wines of the entire world and can help you launch or further your career in wine. It is also a mandatory prerequisite for SWE's top credential, Certified Wine Educator (CWE).

CSW exam registrations are included in the certification program and are good for one full year from the start of the program. CSW exams are available at Pearson VUE testing centers and other locations. Students will be sent an authorization code and further instructions after the program begins. With the authorization code, a CSW Exam may be scheduled with the testing center at the candidate's preferred time and place.

All attendees must be 21+ years old. This is considered an intermediate level program. We encourage beginner students to take our Intro to Wine Series, Somm Essentials, or the equivalent prior to enrolling.