San Francisco, Calif. (July 8, 2014) - San Francisco Wine School challenges the next generation of wine experts with the first and only professional credential program on California wine: the California Wine Appellation Specialist® degree (CWAS® for short).
San Francisco Wine School founder David Glancy is one of only twelve people in the world to hold both a revered Master Sommelier diploma and a Certified Wine Educator credential, and is a visionary for wine education. When he identified the need, Glancy pioneered CWAS® as a unique deep-dive into all of California’s AVAs for today’s wine experts, a program which has earned the support of wine grower associations and The Wine Institute.
The CWAS® 3-Day Intensive will take place August 8-10, at Beringer Winery, St. Helena, Napa Valley.
“I think the Beringer brothers would be proud to see such an exceptional program in the very same place where they made their first wine almost 150 years ago,” said Gillian Balance, Master Sommelier for Beringer and Treasury Wine Estates. “I myself did not understand the diversity that California has to offer the wine world until I began my own serious study of the geology, geography and history of our regions. It’s about time a school gave California wine the attention it deserves.”
The CWAS® 3-Day Intensive covers Mendocino County, Napa Valley, Sonoma County, Santa Cruz, San Francisco Bay, the Delta, Lake County, the Sierra Foothills, Monterey and San Benito, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara, and beyond. The course includes blind tasting exercises with more than 60 California wines to enhance learning, and features material that is literally impossible to find from other resources, including:
- Identification and interpretation of USA and California wine laws
- Discussion of history and impact of California’s American Viticultural Areas
- Detailed investigation of California’s wine production
- Examination of the various climates, soils, grapes, and wineries of each region that make it distinctive to the California wine landscape.
The August 8-10 Intensive will also feature wine industry Special Guests, with more to be added:
- Virginie Boone, Napa and Sonoma wine critic for Wine Enthusiast Magazine
- Scott Kozel, Vice President of Coastal Winemaking for E. & J. Gallo Winery
- Jessica Altieri, Certified Sommelier and CEO of Wine Channel TV
The 3-Day Intensive runs 8:30 am to 5:30 pm Friday and Saturday, and 8:30 am to 3:30 pm Sunday. Daily continental breakfast and lunch are included, and a Saturday tasting dinner with David Glancy and San Francisco Wine School staff is available for an additional charge. The CWAS® credential exam will be available online for one month following the program. Students who score of 80% or higher will be awarded a CWAS certificate and can proudly display the initials “CWAS” after their name. The CWAS® 3-Day Intensive program fee is $1450.
In addition to the 3-Day Intensive, CWAS® is taught year-round as a 9-Week Credential Program in South San Francisco, and online in San Francisco Wine School’s virtual classroom. See CWAS® for more details; registration information is at CWAS® 3-Day Intensive.
About San Francisco Wine School
At San Francisco Wine School, our mission is to breathe new energy into the world of wine education by teaching only the wine topics and credential programs that best prepare students for success. Carefully chosen curriculum is taught by industry-leading instructors and features the best content in the business: expert material, carefully conceived wine pairings, and interactive blind tasting exercises designed to engage students and enhance learning. Rigorous wine programs not only aid in credential exam preparation, but foster an in-depth understanding of wine types and world appellations and with that, a profound appreciation of the subject.
San Francisco Wine School launched the California Wine Appellation Specialist® (CWAS) credential, the first ever, in-depth California professional credential program, while bringing together under one roof all of the credentials most important to wine professionals. For more information, visit San Francisco Wine School at www.sfwineschool.com and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Twitter.
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