You can determine your student level with the guidance below or contact us for an assessment. We are happy to help find just the right class for you!

• Basic - good for students with no prior wine knowledge and limited wine experience
  
• Beginner - good for students with significant wine experience, but no formal wine education or already have a basic level certification such as WSET 1
  
• Intermediate - good for students who already have extensive wine knowledge and experience or already have a beginner level wine certification such as WSET 2, Intro Series or Somm Essentials
  
• Advanced - good for students who already have at least 1 intermediate level certification such as CSW or CMS Certified Level 2

Not sure how learning wine online or in hybrid format will work? Don't worry! We've broken it down for you so you know exactly what to expect.  Read more...

We also offer our expertly designed, university style online programs as part of the Glancy eWine School.  These certification programs provide plenty of interaction with your instructor and fellow students, but the curriculum is asynchronous, so you can engage on your own schedule each week.  Learn more

Tasting kits are included with certain class registrations to allow for distance learning.  Additional bottles are available for purchase after class.  Learn more about pickup options and our shipping rates and policies...

Unfortunately, we can only ship within the U.S. and the wines we supply for classes are often difficult to find in all locations. As an alternative, we can provide you with a class wine parameter list upon request. You can compare this information to your own collection or give the list to your local retailer who can help you select wines that fit those parameters.

Here are a few tips to help you keep the cost of the wine down if you need to shop:

• Ask your wine retailer to direct you to small format bottles that meet the parameters we give you.  There are plenty of 375ml and 187ml available - especially online.
• We are happy to recommend the most important wines from the parameters list we give you to help pair down your selections, just let us know how many bottles you want to buy.  You’ll still get a lot out of the class with fewer wines.  
• Even without wine altogether, you can learn so much!  We even have a “Skip the Wine” offer for 40% off most hybrid classes, which is a great option for many people.
• If you have a Coravin, use that!  You can also pick up some Vineyard Fresh or something similar online (or at your local wine retail store), this will preserve any wines you do open and don’t consume.  
• Put any fully open leftover wines in the refrigerator (yes even the reds).  This will slow the oxidation process way down and the wine will last for weeks - months depending on the structure of the wines.  Acid, Alcohol, and Residual Sugar levels all help preserve the wine for longer periods of time.
• Our asynchronous programs are designed with tasting assignments that do not require students to have the same wine.  

Many classes are recorded and available for viewing after the class has been completed.  Contact help@sfwineschool.com for access.

Cancellations and reschedules for Certification Programs and Educational Series (aka programs) are accepted up to 10 business days prior to the start of the course with an option to transfer full credit to a future class OR receive a full refund less a 5% cancellation fee.  Recordings are available to students who are unable to attend live classes.  Program students who give at least 10 days notice of their absence in an individual class may request to have a tasting kit created for no additional charge.  No further make ups will be allowed.  

WSET by Grape Experience provides no refunds after a program has begun.  If you need to cancel registration in any other program after the notice period, you will be refunded $70 for each class that you do not attend with a minimum notice of 10 business days. Study guides and any other course material must be returned in unused condition or the cost of the materials will be deducted from the total refund.

If you need transfer to a future program within the 10 business day notice period, a $150 transfer fee will be collected at that time.  Transfers will be effective 1 week after notice has been provided and fees must be paid at that time.  Recordings will be available for workshops prior to the transfer effective date.  With the exception of WSET by Grape Experience programs, your registration is fully transferable to another person for the same program and session with no fees.

There are no refunds available for individual classes or special events. Recordings are available to students who are unable to attend live classes.  Full program students who give at least 10 days notice of their absence in an individual class may request to have a tasting kit created for no additional charge.  Reschedules for the next available date are also accepted for individual classes up to 10 days prior to the originally scheduled date. Reschedules are not available for special events. 

If you are unable to attend a program, class or event and are not eligible for a reschedule or refund, and want to attend the session live, consider offering your seat to a friend or colleague.  They will love you!  

Format Changes from Roomer to Zoomer If you are registered as a Roomer and would like to join as a Zoomer instead or get the recording after class, please notify help@sfwineschool.com at least 10 days in advance, so that we may create your tasting kit along with your fellow Zoomers. If you need your kit in less than 10 days, an expedited kitting fee will apply. 

We need a minimum of 2 days prior to your class to ensure your wines are not poured in the classroom as they will no longer be kittable at that point. Replacement kits may be created for an extra fee if the wine is available.

Format Changes from Zoomer to Roomer If you are registered as a Zoomer and would like to join as a Roomer instead or get the recording after class, please notify help@sfwineschool.com at least 2 business days in advance, so that we can set your seat for class.

If your tasting kit has already been created, you can bring it with you or pick it up the day of class and pour your wines in the classroom.  

There are no refunds for wine tasting kits, retail bottles, or shipping charges.  Learn more about our Wine Pickup & Delivery Options... 

Notice for all cancellations, reschedules, format changes and transfers must be given by emailing help@sfwineschool.com. 

CSW & HSBC and WSET deferrals and re-takes are scheduled directly with the Society of Wine Educators and Grape Experience, respectively, for applicable fees.   All online exam upgrades and other exam re-schedules and re-takes are scheduled through San Francisco Wine School.  If the program is eligible for online exam upgrades, a $75 fee will be applied.  If you are unable to take your exam on your scheduled exam date, a $150 fee will be applied.  Exam retake fees vary by program.   

Admission into any of the programs/courses requires that the student: be a minimum age of 21 Present identification on 1st day of class and complete orientation if enrolled in online program.  Attendees for any public or private event held at San Francisco Wine School must be at least 21 years of age.

In order for students to complete their program, they are expected to attend all scheduled class sessions. Those whose absences exceed more than 20% of the program are considered at-risk for successfully passing the certification exam.

Academic Dishonesty is any behavior on the part of a student that results in that student’s or any other students’ giving or receiving unauthorized assistance in an academic exercise or receiving credit for work which is not the student’s own.

As a San Francisco Wine School student, if you are given access to our learning management system, you are expected to keep confidential your username and password and never allow anyone else to login to your account. Sharing access or passwords to our learning management system is considered a breach of academic integrity and could result in you being removed from the program.

When you login to our learning management system, you do so with the understanding and agreement to produce your own work, to complete course discussions and activities yourself, and to take course exams, tests or quizzes without the assistance of others.

Allowing others to complete any course work or take a quiz, text, or exam for you is considered cheating and could subject you to fail or be withdrawn from the program.

We allow trained service animals and psychiatric service dogs in our facility in accordance with California law. If you intend to bring a service animal, please email a copy of your registration documentation from the National Service Animal Registry or the Service Animal Registry of California to help@sfwineschool.comhelp@sfwineschool.com at least 48 hours in advance of your class or event, so that we may add a note of approval to your registration. We ask that you also bring a copy to your class or event. This will speed up your checkin process upon arrival. Regardless of service status, should an animal cause injury or damage to our facility in any way, the attendee shall be fully responsible for any and all damages and liability claims.

Due to the current concerns over Coronavirus (COVID-19), San Francisco Wine School has implemented new practices and policies to help keep our staff and students healthy. Read more... 

You can find our current policy here