LEARN THE NUANCES OF CALIFORNIA WINE: A 9-week program to help students master the increasingly complex AVA landscape in California.

California Wine Appellation Specialist^® (CWAS) is the first and only in-depth professional credential dedicated to California wine. CWAS^® was pioneered by Master Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator, David Glancy, in 2012 and has since earned the support of Wine Institute and grower associations throughout the state.

This one-of-a-kind program offers students a comprehensive, up-to-date, formal education on all of the California wine regions, featuring material that is literally impossible to find from other resources. The topics will deeply enrich enthusiasts' knowledge and are critical to the success of today's wine professionals.

• Learn the language of California wine labeling
• Discuss the history and impact of California's American Viticultural Areas
• Understand California's wine production
• Analyze the distinctive climates, soils, grapes and wineries of each region that make up the California wine landscape
  
  

San Francisco Wine School is an official external education provider for Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits, having certified many staff members with our proprietary California Wine Appellation Specialist® Program!  Read about our partnership and our Corporate Training!

Session Dates & Time
Location
Guided Blind Wine Tasting Exercises
Syllabus Overview
About the Certification & Exam
Enrollment Includes
Requirements
Why is CWAS important

SESSION DATES & TIMES

 Not located in the Bay Area?  Check out CWAS^® Intensive or CWAS^® Online!

LOCATION

San Francisco Wine School
415 Grand Ave #301
South San Francisco, CA 94080
Click for parking and public transportation information

GUIDED BLIND WINE TASTING EXERCISES
Blind taste over 60 wines to enhance learning objectives. All wines are selected by Master Sommelier David Glancy and our instructors to represent all the AVAs of California.

SYLLABUS OVERVIEW
California Wine Appellation Specialist^® features 8 workshops and the final exam over nine weeks.  Each class within the full program can be taken as a single workshop.  Click the links to learn more!

Want to learn more about California wine now? Watch Master Sommelier David Glancy in our educational videos filmed for Wine Institute and Discover California Wine.

ABOUT THE CERTIFICATION & EXAM
Students who score 80% or higher will be awarded a CWAS certificate and can proudly display the initials CWAS after their name. Earning this credential will set you apart in the increasingly competitive wine industry and help you guide your customers through the complex and rapidly changing California wine scene.

ENROLLMENT INCLUDES

• Exam Fees & Registration
• California Wine Appellation Specialist® Manual 
• San Francisco Wine School Water Bottle
• Certificate upon successful completion

REQUIREMENTS
No prior wine education necessary, however we encourage first-time wine students to take a blind tasting workshop prior to enrolling in this program.

All attendees must be 21+ years. 

WHY IS CWAS IMPORTANT?
"Italy and France both have internationally recognized certification programs in place to drive interest and celebrate the nuances of their wine regions. If wine students don't have the resources or formal channels to specialize in California wine, it sends the wrong message about California's diverse range of meso-climates, grape varieties, and wine styles", warns Glancy. "To compete with old world imports and fully tap into growing demand for wine, we need to put educational channels in place to properly engage the industry. Competition is only getting more intense."