Northwest Wine Appellation Specialist NWAS™

Learn the scope of pacific northwest wine...

The Pacific Northwest is becoming more popular than ever for its high-quality wines and wineries and is the second-largest source of wine from North America. Many of the regions within it stand toe to toe qualitatively with California, France and other great wine regions of the world. San Francisco Wine School’s Northwest Wine Appellation Specialist NWAS™ was created by David Glancy, MS, CWE and Fred Swan, DWS. Wine Appellation is a term mostly used in relation to where wine grapes are grown and this course was created to provide the first and only in-depth, professional credential dedicated solely to this important region.

"Oregon, Washington, Idaho & BC are relative newcomers to the international wine stage with the majority of expansion and improvement coming in the last 30 years. The last 15 years has been an absolute explosion of new AVAs and GIs and world-class wines. Every day there is more to know! NWAS gives these hidden gem regions the attention they deserve." - David Glancy, MS, CWE

This 4-class series and certification exam helps students understand the diverse terroirs and wine styles of this dynamic region and features a comprehensive, up-to-date, and formal education on every wine region in Oregon, Washington, British Columbia, and Idaho.

• Understand how and why Pinot Noir varies between Willamette Valley AVAs.
• Learn Oregon’s unique wine purity and labeling laws.
• Discover the Chateauneuf-du-Pape of Oregon, the desert of British Columbia, and the unique aspects of the Columbia Valley’s climate and topography which make it ideal for red Bordeaux and Rhone varieties, and the surprising number of producers in Idaho.
• Dive into the history, current trends and details on every AVA.
• Engage in curated guided tastings for each region to enhance learning.

Why Is NWAS Important?

Washington and Oregon are the second and fourth biggest producers of wine in the United States. If British Columbia were an American state, it would be the fifth largest producer. Willamette Valley Pinot Noir is one of America’s hottest wines right now. And almost 50% of Oregon vineyards are certified sustainable. Whether you’re a consumer or in the trade, the Pacific Northwest is a region you need to know. 

$695pp* Registration Fee Includes

• 12 hours of live class with San Francisco Wine School's industry-leading instructors
• Guided tasting of 30+ wines throughout the program carefully curated by Master Sommelier David Glancy
• Tasting kit creation for online participants (delivery is available across the US for an additional fee) 
• Program Registration
• In-Person Exam Fees - online upgrade is available for additional fee
• Northwest Wine Appellation Specialist NWAS™ Manual
• Certificate upon successful completion
• San Francisco Wine School Water Bottle

*Installment plans available. Group rates available. Contact help@sfwineschool.com for more information.

Northwest Wine Appellation Specialist NWAS™ features 4 workshops and the final exam with time to study over a 6-week period. Each class within the full program can be taken as a single workshop. Click the links to learn more!

• Pacific Northwest Overviews & Southern Oregon
• Willamette Valley, Oregon
• Washington State
• Idaho and British Columbia
• NWAS credential exam 

This exam is a 1 hour, in-person written exam with 100 multiple choice and short answer questions. Online exam upgrades are available for an additional fee.  Contact us for more information.

Students who score 80% or higher will be awarded a NWAS certificate and can proudly display the initials NWAS after their name. Earning this credential will set you apart in the increasingly competitive wine industry and help you guide your customers through this complex and important region. 

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 old.