Spanish Wine Scholar™ Program, designed by Wine Scholar Guild

The Spanish Wine Scholar™ certification program was created by Wine Scholar Guild's Spanish wine specialist, Rick Fisher, and designed to provide the most advanced and comprehensive specialization study program on Spanish wine bar none!

Launched in Fall of 2019, this Spanish Wine Scholar™ course mirrors the unparalleled level of depth, accuracy, detail and academic challenge offered by the acclaimed French Wine Scholar™ and Italian Wine Scholar™ programs.

Recognizing its exceptional depth and breadth, Wines from Spain (ICEX - Spain's Trade & Investment Government Agency) has proudly endorsed this important program.  

Set yourself apart from your peers. Specialize in the wines of Spain!

Beginner Students should consider taking Intro to Spanish Wines or Wines of Spain, Portugal and Greece before attempting the more rigorous Spanish Wine Scholar certification program. 

$1,395pp* Registration Fee Includes

• 21 hours of live instruction with San Francisco Wine School's Industry Leading Instructors
• Tasting of 40+ Spanish wines carefully curated by Master Sommelier David Glancy
• Official 315-page, full-color Spanish Wine Scholar study manual
• 1-year access to the Spanish Wine Scholar online study program for class preparation and review
• SWS in-person exam fees
• SWS pin and certificate upon successful completion of complete program
• 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

Spanish Wine Scholar consists of 7 three-hour classes plus an in-person exam covering the following areas. The first class within the full certification program is available as an à la carte individual class. This is a great way to preview the program. If you decide to continue, your class fee will be credited towards the full program tuition. Click on the link to learn more about that class and sign up!

The Spanish Wine Scholar™ certification program presents the different Spanish wine regions as an integrated whole by explaining the impact of history, the significance of geological events, the importance of topographical markers and the influence of climatic factors on the wine in the glass. No topic is discussed in isolation in order to give students a working knowledge of the material at hand.

Class 1: Chapters One & Four: Spanish Wine Fundamentals & La Rioja

In the first class, we will talk about how tradition and innovation play first fiddle in this historic wine producing country. Learn about the new wave winemakers and stanch traditionalists that color these diverse regions. So much has changed in Spanish wine in the recent years.

*In order for Spanish Wine Scholar candidates to study the wine regions of Spain from a position of strength, Chapter One covers Spanish wine history, wine laws, geography, climate, grape varieties, viticulture and winemaking in depth. It merits reading thoroughly, even by advanced students of wine, as much has changed, especially with regard to wine law and the new research on grape vine origins.

Class 2: Wines of Duero, Galicia, & Green Spain

Explore Spain's Castilla y León region, where dramatic climate and elevation shape world-class, powerful wines like Ribera del Duero, Rueda, and Toro. And explore Green Spain's coastal regions, where crisp Albariño, elegant Godello, and vibrant Mencía showcase a fresh side of Spanish winemaking.

Class 3: Wines of Navarra, Aragon, La Mancha, & Madrid

Dive into the rich history, laws, and grapes of Spanish wine before exploring Navarra, Aragon, La Mancha, and Madrid to discover globe-trotting grapes like Garnacha, Cariñena, Monastrell, and the world's largest vineyard region now redefining Spanish wine with bold, single-estate expressions.

Navarre and Aragon are two historically significant, geographically diverse, and autonomous communities in northern Spain. From the rugged foothills of the Pyrenees to the Ebro River the diversity of wines is as varied as the terrain.

Class 4: Wines of Barcelona, Cataluña, & Valencia

Discover Cataluña, the birthplace of Cava and wine innovation, where local grapes, sparkling traditions, and breathtaking "wine cathedrals" celebrate the region's fusion of artistry and winemaking. Then journey through Spain's Central Mediterranean Coast to discover globe-trotting grapes like Monastrell and Bobal, & the birthplace of paella.

Class 5: Wines of the Central Mediterranean & The Islands

Explore Spain's South-Central Mediterranean Coast, home of globe-trotting grapes like Monastrell and Bobal. Then we dive into the lesser-known wines of the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands.

Class 6: Wines of the Sherry, Andalucia, & Extremadura

Explore the soul of Andalucía through its iconic Sherry wines—shaped by sun, sea, and solera—then journey to Spain's island outposts, where unique grapes and ingenious vine-growing traditions craft wines as distinctive as the landscapes themselves.

Class 7: Review & Wines of Vino de Pago

This is not a class per se, but rather, a review of the entire Spanish Wine Scholar program. It is a great recap of what is learned in the 6 prior classes but is not sufficient on its own to pass the rigorous SWS exam.

The Spanish Wine Scholar exam is one hour long and consists of a 100 multiple choice questions.  The exam must be taken in person at San Francisco Wine School.  

The Spanish Wine Scholar title and SWS post-nominal will be conferred to those individuals who achieve a score of 75 or higher.  Candidates scoring 85-90 pass with “Honors”. Candidates scoring 91-100 pass with “Highest Honors”.

This SWS certification provides a validation of your Spanish wine expertise and enhances your resume; it also serves as a point of distinction within the wine trade.

The curriculum and teaching materials for the Spanish Wine Scholar Program are the same regardless of whether you study in California or Calgary. Our curated tasting exercises and industry leading instructors will make the difference in your learning experience. 

All attendees must be 21+ years old. This certification program is designed for intermediate and advanced students. Those who want to strengthen their foundational knowledge of Spanish wine before attempting this certification are encouraged to take one of our beginner level programs and / or Intro to Spanish Wines