About the National Wine School

National Wine School (NWS) is a U.S. wine education and certification organization founded in 2012 by Keith Wallace. Headquartered in Shelburne, Vermont, NWS offers self-paced online wine courses and sommelier certification, from Level One through Advanced study. We also develop curriculum and examination tools for licensed wine educators and partner schools.

Curriculum and Certification for Wine Educators

Our programs are designed for wine educators and partner schools. We provide curriculum, online examinations, student records, and credential verification to support wine education in the classroom and online.

The National Wine School provides professional sommelier certification programs and accreditation for the wine trade. We offer credentials for sommeliers, winemakers, and the entire industry.

Info Box



Sommelier Certification Levels
We offer five sommelier credential levels, from Level One to Level Five. To earn your Sommelier Pin, you must complete the Level 3 certification. We award the Advanced Sommelier Pin upon completing the Level 4 certification.

Online & In-Person Sommelier Programs
We offer two types of wine programs. Our asynchronous online classes let students learn at their own pace and are available for purchase by anyone. Our in-person programs are held at colleges and universities across the United States and at a select number of regional wine schools.

From Winemaking to Sommelier Certifications
From Winemaking to Sommelier Certifications

Join the Wine Trade

The National Wine School offers online sommelier certification programs in partnership with top wine schools and universities worldwide. Our programs range from Level One certification to Master-Level Sommelier certifications, as well as winemaking and beer brewing certifications.

There are two ways to attend a wine course. First, you can register for a sommelier program at your local wine school or community college. Just ask if they offer NWS certification. Local schools can provide in-class, online, and hybrid programs using our curriculum.

The second option is to enroll directly through our website. These programs are entirely online and do not include an in-class component.

We recommend starting with the Level 1 sommelier certification.

Level One Sommelier

An Education Partner of the American Wine Society


Our Education Policy

We believe that wine education and certification should uphold the same professionalism and high standards as those in colleges and universities across America. Our industry must move beyond the unregulated realm of “industry certification” and achieve national accreditation.

Our Core Values

The National Wine School is founded on principles of excellence and diversity. Since 2012, we have welcomed students from all walks of life and socio-economic backgrounds, committed to fostering diversity and acceptance.

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