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INTERVIEW: Géraldine Gossot from Université du Vin (Suze la Rousse, France)

Meet Géraldine Gossot, Director of l'Université du Vin in Suze la Rousse, new French Wine Scholar® program provider in France! The first FWS session at l'Université du Vin is scheduled to begin December 2nd 2019, more information and registration HERE L'Université du Vin is one of the oldest wine...
photo credit: John Jefford

Get to know WSG Academic Advisor Andrew Jefford a bit better

WSG Academic Advisor Andrew Jefford was recently interviewed by Gavin Smith for the blog of wine merchant Fine+Rare. Words from Andrew on this thought-provoking interview: "I asked him to leave out the softballs, as 'polite' or 'respectful' interviews are tedious. He didn't actually lay into me...
Ms Morning Star Darling is pictured in front of iconic Castello della Sala in the Orvieto wine growing region (photo credit: Massimiliano Pasolini, vineyard manager, and winemaker at Castello della Sala)

WSG instructor Tanya Morning Star becomes Ambassador of Orvieto Wines

The Wine Scholar Guild would like to announce that their own Tanya Morning Star (WSG program provider in the Seattle area through her school Cellar Muse) has embarked on an exciting project with the Consorzio of Orvieto DOC, with an aim to bring awareness to a historical wine region, it’s...
Valpolicella vineyards in Mezzane di Sotto (photo credits: Jesse Filipi)

Why Valpolicella and Valpolicella Superiore are Poised for a Comeback

The wines of Valpolicella dance across the tongue with the same lift and loveliness as the name itself. Ideal with humble pastas as well as lighter red meats and game birds, it is well-suited to the table. As the more modest bottling of the Valpolicella region, it is largely (and unfairly)...

INTERVIEW: Jörg Philipp from Degustar (Stuttgart, Germany)

Meet Jörg Philipp, founder of Degustar in Stuttgart, first wine school to offer our brand new Spanish Wine Scholar® program in Germany! Your company, Degustar, is based in Stuttgart, Germany but you also work in Shanghai, China. Can you please summarize all the activities offered by Degustar in...

The 2018 Vintage in France, by Andrew Jefford

Andrew Jefford, award-winning author and columnist in every issue of Decanter and World of Fine Wine, Co-Chair Decanter World Wine Awards; Vice-Chair Decanter Asia Wine Awards as well as Wine Scholar Guild Academic Advisor, gives us his insight about the 2018 vintage in France. As October 2018 got...

What's new with Italian wine DOCs and DOCGs

Learning Italian wine inside and out can be a thrilling experience, but it can also be confounding. The wrinkles in Italian wine law are numerous, and staying on top of the latest modifications to DOC and DOCG regulations can feel as time consuming as the slow train from Naples to Sorrento....

Wine meets food: Pairing the plate

The best thing about studying wine is the moments that call into question every “truth” you think you know. These are the tiny lightbulbs that impel questions to be asked, that engender reflection and that ultimately serve as the springboard to a deeper understanding of wine. It is often the...

10 fabulous facts about Loire Valley wines

The Loire Valley is one of France’s most dynamic wine regions. For every famous, household-name wine (such as Sancerre), there is at least two lesser known wines just waiting to be discovered! The Loire has it all: dry and sweet, still and sparkling, white and red. It has so much to offer… Did you...

INTERVIEW: Rebecca Christophersen from Italian Wine Institute (Florence, Italy)

Meet Rebecca Christophersen, founder of the Italian Wine Institute in Florence, first wine school to offer the Italian Wine Scholar® program in Italy! Their first IWS session is scheduled to begin March 3rd 2020 (Unit 1), more information and registration HERE. Could you give us a bit of...

Discover our newest study & certification program

After nearly two years of hard work, we are thrilled to present the Wine Scholar Guild’s latest certification course… The Spanish Wine Scholar® (SWS) Program! The program officially launches in October of 2019, but it is already garnering significant attention around the globe.

Spanish Wine Scholar® program endorsed by Wines from Spain

Spanish Wine Scholar® launches in October 2019 and we are excited to announce the program has been endorsed by Wines from Spain, the public face of ICEX Spain Trade & Investment government agency.

INTERVIEW: Jeni Wilson from Vintage Class (Aranda de Duero, Spain)

Meet Jeni Wilson, founder of Vintage Class in Aranda de Duero, first wine school to launch the French Wine Scholar® in Spain! Their first FWS is scheduled to begin January 22th 2020, more information and registration HERE. Vintage Class will also offer the Spanish Wine Scholar® in 2020! Could you...

Wine meets food: Tomatoes and Sauvignon Blanc

The best thing about studying wine is the moments that call into question every “truth” you think you know. These are the tiny lightbulbs that impel questions to be asked, that engender reflection and that ultimately serve as the springboard to a deeper understanding of wine. It is often the...

Best restaurants for your Bourgogne wine tour

Burgundy is a very dynamic region in a constant state of flux. On one hand it’s a region deeply rooted in tradition. Just take a look at the Fête de la Saint-Vincent tournante – a festival celebrating the patron saint of winemakers – and you clearly see that this is a region with one foot in the...

The Wines of Irpinia - Contemporary Excellence from an Ancient Territory

I returned to Campania recently for the first time in three years and as with most Italian regions, discovered that not much had changed, at least as far as appearances are concerned. I did meet a few producers I hadn’t visited before, with one of them – Petilia – being a great new discovery for...

PODCAST: Pascaline Lepeltier MS on the Loire, MOF, Pet-Nats & so much more!

Master Sommelier Pascaline Lepeltier is the first and only woman awarded both the Meilleur Ouvrier de France in the sommelier category, and the best sommelier in France. In this episode of the Wine Scholar Guild podcast she talks about the honor of winning MOF competition, Pét-Nats, wine making,...

INTERVIEW: Gina Marano from Wine Academy of Las Vegas

Meet Gina Marano, founder of Wine Academy of Las Vegas, our new program provider in Las Vegas! Their first French Wine Scholar and Italian Wine Scholar sessions are scheduled to begin in September, more information and registration HERE. Could you give us a bit of background on your personal...

INTERVIEW: Christophe Mercier from Wine & Spirit IQ (Bangkok, Thailand)

Meet Christophe Mercier, founder of Wine & Spirit IQ in Bangkok, first wine school to launch the French Wine Scholar and Italian Wine Scholar programs in Thailand! Their first FWS and IWS sessions are scheduled to begin September 3 (FWS), August 17 (IWS Unit 1) and January 4 (IWS Unit 2), more...

FREE: Webinar recording with Steven Spurrier and Andrew Jefford

Consultant editor for Decanter and mastermind behind the Judgement of Paris, Steven speaks with Andrew Jefford and WSG members to wine writing, both past and present, and unveils his new “Académie du Vin Library” initiative—a publishing entity that updates and revives the out-of-print classics as...