Certified Sherry Wine Specialist®
The most comprehensive certification course on sherry wines.
284 global graduates
See below for all course dates
2 live classes
Online study
$129
Course overview
Created by The House of Lustau, with the support of the Sherry Regulatory Council, the Certified Sherry Wine Specialist (CSWS®) program is the most comprehensive certification course on sherry wines.
Guided by the industry's foremost authorities, featuring an exceptional level of depth, accuracy, and academic rigor, the CSWS® program allows you to immerse yourself in the captivating world of sherry wines.
Upon successful completion of the program, you'll obtain the prestigious Certified Sherry Wine Specialist certification, awarded by Lustau's CEO and César Saldaña, President of the Sherry Regulatory Council. This achievement sets you apart as a recognized expert in the world of sherry wines, enhancing your career prospects and industry reputation.
Upcoming Course Dates
The CSWS® program takes place over 2 two-hour online classes. Class 1 includes theory and discussion and class 2 includes the tasting & exam.
Show course times in:
Theory: December 16
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Tasting + Exam: December 20 at
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Theory: January 13
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Tasting + Exam: January 17 at
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Theory: February 10
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Tasting + Exam: February 14 at
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Theory: March 10
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Tasting + Exam: March 14 at
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Theory: April 7
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Tasting + Exam: April 11 at
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How It Works
Become a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist in four easy steps!
Step 1
Register for the course of your choice.
Select the session that fits your busy schedule. We offer classes monthly and accommodate students across different time zones.
Note: please make sure you have access to all the required wines before registering for the course. See below.
Step 2
Order your sherry box.
What's better than live tasting with your educator? Get your six Lustau sherry wines prior to the class.
Note: the cost of the sherry box and shipping is additional to the course registration fee. Find out more about the wine kit below.
Step 3
Join the two online classes and take the exam.
Connect with your educator and classmates online for two live classes. Take your exam at the end of the second class.
Step 4
Become a Certified Sherry Wine Specialist upon receiving a passing score.
Successful students earn the prestigious CSWS® post-nominal.
For those who do not meet the passing requirements, you will have the option to re-sit the exam for an additional fee of $25.
Study with Confidence
98% of the students would recommend this program.
Get Certified
Use the CSWS post-nominal upon passing the exam.
Join the Sherry Community
Get access to the global CSWS Alumni community.
What's Included
The course includes engaging live webinars with Lucas Payá, live tastings of Lustau sherry wines, an interactive CSWS® digital study guide and downloadable supplementary materials. Each component is thoughtfully designed to cultivate a deep knowledge of the Jerez region.
Two Live Classes with Lucas Payá, Sommelier and Sherry Educator
The program consists of two online classes, each of which includes approximately 2 hours of instruction on the history of the sherry region, DO’s identity, viticulture, winemaking, aging and diversity in the region. Students will also learn about food pairings and the best ways to serve sherry.
Tasting of 6 Lustau Sherry Wines
A live, tutored tasting is included in the second class session. You will taste six Lustau wines, showing the classic styles of sherry: fino, manzanilla, amontillado, palo cortado, oloroso and pedro ximénez. Wines must be purchased separately.
CSWS® Digital Study Guide
The CSWS® study guide, available in digital format, was created to make the learning process comfortable and interactive. It has been designed with rich imagery, videos, maps and infographics. Each chapter is designed for maximum content retention and utilizes an interactive approach.
Downloadable Materials
These supplemental materials include maps, infographics, practical guides, pronunciation exercises and a quick guide with tips and suggestions.
CSWS Exam & Certificate
The exam includes 50 questions. The award of Certified Sherry Wine Specialist will be given to those with a passing score of 75%. This Certificate of Achievement will be signed by both Lustau’s CEO and César Saldaña, President of the Regulatory Council of Jerez.
Individuals who successfully pass the exam will earn the CSWS® title and CSWS® post-nominal which may be incorporated into a professional signature (e.g. John Smith, CSWS).
Personalized Online Concierge Service with Lucas Payá
After completion of the course, students will receive complimentary one-year access to the exclusive The House of Lustau Concierge Service. You will have the opportunity to discuss ways to enhance culinary experiences with sherry wines.
The highest exam scorers from the CSWS® course will have an opportunity to apply for an honorary seat (2 seats total available per year) on the Sherry Educator Course that takes place in Jerez, Spain.
Get Your Sherry!
This course requires the purchase of the Lustau Mixed Case six-pack. These wines are mandatory for the online tasting and exam. Please note, this specially curated kit is not available in all markets. See the FAQ below if you don't see your country or province listed.
The CSWS® education program is designed to illustrate the diversity and versatility of sherry wines. The wines have been selected by Wine Scholar Guild and The House of Lustau educator, Lucas Payà, to enable students to understand the wide variety of sherry styles. The box is the perfect format to bring the experience alive, even after the course. The pack includes six 375ml bottles of Lustau sherry wines, including:
Bright pale straw color with greenish reflections. This is the style of Fino made in Jerez de la Frontera: fresh, full of notes almonds and bread dough notes. Dry and crisp.
🇺🇸 United States
🇨🇦 British Columbia, Canada
🇬🇧 United Kingdom
You can register for the course if you are able to source these six wines in retail stores near you.
If it is the case, please contact the CSWS Administrative Team at csws@lustau.es to make sure your registration will be valid for the exam.
Please read FAQ section for more information. It is our intention to expand the program to additional countries shortly.
Meet your educator
LUCAS PAYÀ
THE HOUSE OF LUSTAU EDUCATOR AND WORLD-CLASS SOMMELIER.
Lucas is an independent consultant and brand ambassador working in collaboration with several world-class firms dedicated to wine, beverage, and the culinary arts.
In 2002, Lucas joined elBulli restaurant to lead the sommelier team under the direction and leadership of acclaimed chef Ferran Adrià and partner Juli Soler, both of whom dramatically shaped his understanding of artistry in gastronomy, wine and service. His experience at elBulli was the perfect transition to his time as Wine & Beverage Director for José Andrés, ThinkFoodGroup (TFG), where he oversaw the wine and beverage programs for all fifteen TFG restaurants in the US and internationally. Over the two years following the end of his work with TFG, Lucas spearheaded the launch of Coravin in Spain.
In 2016, Lucas was appointed as House of Lustau U.S. National Brand Educator to create the Certified Sherry Wine Specialist (CSWS®) program in conjunction with the Sherry Regulatory Council. Since 2017, the CSWS® courses have educated more than 4,000 people worldwide. Lucas has been instrumental in educating both consumers and the trade on the versatility of the sherry wines and Lustau’s full range of premium wines.
Lucas holds the Level 4 Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Spanish Wine Scholar. He is also a member of the prestigious L’Ordre des Coteaux de Champagne and is a Certified Sherry Educator.
Frequently Asked Questions
A period of two week study time is recommended to set you up for success (or around 30 hours of study if you are new to sherry wines). The study guide has 133 pages of written content, and it can take around 8.5 hours to view all additional online materials including podcasts, videos, recipes, pronunciation, virtual maps and exercises.
Have a different question? Feel free to contact us.