There are a number of options available for wine education that provides a certificate. These are available for those professionals in the wine business and consumers who want to learn more. And I’m sure I have left off a few additional options.
- Wine and Spirit Education Trust
- Master of Wine
- Court of Master Sommeliers
- International Sommelier Group
- Society of Wine Educators
- Wine Spectator School Online
- Windows on the World Wine School
It looks like later this year or next year there is another new program coming online the Robert Parker/Kevin Zraly Wine Certificate program with three levels. With the final level exam involving a meeting with Parker and Zraly. The best description of the program:
The highest level is intended to provide a realistic alternative to other well-known wine certifications. Reaching that top level will challenge all wine experts.
I’m not sure how I feel about yet another wine education program starting. I support as much education in wine as possible, but I’m concerned the options are becoming to great and some of the options (including current options) are more interested in collecting money and giving certificates than making sure people actually learn something.
The new Parker/Zraly program makes me wonder what will happen to Windows on the World, which after all, is based on Zraly’s work as well.