Italian Wine Scholar is an extensive 2-unit specialist certification focused on the diverse wines and wine regions of Italy. The Italian Wine Scholar program is an official certification and course of study designed by the Wine Scholar Guild to provide current, accurate information on all of the wine regions of Northern, Central and Southern Italy, and to validate proficiency in the wines and wine regions of the country. Unit 1 covers Northern Italy, and Unit 2 covers Central and Southern Italy.

The units of study can be taken in any order.

Prerequisite: None. However, WSET Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits is strongly recommended, and WSET Level 3 Award in Wines is preferred. Expect to spend from 25 to 50 hours of preparation and review over the duration of each Unit outside of classroom hours.

Each unit provides detailed coverage of Italian wines, as well as an introduction to Italian history, geography, viticulture and winemaking. You will:

Develop specialist knowledge of the DOC and DOCG wines of 21 Italian regions

Appreciate the cultural context of Italian wine

Consider the vineyard and winery factors that contribute to wine styles

Taste a range of Italian wines

Each unit culminates in a 100-question multiple-choice exam. Students achieving a composite score of at least 75% for both exams will receive the IWS credential, certificate and lapel pin.

Each unit of the course includes:

Italian Wine Scholar (IWS) Study Manual and workbook

A full-year access to all IWS online resources (videos, interactive quizzes, webinars, pronunciation exercises etc.)

Exam registration fee

Tutored tasting of over 40 wines per Unit

Diverse hands-on group activities designed to enhance recall and address different learning styles

Guided review to help prepare for the multiple-choice exam

Instruction by Nancy Reynolds, Aleksandar Simic and Rose-Anne St. Jean, authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructors