Registration now open for fall courses
Napa, CA, September 20, 2017 – Wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts can now study for the coveted Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits through the Napa Valley Wine Academy at its Napa, California headquarters.
“We are extremely thrilled to be able to offer the Diploma program to our students,” says Napa Valley Wine Academy Director of Education Catherine Bugué. “We’ve had incredible interest in the program from students who want to continue in their education following the Level 3 Award in Wines, and wish to have the support of the Academy’s interactive and engaging teaching philosophies throughout their Diploma journey.”
WSET is the largest global provider of wines and spirits qualifications, recognized industry-wide across the world. Demand for wine and spirits education is rising, with WSET global candidate numbers up 48% over the previous year. WSET courses are offered in over 70 countries, and the United States has the second highest number of diploma students after the United Kingdom.
Napa Valley Wine Academy was named WSET Global Educator of the Year in a London ceremony in January of this year, and has been offering WSET courses since 2012, with qualifications starting at the foundational Level 1 Award in Wine; the Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits; and the Level 3 Award in Wines. The Academy also offers WSET Level 1 and Level 3 Awards in Sake, and WSET Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Spirits.
“Educators for the diploma program will include a who’s who of the wine industry, including the Academy’s strong roster of Masters of Wine instructors and DipWSET holders as well as international experts who can take students through their particular areas of expertise,” says Academy CEO Christian Oggenfuss.
The Diploma is WSET’s flagship qualification, held by just over 9,000 people worldwide. The course provides expert level knowledge and understanding of wines and spirits, from wine and spirits production and wine regions and styles, to the global trade in wines and spirits. The program requires 600 study hours typically taken over two years and successful candidates receive a WSET certificate and lapel pin and are able to use the certificate-reference DipWSET. They will also be invited to attend the annual Awards and Graduation ceremony in January at London’s Guildhall along with other successful students from around the world. The Diploma is universally viewed as the stepping stone to the Master of Wine qualification.
Six Masters of Wine Educators at the Academy
Six Masters of Wine currently instruct and host classes and webinars at the Napa Valley Wine Academy: Peter Marks, Christy Canterbury, Mary Margaret McCamic, Matt Deller, Tim Hanni and Nova Cadamatre.
ABOUT THE NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY
The Napa Valley Wine Academy offers courses in several of America’s best-known wine markets: Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, California and at Bern’s Epicurean Hotel in Tampa, Florida in addition to locations in Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, Nevada (Las Vegas) and Orlando, Florida.
The Academy headquarters are at 2501 Oak Street, Napa, CA, 94559.
Wine classes include those for enthusiasts such as Wine 101 as well as numerous certification courses for beginners as well as advanced students. The Academy is an Approved Program Provider with The Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London and a private school member of the Society of Wine Educators. We offer the International Wine Professional, American Wine Expert, French Wine Society and SommDay tasting and service sommelier classes with Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser, among numerous other classes.
