Italian Wine Scholar®

• Passionate wine enthusiasts and aficionados, students of wine, avid travelers and life-long learners craving deeper knowledge and expertise of Italian wine styles and regions.​
• Aspiring sommeliers seeking a leg up and competitive advantage in the industry.
• Professionals in the hospitality sector aiming to elevate their expertise with specialized knowledge.

Embark on a curated journey through Italy's revered wine regions. Benefit from:​​

• Comprehensive coverage of Italy's interational and indigenous grape varieties, appellations, viticultural and production methods, wine styles and wine legislation​

• Globally recognized certification and IWS post-nominal to use and enhance your résumé and professional profile​

• Dynamic learning through interactive modules and expert-led teaching sessions

• Complement your general wine studies with region-specific knowledge

• Become a specialist with a true working knowledge of Italy
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Navigate Italy's wine diversity like a pro. You will dive into:​

• All Italian wine appellations and the factors that shape their identities
• Geography, topography, climate and soils​
• Regional appellations, wine legislation and classifications​
• Key grape varieties and wine styles​
• Viticulture and winemaking​
• Historical, cultural and gastronomic insights​

Each unit has a minimum requirement of 75 hours of study time, including around 20 hours spent in the classroom (classroom study format) or viewing online review lectures (online study format).

The number of total hours you spend will vary greatly based on your previous wine knowledge. 

Independent Study Format:

You may register for the online Independent Study format and start at any time. Upon registration, you will receive immediate access to your online classroom and digital resources. The printed copy of your study manual will arrive in the mail in 10-14 days.  

This online format is entirely self-paced. We provide you with guidelines for success and a suggested study schedule. You can also contact your instructors and fellow classmates via the online forum at any time. 

You have 12 months to study and sit the exam for each unit. Your enrollment can be extended for a fee, if necessary.  

Educator-led Study Format:

You may register for the online Educator-led Study format and start at a set date with a cohort of students. Upon registration, you will receive immediate access to your online classroom and digital resources. The printed copy of your study manual will arrive in the mail in 10-14 days.  

This format also includes live review sessions with your instructors, offered at 12:00 noon EST once every month. The review webinars are on-demand and can be viewed and rewatched at any time. You can also contact your instructors and fellow classmates via the online forum at any time. 

You have 12 months to study and sit the exam for each unit. Your enrollment can be extended for a fee, if necessary.  

No. Unit 1 (Northern Italy) and Unit 2 (Central & Southern Italy) can be studied in any order.

Whether taken online or in the classroom, both Unit 1 and Unit 2 include a 100-point multiple-choice exam. The scores from both exams are added together and averaged for final assessment. Passing score is 75.

Candidates scoring 85-90 pass with "Honors". Candidates scoring 91-100 pass with "Highest Honors". 

There is no wine tasting component to the exam.

Have more questions? Check out our Exams FAQ for more. 

For online format students: you have up to one year from your date of registration to sit the exam. When ready to sit the exam, contact us at least one week in advance of the desired exam date here and we will schedule your test.

You will need a computer with reliable internet connection, a webcam, working microphone and speaker. The exam cannot be taken from a tablet, mobile phone or Chromebook.

If you are studying at an Approved Program Provider, your exam date will be communicated to you in advance. For classroom students, you must take the paper exam in person. 

Successful candidates will be able to:

• Accurately identify and summarize the major wine regions of Italy​
• Describe the characteristics of grapes and wine styles from each region​
• Understand the influence of climate, geography, topography and terroir on Italian wines​
• Understand the influence of viticultural and winemaking practices on Italian wines​
• Understand the influence and significance of history and culture on the evolution of Italian wines
  
• Speak intelligently and with authority about Italian wines with family, friends and professional contacts

Upon successful completion of the exam, you will receive your coveted Italian Wine Scholar Certificate, lapel pin, and will be authorized to use the FWS post-nominal on your résumé, professional platforms and correspondence. ​Example:

Patricia Swanson, IWS

You will learn from the most notable names in the industry—seasoned wine professionals and educators accredited by the Wine Scholar Guild.​​