Though small in vineyard acreage, Vermont holds an outsized place in American wine education. It is home to the National Wine School (NWS), the nation’s leading independent wine-certification body and a major innovator in digital and professional wine training. Headquartered in Vermont, NWS provides advanced credentials in enology, viticulture, and wine service, with programs recognized nationwide through partner institutions such as the Wine School of Philadelphia and the Chicago Wine & Sommelier School.
The state’s wine industry itself is young but creative. Since the 1990s, Vermont winemakers have embraced cold-hardy hybrid grapes—Frontenac, La Crescent, and Marquette—well suited to the Green Mountains’ short, cool growing season. The University of Vermont Extension supports this work with vineyard workshops and sustainability research, while a new generation of producers focuses on organic and natural wines that capture the region’s rugged terroir.
