Capital Wine School

Founded by Master of Wine Jay Youmans, Capital Wine School in Washington, D.C., offers professional-level wine education through WSET and Wine Scholar Guild programs. With 8-10 public classes monthly, the school covers wine regions, grape varieties, and more, providing inclusive learning opportunities for beginners and experienced wine professionals alike.

Capital Wine School Basics

Founded by Master of Wine Jay Youmans in 2008, the Capital Wine School (CWS) has become one of Washington, D.C.’s most established wine schools. Located just south of Bethesda, CWS has gained a solid reputation for friendly-but-serious, in-depth exploration of the world of wine for serious beginners to professional sommeliers.

Wine Classes

While the school focuses on certification courses, the Capital Wine School offers about 8-10 public classes each month. These classes cover wine regions, grape varieties, and specialized tastings. A few sample classes: Comparative Tasting of Riesling from Around the World; The Super 2nd Growth of Bordeaux; and Neighborhoods of Napa. A useful way to judge the health of a wine school is how many public classes it offers. On the East Coast, only the Wine School of Philadelphia offers more classes open to the public.

Sommelier Certification Courses

The Capital Wine School relies on established third-party programs, such as WSET and the Wine Scholar Guild, for its certification curriculum. The school does offer a small number of its own comprehensive courses — covering France, Italy, Spain, and the American wine business — which complement the third-party programming.

Wine Scholar Guild Programs

The Wine Scholar Guild offers solid, professionally oriented programs with a focus on France, Italy, and Spain. The classes are taught by Capital Wine School staff, with educational material supplied by the Guild.

Wine & Spirit Education Trust

CWS delivers WSET instruction through Level 4 (Diploma), which is less common among U.S. wine schools. Students and industry observers generally describe the program as more engaging than the standard WSET experience, with an emphasis on tasting and applied knowledge rather than rote exam preparation.

School Accreditation

The Capital Wine School is not accredited with the District of Columbia Board of Education, which is a common issue with WSET-affiliated schools, as WSET awards trade qualifications rather than academic credentials.

Jay Youmans, Master of Wine

Youmans commands respect within the D.C. wine community, with nearly three decades in the industry. His work spans Rock Creek Wine Merchants and the representation of Bogle Vineyards, reflecting a broad commitment to the trade. As Washington’s first Master of Wine, Youmans brings considerable depth of knowledge to his teaching, even on complex topics.

The Governor’s Cup

Youmans took over the Governor’s Cup in 2012 and has repositioned it from a regional event into one of the more prominent Virginia wine competitions nationally. What was initially created in 1982 has grown in stature over time, putting the cream of Virginia’s wineries into the spotlight.

Student Reviews

Students who have attended classes report that the CWS experience is distinctive, with classes held in a room where music from the adjacent dance studio occasionally filters in. A minority of students say the quality of instruction has declined in recent years, and some note that instructors occasionally promote brands with which they have affiliations. The majority of students, however, report positive experiences.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

In 2020, CWS began offering grants to cover fees for students of color enrolled in WSET programs — one concrete step toward making wine education more accessible and inclusive.