For wine students in Pennsylvania and parts of New Jersey, Celebration Wine Academy offers a focused route to internationally recognized wine credentials. Based in Doylestown, PA, with additional classes held in Hampton, NJ, this school specializes in Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses, including Levels 1 through 3 in wine and Levels 1 and 2 in spirits.
Course Offerings and Curriculum
The curriculum follows WSET’s structured pathway, which is known for its global credibility. Level 1 is designed for beginners and emphasizes foundational wine knowledge—basic styles, service, and food pairing. Level 2 expands to grape varieties and regional styles, while Level 3 is significantly more rigorous, covering vineyard factors, production techniques, and in-depth tasting analysis.
Courses are available in both in-person and online formats. The in-person option may appeal more to those who benefit from guided tastings and live instruction, while online courses offer flexibility for students balancing work or family obligations.
Instructors and Instruction Style
Instruction is led by founder Dina Given, who holds the WSET Diploma and has received distinction-level recognition in both tasting and theory. The school also includes instructors pursuing or holding advanced WSET certifications. From available information, the teaching style emphasizes structure and exam preparation, with clear alignment to WSET’s assessment standards.
This makes the academy a strong fit for those who are specifically aiming to pass WSET exams. However, students seeking more open-ended or exploratory wine discussions may find the format somewhat rigid, especially at the higher levels where the focus shifts toward theory and precision tasting.
Learning Environment
Class sizes are reportedly small, encouraging student interaction and individual feedback. Both locations—Doylestown and Hampton—serve the suburban Philadelphia and western New Jersey regions, which helps fill a gap in local wine education access for those not based in major metro centers.
The academy does not appear to offer non-certification classes, so the environment is skewed toward students pursuing credentials rather than casual learners.
Take Away
Celebration Wine Academy is a specialized school that does what it sets out to do: offer a reliable WSET education in a focused, exam-driven format. It’s a practical choice for hospitality professionals and serious enthusiasts in the region who want to earn internationally respected certifications without commuting to a major city.
While it may not offer the community or enrichment classes that some larger schools provide, it does offer flexibility, qualified instructors, and a clear path through WSET’s structured program. For students who value organization and exam readiness over exploration, it’s a program worth considering.