Chicago Wine & Sommelier School
Best for: Students looking for structured online wine education with a practical tasting focus.
Main credentials: Level One Professional Online Course and Level Three Sommelier Online Course.
Format: Online courses with tasting exercises and practical study tools.
Location: Chicago-based school with online course delivery.
Strength: Flexible course structure, practical tasting exercises, and accessible instruction.
Watch-out: Students should confirm which credentials are issued, how exams are administered, and whether any in-person components are required.
SOMM verdict: Chicago Wine & Sommelier School is a strong fit for students who want flexible online wine education with an emphasis on practical knowledge, tasting skills, and approachable instruction.
About Chicago Wine & Sommelier School
Chicago Wine & Sommelier School offers wine education for both aspiring professionals and serious enthusiasts. Its courses are designed to help students build a stronger foundation in wine theory, tasting, and practical application.
The school’s online format makes it accessible for students who need flexibility but still want a structured path through wine education.
Courses and Certifications
Chicago Wine & Sommelier School offers courses ranging from introductory professional study to more advanced sommelier training. Current programs include the Level One Professional Online Course and the Level Three Sommelier Online Course.
The curriculum is designed to deepen students’ understanding of wine while building practical tasting ability. Rather than focusing only on theory, the courses include exercises intended to help students identify aromas, evaluate wine structure, and develop more confident tasting skills.
Format and Student Experience
The school’s online format allows students to work through course material on a more flexible schedule. That makes it useful for students with work, family, or travel constraints who cannot commit to a fixed in-person class schedule.
The program also emphasizes practical learning. Tasting exercises and wine aroma kits help students connect textbook concepts to real sensory experience, which is especially important for students preparing for wine-service, tasting, or certification work.
Instruction and Student Feedback
Student feedback for Chicago Wine & Sommelier School is generally positive, especially around the teaching style and accessibility of the instruction.
One student described the program as “much better than the WSET I attended,” while another wrote, “Loved it! Team Kevin!” Those comments point to one of the school’s apparent strengths: students respond well to the instructor-led experience and the school’s more personal teaching style.
Strengths and Limitations
Chicago Wine & Sommelier School’s biggest strength is flexibility. Students can study online while still working through structured wine material and practical tasting exercises.
The school is also appealing for students who want a more approachable alternative to larger, more standardized certification bodies. Its tone appears more personal and student-centered than some traditional wine-education programs.
The main limitation is credential clarity. Students should confirm exactly which organization issues each credential, how each course is assessed, whether exams are proctored, and how the credential is recognized in the broader wine trade.
SOMM Verdict
Chicago Wine & Sommelier School is a useful option for students who want structured online wine education with practical tasting support. It is especially well suited to motivated beginners, career-changing students, and enthusiasts who want more than a casual wine class but need a flexible course format.
Students looking for a highly standardized international credential should compare this school carefully against WSET, Court of Master Sommeliers, Society of Wine Educators, and National Wine School options. Students who value instructor accessibility, flexible pacing, and practical tasting development may find Chicago Wine & Sommelier School a good fit.