Commonwealth Wine School

The Commonwealth Wine School (CWS) opened in early 2020 in Cambridge, Massachusetts, making it one of the newer entrants in the New England wine education scene. Since then, the school has established a credible presence in the Boston market, anchored by a well-located physical space and a curriculum aligned with third-party certification bodies.

Commonwealth Wine School Location

CWS operates out of the Garage at Harvard Square. It is an unconventional location for a wine school, and the school leans into that identity, describing itself as a “funky” environment where serious study and a good time coexist. For students who find traditional wine education stiff or intimidating, the atmosphere may be appealing. Those expecting a more formal educational environment may need to adjust expectations.

Founder and Leadership

Jessica Sculley founded the school after a career as a math and science teacher. She began her wine studies in earnest around 2017, earning the WSET Level 4 Diploma before transitioning into wine education full-time. She also served as a wine educator at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education and worked with Grape Experience prior to launching CWS. She holds the Certified Bordeaux Educator designation and the title of Italian Wine Ambassador, and currently serves as Board President of the Harvard Square Business Association.

Sculley’s teaching background is an asset, but at odds with most WSET schools:  Her approach to wine education is explicitly structured around active learning rather than rote memorization. Her wine industry experience is relatively limited; however, students seeking instruction from educators with deep professional wine careers should review individual instructors’ credentials carefully.

The Grape Experience Partnership

In 2021, CWS absorbed the East Coast WSET operations of Grape Experience, a San Francisco-based wine school founded by Adam Chase in 2005. Chase, who holds a WSET Honors Diploma, an MBA from Harvard, and a BA from Brown, was named WSET Educator of the Year in 2012. He now serves as WSET Director at CWS while continuing to operate Grape Experience independently on the West Coast.

The partnership meaningfully strengthens the school’s  WSET footprint. Chase brings 20-plus years of wine education experience and an established student network to the Boston operation. 

Curriculum and Certifications

CWS is an Approved Program Provider for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the Wine Scholar Guild, and the Society of Wine Educators. It offers WSET Levels 1 through 4 in Wines, Spirits, and Sake, along with Wine Scholar Guild programs covering France, Italy, and Spain. Single-session tasting classes, private events, corporate programs, and wine travel round out the offerings.

Wine School Faculty

Beyond Sculley and Chase, the teaching roster includes Roz Angoff, a former software marketing professional who transitioned into wine education after 2004 and has studied extensively in both the U.S. and Europe, and Noell Dorsey, a certified wine professional and cellar manager at Skinner Auction & Appraisers with an Italian Wine Ambassador designation. Jo-Ann Ross has also been recognized in trade press for her instructional work at the school.

Reputation and Reviews

CWS has been mentions by the Boston Globe and maintains a positive, if limited, public review record. Students who have taken their online sommelier classes have praised the instructors’ communication skills and subject knowledge. Plus, the school’s social media presence is active, and its Harvard Square location gives it strong foot traffic and community visibility.