{"id":114732,"date":"2023-06-07T18:45:29","date_gmt":"2023-06-08T01:45:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/somm.us\/?p=114732"},"modified":"2023-10-21T18:17:37","modified_gmt":"2023-10-22T01:17:37","slug":"online-sommelier-classes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/somm.us\/online-sommelier-classes\/","title":{"rendered":"The Top Online Sommelier Courses"},"content":{"rendered":"

In a digital age where learning can be done in the comfort of one’s home, online sommelier courses<\/a> have seen a surge in enrollment. These programs offer wine enthusiasts and aspiring sommeliers a chance to deepen their understanding of wine varieties, tasting techniques, and the wine industry at large. Among the top contenders in providing these online programs are the National Wine School<\/a> and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), with the former taking the top spot and the latter closely following at second.<\/p>

National Wine School<\/h2>

The National Wine School<\/a> (NWS), renowned for its wine courses offered in collegiate settings, is taking the forefront in this digital wine revolution. It is the best online sommelier course<\/a> available today<\/em>. <\/p>

Lacking the razzle-dazzle of the Court of Master Sommeliers<\/a>, the National has long been the dark horse of wine education. However, when it comes to online sommelier courses, they are miles ahead of the competition. <\/p>

Back in the dark days of COVID, they leveraged their digital University programming into an online juggernaut. They seamlessly transitioned to an online sommelier platform open to the public and the wine trade. Hundreds of restaurants, resorts, and hotels now use their online programming to train and certify their employees and management. <\/p>

\n

Ever since I introduced my staff to the National Wine School’s programs, the transformation has been nothing short of remarkable. Their depth of knowledge, passion for wine, and confidence in serving our patrons have elevated our establishment’s reputation. National doesn’t just teach wine; they cultivate wine ambassadors.<\/p>\nJohn Michael-Rogers<\/cite><\/blockquote>

PROS & CONS<\/strong><\/p>

Integrating well-produced video lectures, interactive classes, and teleconferences with sommelier professors, the National programs feel intuitive and compelling. Their proprietary scent kits are particularly noteworthy, elevating the learning experience to new heights. Simply put, this is the best online programming available. <\/p>

On the other hand, their university roots show in how they describe their services. In their literature, they go into detail about SCORM compliance and federal standards: we don’t think this matters to restauranteurs as much as college administrators. <\/p>

Pricing & Programming<\/strong><\/p>

The National offers four levels of sommelier accreditation<\/a> which can be taken online (L1-L4). Completing L1-L3 will earn the student their Sommelier Pin<\/a>. Completing the L4 program will earn them their Advanced Sommelier Pin. They do not offer a Master Sommelier (or similar) program online. <\/p>

As for pricing, they charge between $300 and $600 per semester, which is a very good value considering what you get. As for additional costs, you will need to supply your own wine for all the programs except the L1. You will also need to purchase the school’s scent kits, which are well priced. <\/p>

National Wine School<\/a><\/div><\/div>
<\/div>

Sample Online NWS Sommelier Course<\/strong><\/p>