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Why just drink wine when you can really know wine?

wine glassCertified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Training Course

Society of Wine EducatorsIntensive certification training for people working in, or thinking of working in, the food and beverage industry… and for super-enthusiastic students of wine. Exam and Certification are issued by the Society of Wine Educators.

9 Tuesdays:  Feb. 28; Mar. 6, 13, 27; Ap.17, 24; May 1, 15; exam June 5
Time: 7:00 - 10:00 PM
Tuition:  
$995
$945 for those working in the food and beverage industry.
Location: Grapes the Wine Company (2nd floor meeting room)
731 North Broadway, White Plains, NY10603

Current courses
The World of Wine
Italian Wines 101
Wines of France
Wine Certification Course
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Courses available upon request
Legendary Wineries and their Wines
Advanced Wine Adventures
Classic Wine Regions of the World
The FAB FOUR – Whites
The FAB FOUR - Reds
The Best of the Rhone
1976 Judgment of Paris
Pairing Wine and Food
Premium Wines
Saturday Workshops: Wine 101 and Wine 102
The Best of the USA
Wine A to Z
Wines of the Rising Stars
Wines of the S. Hemisphere
A European Wine River Tour
The Basics of Wine Tasting and Selection
Your Summer Wine Start-up Kit

Course Summary

The CSW credential signifies a mastery of the core principles and fundamentals of wine and is recognized world wide within the wine industry. The course is for current and future wine industry employees seeking,

The Course prepares participants for the CSW Exam, given under the auspices of the Society of Wine Educators, the premier professional U.S. wine society to provide knowledge-based wine exams and certifications. The exam covers core principles and fundamentals of wine including viticulture, vinification, grape varieties, wine regions, labeling laws, wine tasting and faults. Passing the exam qualifies one as a Certified Specialist of Wine.
The CSW Course includes 24 hours of instruction as well as a 250 page CSW Study Guide, practice quizzes for each chapter, and the Final Exam.

Course Description:

Society of Wine EducatorsThe Westchester Wine School’s Certified Specialist of Wine Course is a training course that prepares participants for the Certified Specialist of Wine Exam, given by the Westchester Wine School under the auspices of the Society of Wine Educators. The Society of Wine Educators is the premier professional U.S. wine society to provide knowledge-based wine exams and certifications. Passing the exam qualifies one as a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW).

The CSW exam was designed for the wine industry by a team of industry wine educators working with the Society of Wine Educators. The exam covers core principles and fundamentals of wine required to work within the industry including viticulture, vinification, grape varieties, wine regions, labeling laws, wine tasting and faults.

The CSW credential signifies a mastery of the core principles and fundamentals of wine and is recognized world wide within the wine industry.  

The Certified Specialist of Wine Course includes:

          Topics covered include,
                   Viticulture
                             1. The Vine, its Growth Cycle & Metabolic Processes
                             2. Canopy Management
                             3. The Role of the Soil
                             4. Vine Diseases & Viticultural Practices
                   Grape Varieties
                             1. Principal Red and White Varieties of the World
                   Wine Production
                             1. Table Wine
                             2. Sparkling Wine
                             3. Fortified Wine
                   Wine Regions (Australia, France, Italy, Spain, New Zealand,
                                      Germany/Austria, Chile, Argentina, South Africa, Portugal, USA)
                             1. Label Laws
                             2. Quality Levels
                             3. Geography
                             4. Grapes and Wines
                   Wine Appreciation
                             1. Wine Composition and Chemistry
                             2. Wine Tasting and Faults
                             3. The Physiology of Taste
                   Other Topics
                             1. Wine & Health
                             2. Professional Etiquette
                             3. Tips on wine service and wine storage
                             4. Measurements used within the industry with conversions

The Certified Specialist of Wine Study Guide presents the core fundamentals with which all wine professionals should be familiar. Information is presented in a comprehensive, practical format and is designed to help participants gain a greater understanding of the often complex world of wine. Topics covered are listed above under “24 hours of instruction”.

The guide is designed for self-paced, self-study and each unit includes a set of review questions to help candidates gauge their comprehension of certain key subject areas. The study guide also includes a complete set of color maps.

The exam consists of 100 multiple-choice questions to be answered in a 60 minute period. A passing score is 75% or above. Certificates will be issued to those who passed and you will be encouraged to use the initials of your new title, CSW, after your name. The exam will be proctored by your instructor and sent to the Society of Wine Educators for marking.

 

Who is the CSW Course for?

 

Benefits of the CSW Certification
For Wine Enthusiasts:

For Wine Industry Employees:

Check out what a Sommelier and a major distributor's executive have to say about the Benefits of the CSW Certification

 

Who is Your Instructor?

Ned Towle, CSW, CWE, has been qualified by the Society of Wine Educators  as a Certified Specialist of Wine and a Certified Wine Educator; and by the American Wine Society as a Certified Wine Judge. He is the Director of the Westchester Wine School, has worked in wineries in southwest France, and has led fun and informative courses and wine events for many years on all aspects of wine and wine regions.