National Wine School

Earn Your Sommelier Pin Online

Earn your sommelier pin online with the National Wine School, the only nationally and regionally recognized program offering a fully online course leading to this prestigious certification.

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L1 Wine Certification

Level One Wine Course

The Level One (L1) Wine Certification Program is an eight-week, self-paced online course designed to provide foundational wine knowledge. Developed by the National Wine School, this award-winning program—used by wine schools and colleges nationwide—covers essential topics like the nine key grapes, reading French wine labels, proper tasting techniques, and debunking common wine myths. Perfect for wine lovers and aspiring professionals alike, this course offers a professional-grade education at an affordable rate.

L2 Wine Certification

Foundation (Level Two)

The Level 2 Wine Course is led by Keith Wallace, the visionary behind the National Wine School’s online sommelier program. Recognized as one of the world’s top wine educators, Keith personally tracks each student’s progress, grading exams and assisting with wine selections as needed. This program stands out for its unique focus on sensory training and wine theory—elements typically reserved for Advanced or Master Sommelier levels. True to Keith’s style, the course is engaging, insightful, and thoroughly entertaining.

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L3 Wine Certification

Intermediate (Level Three)

Level Three certification makes you eligible for the coveted Sommelier Pin! This online course, led by Alana Zerbe, Director of Wine Education at the National Wine School, explores key wine regions worldwide—from Burgundy to Central Otago—providing the essential knowledge needed to become a wine professional. The program also delves into the primary grape varieties of each region. Each class features a guided tasting session with Alana, offering students the unique opportunity to learn from one of the top palates in wine education.

“The programs are the best we’ve seen, and we put all our new employees through them.”

Matthew Check

Co-Founder & Winemaker , Cellar Beast

Save Hundreds of Dollars!

Core Sommelier Course

Enroll in the entire Core Program (Levels One to Three) and save hundreds on tuition! Earn your sommelier pin online at a significantly reduced cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

A few of the most commonly asked questions about online sommelier courses.

Can I earn my sommelier certification fully online?

Yes! These wine courses are 100% online, culminating in your sommelier pin. Each level of the Core Program (Levels One through Three) is designed to provide the knowledge and certification required from whereever you are.

How does the program work?

The wine courses are asynchronous, so you can complete them at your own pace. Each course includes lessons, quizzes, and –except for L1– tasting sessions. There is an online exam at the end of each course to earn your wine certification.

Who teaches the courses?

The courses are taught by two of the best wine educators in America, Keith Wallace and Alana Zerbe. Both are originally from the Win School of Philadelphia!

Do I need to buy wine for the courses?

For Levels Two and Three, yes—tasting sessions are a key part of the program. Wine recommendations are provided to for each class. However, Level One does not require any wine purchases.

What will I learn?

The curriculum covers essential wine knowledge, sensory training, and theory. Topics include major wine regions, key grape varieties, reading wine labels, tasting techniques, and wine service. The advanced levels also focus on wine theory typically taught at Master or Advanced Sommelier levels.

Is the certification recognized?

Absolutely. The National Wine School’s certification is both nationally and regionally recognized, making it a trusted credential for aspiring wine professionals and enthusiasts alike.

How long does it take to complete the program?

Each level typically takes 6-8 weeks to complete, depending on your schedule. You can progress through the program at your own pace, allowing flexibility for busy lifestyles.

Is this program suitable for beginners?

Yes, the Core Program is designed for all levels of wine enthusiasts, from beginners to those pursuing a professional career in wine.

What support is available during the course?

Instructors track your progress, grade exams, and provide guidance on wine selections. You’ll also have access to course materials and resources throughout the program.

About The Sommelier Programs

National Wine School

The Online Wine School is available to you in partnership with the National Wine School (NWS). While NWS has offered online sommelier courses since 2007, it has always supplemented in-class education. As a result, the programs to be released are stand-alone and differ significantly from traditional wine courses.

We love the NWS because its online wine courses are geared toward the entire wine trade. Their certifications are earned by winemakers, importers, wine traders, educators, start-up founders, and sommeliers. We believe these are the best online wine classes available.

Best of all, NWS is the fastest-growing wine accreditation program in America.

These programs are part of the National Wine School’s professional certification program. You can now earn your sommelier certification up to the master level online. Pricing is discounted between 50 to 75% –for the same program and certification– than through any other wine school or university. Keith Wallace, the founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia, owns a significant amount of the intellectual property behind national sommelier certification, so our students recieve the steepest discounts in the country.

Wine School Online

This is the first time in history that students can earn a nationally recognized sommelier certification entirely online. The National Wine School underwrites our online wine certification programs. These online programs run through their California and Vermont national testing centers.

This is also the first time our students can take classes via the National Wine School’s site. Before offering online wine courses, NWS only worked with select colleges and universities to distribute asynchronous online content for educational use.

Online Wine Courses for Beginners

The best wine classes for beginners are the L1 program and the Online Core Progam. The Online Core Program includes the L1 certification and gives students access to L3 Sommelier Certification.

Wine School of Philadelphia

Get your sommelier on with these online wine classes. We offer various courses, from Wine 101 to the always popular Bordeaux class. We also provide pairing classes, including our classic food and wine pairing class. In addition, stay tuned for our online cooking and beer brewing classes.

For those looking to earn sommelier certifications, we will offer a selection of online wine courses run by the National Wine School in California. These are some of the best online wine courses ever produced.

I cannot express how impressed I am with these online wine classes. As someone who is firmly rooted in the brick-and-mortar, I didn’t expect to ever green-light a project like this. This is one of those moments I am glad to be proven wrong. The one-hour classes are seamless and informative. I love the fact that students can chat with the instructors while the class is ongoing. Very well done and very intuitive for the students.
Keith Wallace, Founder