The Smallest Subzone of the Sprawling Chianti DOCG Happens to Be Its Best
Wine Scholar Guild
Founded in 2005, Wine Scholar Guild (WSG) is a globally recognized leader in wine education and a benchmark for industry-standard certifications focusing on the wines of France, Italy, Spain and Germany. I completed the Italian Wine Scholar® in 2019 and the French Wine Scholar® in 2020 and both were fundamental to my development as a wine writer.
How does it work? WSG takes a human-centered approach to wine education that connects what’s in the glass to place, people and the taster’s own experience. Its programs include three progressive certification levels — Essentials, Wine Scholar® and Masters — alongside the WSG Tasting Diploma, a program designed to transform how wine is tasted and communicated.
Beyond certifications, WSG Membership provides access to a highly engaged global community, monthly regional video deep-dives and an exclusive producer guide to truly understand the wines of today.
For those seeking immersive learning, WSG Educational Wine Tours offer exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the people, places and practices that define the most significant wine regions of Europe.
If you want to understand wine as it exists today, diverse, authentic and expressive, this is an organization worth joining. Members of Opening a Bottle can access 10% off select programs via their account page. I am proud to be partnering with the Wine Scholar Guild.
Helpful Wine Education Articles
My education via the Wine Scholar Guild has been essential to creating the First-Taste Guide series.
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