Online Wine Courses – Top 10+1 Free & Freemium Options

Here is the list of the Top 10+1 professional online wine courses. Some are offered in the Free and others in Freemium options (free & premium).

1. Rioja Wine Academy allows completing the basic and advanced level courses on the wines of the homonymous region in Spanish and English: The Rioja Wine Diploma, Diploma in Wine Tourism, and Rioja Wine Diploma for Trade and Distribution modules are active in the English language. A fairly challenging program with a timed final exam (30 minutes, two attempts total) and a comprehensive and well-structured course.

Link: Rioja Wine Academy

2. Champagne MOOC, a course in Freemium mode organized by Comité Champagne and presented in two modules: a free Classic and a Premium version at the cost of 49 euros with a greater volume of content such as videos and the issue of the final certificate after completing the quiz. The free version does not provide the possibility to download the certificate. I like the structure of this course, which allows us to view it in multiple languages. This is a precious source for educators and people who communicate in various languages. Also, downloadable flowcharts can be helpful.

Link: Champagne MOOC

3. Sherry Academy offers two versions, basic to advanced. I did not try the Basic course of Jerez-Xérès-Sherry y Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda DO, but I completed the Advanced course of Jerez-Xérès-Sherry y Manzanilla Sanlúcar de Barrameda DO. Well-structured, and a final certificate is issued as well. I also loved the part dedicated to mixology and pairing with food, with many ideas to grasp. By sharing the certificate, I discovered they are very responsive on social media and share the content with their tags.

Link: Sherry Academy

4. “Discovering Bourgogne Wines” is an e-learning platform of Vins de Bourgogne. The videos are in French but with English subtitles. Excellent content, you can require access for the professionals and educators for more downloadable materials and maps. Browse the site well, and you will find lots of information to explore. I would have added the possibility of achieving the certificate since there are quizzes to proceed.

Link: Discovering Bourgogne wines

5. Wines of South Africa. Six modules provide an insight into the South African wine industry, from history, grape varieties, wine styles, and growing areas, to sustainable production and tourism. A multiple-choice quiz follows each module. You must pass each to progress to the next, and you will be awarded a certificate upon course completion.

Link: Wines of South Africa

6. Wines of Portugal Academy offers a reasonably easy, well-organized training path and excellent graphics. Still, before taking quizzes, you should study the content provided by the site Wines of Portugal.

Link: Wines of Portugal Academy

7. School of Port offers “The Essential Video Course”, which consists of 16 modules that help you discover Port and Douro wines. An essential course of a couple of hours helps to get a quick overview of the fascinating world of Port wines. In the end, a certificate of participation will be issued.

Link: School of Port

8. The Conegliano Valdobbiadene Academy is dedicated to deepening the knowledge of Prosecco Superiore. The structure is divided into two areas: in one, you can learn everything about viticulture, production, etc., while the other area, Virtual Tasting, offers Masterclasses on fixed dates where you can purchase each event, including the shipping of bottles (available only in Italy). The text in this website area is entirely in Italian. If you are Italy-based, you will receive the bottles at home, and one hour before the Masterclass, you will receive the e-mail with the access link.

Link: Conegliano Valdobbiadene Academy

9. Cava Academy offers various paths dedicated to wine professionals and educators: candidates are carefully selected for certified courses. They will pay a basic fee that includes a minimum coverage of training programs. The D.O.Cava site offers a vast overview of Cava wines’ regions, viticulture, and production methods. Contents are always up-to-date and comprehensive, thanks also to the highly accurate graphics.

Link: Cava Academy

10. Côtes du Rhône online course. Côtes du Rhône’s Professional Association and Napa Valley Wine Academy (NVWA) developed the first official course of the Côtes du Rhône region: excellent quality instructional videos, interactive maps, and two presentations. Peter Marks, Master of Wine, will guide you in this fascinating journey on the Côtes du Rhône’s hills and valleys, explaining in a clear e passionate way. It is highly recommended for WSET students, especially at the Diploma level, but completing WSET Level 2 or 3 (or equivalent) before taking this course helps.

Link: Côtes du Rhône Online Course

11. Wines of Georgia offers online certified courses accreditated by the Georgian National Wine Agency in collaboration with Napa Valley Academy (NVWA). You can immerse in the marvellous world of Qvevri winemaking and discover more about Georgian regions, and native varieties such as Saperavi, Rkatsiteli, and many others. The course is free, comprehends the final exam and certificate, and is an educational reference guide for use by the wine trade, press, and educators. I integrated my presentation with more content from the Wines of Georgia website for personal in-depth knowledge.

Link: Wine of Georgia Course

Discover also

Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) @WSETGLOBAL Youtube Channel. All WSET-certified courses are paid, and it is an e-learning channel on the YouTube platform of great value. It offers many videos, tutorials and masterclasses on wines worldwide, a truly precious resource suitable for all levels of knowledge.

Link: WSET Global Youtube Channel

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Sparkling Life focuses on Italian food and wine excellence, trying to spread its culture and lifestyle.