Spanish Wine Scholar

Logo redondo con borde gris y texto en inglés que dice 'SPANISH WINE SCHOLAR'. En el centro, una corona con rayas amarillas y rojas.

Spanish Wine Scholar® (SWS) is a prestigious and advanced certification program designed to offer deep knowledge of Spain’s wine regions, grape varieties, winemaking techniques, and industry trends. Developed by the Wine Scholar Guild and endorsed by Wines from Spain (ICEX), it caters to both passionate enthusiasts and industry professionals looking to enhance their expertise in Spanish wines.

SWS Course | Advanced Certification in Spanish Wines

Start Date Based on Enrollment | Price: €1,028.50

Dos botellas de vino en una barrica de madera en un viñedo con arbustos y cielo brillante de fondo.
Una copa de vino rosado con una botella vertiendo vino en ella.
Botella de vino tinto y copa con vino sobre una mesa, con fondo difuso de naturaleza verde.
racimo de uvas verdes creciendo en una vid con hojas grandes verdes y ramas robustas
Viñedo con parras verdes en primer plano y colinas en el fondo bajo cielo azul.

Become a Spanish Wine Expert

The Spanish Wine Scholar® program is the most comprehensive certification dedicated to Spain’s diverse wine regions, designed for passionate wine enthusiasts and professionals. This course offers in-depth insight into Spain’s appellations, viticultural techniques, winemaking traditions, and history. Graduates earn the respected SWS post-nominal initials, symbolizing advanced expertise. At Madrid & Darracott, you’ll also get the chance to taste various Spanish wine styles, enriching your learning experience and appreciation for Spain’s rich wine heritage.

Ideal for wine professionals, sommeliers, and passionate enthusiasts looking to master Spanish wines.

Persona sosteniendo una botella de vino tinto y una copa en un entorno al aire libre, con césped y fondo borroso.

What You’ll Learn

  • Spanish Wine Regions

    Discover how geography, climate, and history shape the diversity of Spain’s wine regions.

  • Grape Varieties

    Learn about Spain’s native grapes and how modern viticulture shapes each wine style.

  • Wine Laws

    Understand the classifications and laws that ensure quality and authenticity in Spanish wines.

  • Winemaking Techniques

    Explore both traditional and modern winemaking methods unique to Spanish wines.

  • Cultural Heritage

    Learn how Spain’s history and traditions continue to influence its world-renowned wine culture.

Meet Your Instructor

Luke Darracott

Primer plano de un hombre con cabello castaño claro, barba y barba rubia, vestido con un saco de mezclilla gris y camisa clara, en un entorno al aire libre con árboles y césped.

Luke Darracott is a wine educator with extensive expertise in Spanish wines, making him an ideal instructor for the Spanish Wine Scholar (SWS) program. As co-owner of Madrid & Darracott, a renowned wine shop and tasting space in Madrid, he has years of hands-on experience teaching about Spain’s diverse wine regions. Luke holds a WSET Level 3 distinction and is known for his engaging, approachable teaching style. His passion for Spanish wine, combined with his deep knowledge and love of its history and culture, makes him well-suited to guide students through the complexities of the SWS program

  • This internationally certified program is an immersive dive into Spanish wine, bringing Spain’s unique wine culture to life!

    Dawn Davis, SWS

  • I went from knowing a few fun facts to reliably making informed decisions about the wines I was drinking.

    Craig Wilgenbusch, SWS

JOIN THE NEXT SESSION

Montón de corchos de vino apilados, algunos con texto en francés como 'Bouteille à la' y otros con marcas y fechas.

  • Includes a 315-page full-color manual, classroom sessions, 1-year access to e-learning modules, and tutored tastings (more than 65 different wines).

  • The course is supported by Wine Scholar Guild materials, and the exam is a 100-point multiple-choice test with passing scores of 75% or higher.

  • Classroom and online options available, with interactive e-learning tools for self-paced study.

  • Perfect for individuals aiming to deepen their knowledge or advance toward other certifications like WSET Diploma or Master of Wine.

Please note: This course is taught exclusively in English.

1,028,50 EUR

Enroll now to secure your spot! The course will begin as soon as enough students have registered.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

  • The SWS program is an internationally-recognised qualification with the mission of creating new experts in the field of Spanish wines. It is the most advanced and comprehensive certification on the wines of Spain.

  • The ideal candidate would be someone who already has a base knowledge of wine but who has a passion for obtaining and deepening their knowledge of Spanish wines. The course isn’t about wine production itself as much as it is a focus of the profundity of regions, grapes and styles of wine present in Spain.

  • The course usually is taken over a period of three days at our shop - the division of days is tailored as best as we can to our students. And then a final in-person exam at a given date a short while after the final class.

  • Currently Madrid & Darracott offers the course in-person; though online can be looked into. One reason is so students have their teacher at hand, which provides a superior teaching experience. Secondly we taste many wines in-house during the sessions, thus further depending students’ understanding and enjoyment. There is no tasting element to the final exam, but we believe that to truly create excpetional Spanish Wine Scholars you need to sample the wines!

  • Students of the SWS will study wine regions of the 17 autonomous communities and learn about the factors affecting the regions (e.g. climate, soils, and topography), major grape varieties, and wine styles. Every wine region is covered in the course book, though not every one will be necessarily examined. So everything from Rioja and Ribera to Godello and Monastrell; and from Cava and Sherry to claretes and fondillón!

  • You must attend class and then pass the examination exam. That’s it!

  • You get the hours of in-house first hand teaching with our wine expert Luke Darracott SWS (you will have official post-nominals on successful completion of the course and exam), the Spanish Wine Scholar manual - which is like a bible about Spanish wine, a plethora of wine styles to taste throughout the course, and the entrance to the exam itself.

  • Given that teaching is done in house the course can’t be modified; however we endeavour to find dates, prior to starting the classes, that can fit our students to the best of our ability.

  • The possibilities are endless. We have had students who did the course purely for the passion they had for wine and a desire to know more and have the pin and certification that proves it! We also have had students already working in the industry as well as those who wanted to start their professional journey in the world of wine. So if you love Spanish wine and want to have more clout at a wine-tasting with friends and colleagues, are thinking about entering the wine industry or world of wine education, or already work in the wine world and would like more certifications for that curriculum, then the SWS program could be for you!

  • You can either send us an email to info@madriddarracott.com or call us at the shop. We do have our socials, but email is best. Or feel free to stop by and chat to Luke!

Got questions? We’re here to help!

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