Learn About Wine Blog

L.A.W. School

L.A.W School is a four-week wine credential program for trade professionals and passionate consumers.
LearnAboutWine is recognized as a regional leader in education – this class has a 90% pass rate, and turns wine lovers into wine experts.
Pass our BAR exam (Beverage Aptitude Review) and you will be a well educated member of the wine society of Southern California – a Junior Wine Executive (JWE).

Over 300 Graduates!
No wine knowledge required
- we accept all applicants – we are improving the wine world one student at a time.

Class includes: Four-weeks of hands-on tasting and instruction, focus on tasting skills (80-100 wines tasted), world wine competency, varietal descriptions, wine laws, history, and followed by in-class tasting exam and take-home BAR exam. The JWE Credential Certification is our entry level certification that is recognized by restaurants, wineries, wine shops and greater wine industry. Certification includes: Wall Certificate, Certification Lapel Pin, listing on website of all graduates.

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A few comments from the March 2012 LearnAboutWine School Credential Program.

“This class gives me the basic knowledge & foundation that other wine tasting opens. I am now more confident to select fine & discuss what i like.”

“I really enjoyed the indepth discussion, tasting & the reading from textbook.”

“I already recommended this class to my sister. It’s informative, fun.”

“It was excellent.”

“I liked the maps/regions, guest speaker, learning about the wine making process.”

“Saddest part… It ended–too short.”

“This class was excellent for building upon my wine knowledge & improving my palate.”

“Thanks! Excellent class. Your passion shows!”

“The training is hands-on, experimental learning combined with extensive reading & discussions.”

“Absolutely adore the class, beyond my expectations.”

“Ability to taste more than one varietal of grape side by side from different regions of world.”

“Opened the door into an undstanding of wine & built my confidence to develop my palate & taste preference. Gave me the push I needed to persue a career I’ve always wanted in the wine industry.”

“It was challenging but I liked the explanation of every wine, from smell, taste, look. Very thorough.”

“For the novice to the pro there is something to be learned.”

“Yes, however I would have liked to have had a homework assignment similar to the test.”

“Ian and his crew are very knowledgeable & make the process/class very enjoyable.”

“Yes, it was great. I knew nothing before this class.”

“A friendly but intelligent approach to wine tasting and education.”

“The guest Som gave some good tasting advice helpful to a novice.”

“I enjoyed the book a lot and how the info in the book was integrated into the class.”

“I thoroughly enjoyed LAW school & feel that I’ve gained a better appreciation for wine.”

CLICK HERE TO SEE UPCOMING L.A.W SCHOOL CALENDAR

Wine Credentials – are they necessary?  Not for the casual wine novice, no.  However, for those of us that want cross over from wine drinker to wine thinker, there are only a few quality programs to choose from.  For those in the trade, there are a few more options to consider, but in general the options are:  price, location, frequency, reputation, and most importantly perspective.

I have attended & tested for many of the credential programs. None of them are perfect – but most of them are good to very good at advancing wines greater cause. One thing to consider is that most of them are written with a perspective and focus that is not aligned with the California Wine Drinker.  In fact, I am currently a student in the Master of Wine program out of London, seeking to test in 2010, and I am being taught not only about wine, but wine from an English perspective, something to consider.

Learn About Wine created LAW School our 4-week credential program, not only because it answers a need in the market, but gives California wine consumers and trade an option that might be more properly suited for this time and place.  The California wine consumer looks at the world from a California perspective.  We have been raised on California wines and compare and contrast California wine with the rest of the world – that is a very important criteria and consideration when selecting a wine education. This does not mean that LAW School thinks California wines are the best, nor does it mean that our wine school doesn’t do a very thorough job of presenting the rest of the wine world.  It does mean that we appreciate Californias place in the wine market and give it a proper time and merit “ which I can say from first hand knowledge  is missing in many of the other programs.

LAW School answers the need for consumers to get more grounded, more information, less pretension, more involved – and more excited. LAW School also works well for Trade that want to grow quickly in the hospitality field and excel. Why does our program work well? Quality teaching, quality wine, a top notch text book, solid wine information that is not dumbed down, no large over marketed brands influencing the education, real tasting, fair testing method that is complete, comprehensive and not about memorization, a low student to teacher headcount and apparently great cheese helps as well.

LAW School begins January 11th and/or 12th (Sundays and/or Mondays – 4-weeks in January) our students can move their dates back and forth to accommodate our busy Southern California social calendars. LAW School makes a great gift and we can arrange to have the fantastic text book gift wrapped and sent to you.