FAQs
About the Programs
What’s the difference between French Wine Essentials and French Wine Scholar?
French Wine Essentials is a 3.5-day course designed to give you a solid foundation in French wine. It’s perfect for enthusiasts or early-career professionals. French Wine Scholar is a more advanced 7-day program that dives deep into every major region and prepares you for the internationally respected FWS certification.
Is this a real certification?
Yes. We are an official Wine Scholar Guild® course provider. When you complete your course and pass the exam, you’ll receive a globally recognized certification from the WSG.
Do I have to take the exam?
The exam is optional for French Wine Essentials; you can choose to take the course for the experience. For French Wine Scholar, the exam is included and encouraged.
How big are the groups?
We cap our immersive programs at six students per session. That’s intentional; we want real conversation, deeper learning, and time for everyone to connect. The classroom-only FWS in Paris is capped at 12.
Travel & Logistics
Where are the programs held?
We offer French Wine Essentials in Paris and Lyon. The Immersive French Wine Scholar programs are based in Lyon and includes travel to Burgundy, Northern Rhône, and Beaujolais. Our classroom only French Wine Scholar is offered once per year in Paris.
What’s included in the price?
The program fee includes all instruction, study materials, wine tastings, cultural experiences, and meals during classroom days. You’ll receive a detailed breakdown upon registration.
What’s not included?
Your travel to and from Paris or Lyon, your lodging (we’ll help you choose), most dinners, and personal expenses. You’re also responsible for any visa, insurance, or travel documentation required.
Do you help with visas or travel insurance?
We are not immigration or visa specialists. Please check your home country’s travel requirements for France. We recommend purchasing travel insurance if you don’t already have coverage for international travel. Our programs do not quality you for a student visa.
Studying, Preparation & Cost
How much should I study before the course?
For French Wine Essentials: We recommend reviewing the course book and participating in the included online prep session. For French Wine Scholar: Plan to study at least 60 hours before your in-person week. We provide a personalized study path from the moment you enroll.
What happens if I don’t pass the exam?
You can re-sit the exam for an additional fee through the Wine Scholar Guild. We’re happy to support you through the process if needed.
Can I pay in installments?
Yes. We offer payment plans for most programs (except classroom-only FWS). A 25% non-refundable deposit is required to hold your spot. Full payment must be completed before the course begins. A breakdown of tuition and costs is listed on our website.
What’s your refund policy?
Due to the planning required for our immersive programs, deposits are non-refundable. We’ll share all terms clearly before you enroll on our polices page.
Still have a question? Email us
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