Official Certification Program
Lyon, France · June 2026
The Program
The French Wine Scholar is an advanced certification program from the Wine Scholar Guild covering the full breadth of French wine — every region, appellation, grape variety, and regulatory framework. It is one of the most rigorous specialist qualifications available in French wine.
This June, Paris Wine Academy is offering a 4-day intensive classroom session in central Lyon, led by Nicolas Fouilleroux, WSET Diploma. The program concludes with the FWS exam on Saturday, June 13.
What’s Included
– WSG study materials and portal access
– Private 30-minute pre-course session with Nicolas
– Four days of classroom instruction with tastings
– Exam registration
Not included: travel to and from Lyon, accommodation and meals
The Details
Enrollment opens access to the full WSG study portal and materials immediately. Before the course begins, each student has a private 30-minute session with Nicolas to review preparation and identify focus areas.
The classroom sessions run June 9–12 in central Lyon. The curriculum follows the full FWS syllabus — working through each French wine region with attention to geography, geology, climate, appellation structure, and producers of significance.
Instruction is in English. Tastings accompany the classroom work throughout.
The written exam takes place Saturday, June 13 at 10:30.
Cohorts are capped at eight students.
June 2026 Session
Central Lyon · June 9–12, exam June 13
€1,695
Optional — Northern Rhône Immersion Day · June 6
For students arriving early, we are offering a full day in the Northern Rhône Saturday, June 6 — visiting the region, tasting in the appellations, and working through the wines that appear in the FWS curriculum.
€850 per person. Limited to 5 participants. Open to June session students only.
FAQs
What is the French Wine Scholar certification?
The French Wine Scholar (FWS) is an internationally recognized certification from the Wine Scholar Guild, designed for advanced students of wine. It’s ideal for sommeliers, educators, buyers, collectors, and committed enthusiasts looking to deepen their knowledge of France’s wine regions, grapes, laws, and traditions.
What does the daily schedule look like?
Class is the city center of Lyon, France. We begin at 9h00 and finish at 18h with a one hour lunch break. Each of the four classroom days covers a defined set of regions and themes drawn from the FWS syllabus. Sessions are structured around the exam curriculum and include guided tastings. The pace is intensive. Students are expected to have completed significant preparation before arriving.
What’s the refund policy?
- Full payment is required at enrollment for classroom-only sessions. 50% refund if you cancel before 30-days. See our full policies for cancellation terms.
How much should I study before the course? When is the exam?
The WSG recommends a minimum of 60 hours of self-study before the in-person week. Study materials and portal access are provided at enrollment. Your pre-course session with Nicolas will help you structure that preparation.
Saturday, June 13 at 10:30. The exam is 100 multiple-choice questions, 60 minutes. Passing score is 75.
Paris Wine Academy 