Become a French Wine Scholar in 2022

Image of logo with the words French Wine Scholar (FWS). In the background in a laptop with the image single and double guyot pruning system, the French Wine Scholar manual and a smartphone with Champagne flashcards.

The French Wine Scholar is an in-depth specialist certification focused on the diverse wines and wine regions of France. The program is an official certification and course of study designed by the Wine Scholar Guild to provide current, accurate information on all of the wine regions of France and validate proficiency in the wines and wine regions of France.

This 20-hour course provides detailed coverage of French AOC wines, as well as an introduction to French history, geography, viticulture and winemaking. You will:

  • Develop specialist knowledge of the AOC wines of Alsace, Champagne, Jura, Savoie, Burgundy, Loire, Bordeaux, Rhône, Languedoc, Roussillon, Southwest France, Provence and Corsica
  • Appreciate the cultural context of French wine
  • Consider the vineyard and winery factors that contribute to wine styles
  • Taste a range of French wines

This course includes:

  • A new 7th edition study manual
  • A full-year access to all French Wine Scholar online resources (videos, interactive quizzes, webinars, etc.)
  • Exam registration fee
  • Tutored tasting of a range of French wines
  • Diverse hands-on group activities designed to enhance recall and address different learning styles

Classes run from Thursday, February 10th – April 21st @ 6:30PM – 8PM (no class March 17). Final exam May 5th, 2022.

The course is taught by authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructors Nancy Reynolds DipWSET, Caitlin Ferguson DipWSET and Aleksandar Simic DipWSET:

Woman in a red shirt smiling while holding a glass of white wine.

Nancy Reynolds
After twenty-five years in the information technology industry, including six years as the Chief Information Officer of FedEx Canada, Nancy Reynolds DipWSET decided to pursue her passion in the wine business. Nancy started WorldWide Cellar, a boutique wine agency, specializing in representing family owned wineries from Spain, France and Australia.  After selling WorldWide Cellar a few years ago, Nancy now concentrates on working on projects for the Wine Scholar Guild and teaching for the Independent Wine Education Guild (IWEG). 

Nancy passed the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Diploma with merit in 2010. She is a certified Bordeaux tutor through the École du Vin de Bordeaux, a Rhône master through Inter Rhône and a Portugal Academy instructor through Wines of Portugal. Nancy has spent the last 18 months co-authoring the seventh version of the French Wine Scholar manual and can’t wait to start teaching it!

Man standing in a large wine cellar smiling

Aleksandar Simic
Aleksandar Simic DipWSET has been working in the information technology field in the financial industry for almost 30 years. Several years ago he felt that he needed to convert his passion for all things wine into something more real, more earthy. He start-ed his wine education with IWEG and has passed the Italian Wine Scholar with high-est honours as well as the French Wine Scholar. He also holds a Masters Degree in Electrical Engineering and recently completed the WSET Diploma in Wines and Spir-its. He is an authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructor for the French Wine Scholar and Italian Wine Scholar.

Woman smiling while standing with her hood up in front of a foudre.

Caitlin Ferguson
Caitlin Ferguson DipWSET got into the wine business as a result of her love for travel and culture after living in France for a year when she was 25. After experiencing the manual labour involved in harvesting grapes, she decided to experience the city side of wine, and headed to London, UK. In London she worked at Vinoteca Wine Bar & Shop, where she learned so much about wine and her passion for wine was con-firmed. Caitlin returned home to Toronto in 2010 and has since been running a small import agency called Bogie’s Best Imports as well as teaching WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines, the Spanish Wine Scholar and the French Wine Scholar. Caitlin is passionate about Spanish and French wines as well as sher-ry and she likes to keep wine fun and leave the pretentiousness behind. 

Handy International Calendars 

A hand holding a pink market towards a handheld calendar with the logo and text WSET. The calendar has dates such as International Mulled Wine Day and International Riesling Day.

WSET has put together a handy wine and grapes and spirits and cocktail calendar for all the key dates in 2022. If you are looking for new wines or tasting inspiration, the calendars should guide you through the dates throughout the four seasons.

Check out the international wine and grapes days calendar 2022.

Check out the international spirits and cocktails days calendar 2022.