The Society of Wine Educators (SWE) is a membership-based nonprofit organization that provides wine and spirits education. SWE focuses on training individuals who are interested in teaching others about wine and spirits and has a mission to set the standard for quality and responsible wine and spirits education and professional certification.
SWE began in 1977 as a certification for wine and spirits professionals—and to teach future instructors. However, producers, distributors, retailers, chains and importers make up most of the students that go through SWE’s comprehensive system. SWE is internationally recognized, and its programs are highly regarded both for their quality and relevance to the industry.
SWE offers four professional credentials for those seeking to certify their wine and spirits knowledge, including the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW), the Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS), the Certified Wine Educator (CWE) and the Certified Spirits Educator (CSE). In addition, the Hospitality/Beverage Specialist Certificate is available, which covers a variety of beverages, in addition to wine and spirits.
Certifications and certificates are offered as self-study programs and/or via instructor-led online classes available to members of SWE and culminate with a multiple-choice exam taken at testing centers, located in most major cities. The material is designed in a way to allow students to complete courses at their own pace and with no minimum hours that need to be clocked before taking the exams.
SWE prepares students hoping to gain a level of expertise in wine. A basic understanding of wine, terminology and styles is mandatory to enroll in one of SWE’s in-depth courses. A student can expect to learn presentation skills, blind tasting ability and restaurant service. However, their programs do not cover wine education or how to teach wine classes.
Credentials such as those from SWE are a valuable and widely respected mark of a wine professional’s commitment to personal career development. Individuals who receive professional certification raise the standard of proficiency in the wine industry and elevate the knowledge base of everyone with whom they come in contact.