Top Five US Wine Schools

Feel like getting really serious about wine? Sommelier school is the place to do it. And if master sommelier is your goal, Food and Wine Magazine has a list of the top five wine schools in the United States to help you discern where to hone your knowledge. As you might expect, the schools tend to be located near large cities (one in NYC, DC and Chicago), or in wine country (Napa), but the fifth location is in Colorado. They're all great schools, but keep in mind that these are really for the most serious of the serious students. If you're just in it to impress some friends, the local wine class is a better bet.

Here's the F&W List:


Chicago Wine School; Chicago

Proprietor Patrick W. Fegan has taught classes in and around Chicago for over 30 years. His five-week introductory session is a good overview.

International Wine Center; New York City

Founded in 1982 and run by Master of Wine Mary Ewing-Mulligan, the center instructs students at all levels. Basic classes are on Saturdays.

International Wine Guild; Denver

This school, based at the Metropolitan State College of Denver, has sent several graduates on to high-profile wine careers.

Rudd Center for Professional Wine Studies, Culinary Institute of America; Napa

The Rudd center holds its four-day-long Discovering the Professional World of Wine class five times a year, often with Jeff Morgan as the instructor; the next session begins in mid-June.

Washington Wine Academy; Alexandria, Virginia

This suburban-DC school, staffed by top local wine writers and sommeliers, offers professional-certification classes as well as tours of local wineries and weekly wine-and-movie nights.