The Society of Wine Educators is a membership-based nonprofit organization focused on providing wine and spirits education along with the conferral of several certifications. The Society is internationally recognized, and its programs are highly regarded both for their quality and relevance to the industry.
The mission of the SWE is to set the standard for quality and responsible wine and spirits education and professional certification.
On Saturday, January 18—at 10:00 am central time—we are pleased to offer one of our most popular webinars: A Spirited Discussion: The Insider’s Guide to the CSS Exam. This is one for the spirits crowd!! If you are interested in pursuing the Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Certification—or just a spirits lover-bartender-mixologist-beverage aficionado interested in learning more about spirits and the CSS, this one-hour session is for you! Join our Director of Education, Jane A. Nickles, and learn what to expect from the CSS!
This webinar is offered free-of-charge, and open to the public! This session will last for about one hour, and is offered as a live, interactive event.
If you have any questions, please contact Jane Nickles: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Note: A recorded version of this session will be available on the member portal of the SWE website after the conclusion of the live event.
Click here for the 2025 Webinar Calendar
Click here for more information on the Certified Specialist of Spirits certification.
What do all of these items have in common: A new official designation for American Single Malt Whiskey, updated regulations in the Jamaica Rum GI, and the newly created definition of Artisanal Cachaça?
Answer: You’ll find these topics included—as updates and expanded information—in the just-released 2025 version of the Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) Study Guide and Workbook.
Click here to find the 2025 CSS Study Guide on Amazon. The cost is $59.
Click here to find the 2025 CSS Workbook on Amazon. The cost is $49.
CSS Exam Availability: CSS Exams based on the 2025 edition of the Study Guide will be available at Pearson VUE Testing Centers and via at-home, online proctoring beginning on January 2, 2025. (Exams based on the 2024 book will likewise remain available until December 30, 2026.) Click here for more information on the timing and availability of CSS exams.
CSS Online Prep Course: Our next instructor-led CSS Online Prep Course is scheduled to begin the week of February 2, 2025. The aim of the prep course is to get attendees “as prepared as humanly possible” for a successful sitting of the CSS Exam. Online prep courses are available, free-of-charge, to Professional members of SWE who have a valid CSS Exam attendance credit. Click here to learn more about our online prep classes.
Addendum: Click here for an addendum listing the substantive changes between the 2024 and 2025 versions of the CSS Study Guide: Addendum for the 2025 CSS Study Guide
Flashcards and Practice Quizzes: Our popular online flashcards and practice quizzes have also been updated for 2025 (while previous versions remain available as well). The cost for these products is $19 each. Click here for the digital flashcards and practice quizzes. Please note that this is a separate website from the SWE homepage and will require a separate login.
Click here for more information on the Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) program.
If you have any questions regarding these materials, please contact our Director of Education at jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
What do all of these items have in common: The Crystal Springs of Napa Valley AVA; an AVA for Beverly, Washington; a new-found respect for the Listán Prieto grape in Argentina; and newly-revised regulations for Austria’s Eisenberg DAC?
Answer: You’ll find all of these updates (and more) in the just-released 2025 version of the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) Study Guide and Workbook!
CSW Exam Availability: CSW Exams based on the 2025 edition of the Study Guide will be available at Pearson VUE Testing Centers and via at-home, online proctoring beginning on January 2, 2025. Click here for more information on the timing and availability of CSW exams.
CSW Online Prep Course: Our next instructor-led CSW Online Prep Course is scheduled to begin the week of January 12, 2025. The aim of the prep course is to get attendees “as prepared as humanly possible” for a successful sitting of the CSW Exam. Online prep courses are available, free-of-charge, to Professional members of SWE who have a valid CSW Exam attendance credit.
Addendum: Click here to download a pdf of an addendum listing the substantive changes between the 2024 and 2025 versions of the CSW Study Guide: Addendum – CSW Study Guide 2025
Flashcards and Practice Quizzes: Our popular online flashcards and practice quizzes have also been updated for 2025 (while previous versions remain available as well). The cost for these products is $19 each. Click here for the digital flashcards and practice quizzes. Please note that this is a separate website from the SWE homepage and will require a separate login.
Click here for more information on the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) program.
The CSW Exam may be purchased via the SWE website: Click here to purchase the CSW Exam.
If you have any questions regarding these materials, please contact our Director of Education at jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
As of December 18, 2024, the TTB has (at long last) announced the approval of a new category of American spirit: American Single Malt Whiskey. The rules governing American Single Malt Whiskey—as defined by section 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) and the Standards of Identity of the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB) of the United States—are scheduled to go into effect as of January 19, 2025.
Under these rules, American Single Malt Whiskey must be produced using 100% malted barley. The malting process (and all other subsequent production) must occur in the United States; however, there is no requirement that the grain itself be grown in the US.
American Single Malt Whiskey is not allowed to contain flavoring or blending materials. Caramel coloring is allowed, but it must be disclosed on the label (no other coloring agents are permitted).
It should be noted that in alignment with other defined styles of American Whiskey, there is no aging requirement beyond the stipulation that American Single Malt Whiskey be stored in oak. In addition, unlike most other specific types of American whiskey (including Bourbon and Rye Whiskey), the producer has the choice of what type of oak (used, charred new, or uncharred new) may comprise the barrels.
American Single Malt Whiskey that has been aged for at least two years in oak barrels (of the types defined above) may be labeled with the term straight.
Location of the Les Mûres Premier Cru within the P-L AOC (base map via the website of Vins de Bourgogne)
As revealed on November 21, 2024—via publication on the website of the INAO and in the Official Journal of the French Republic—a Premier Cru site has been approved for the Pouilly-Loché AOC (originally approved in 1940). The new premier cru is to be known as Les Mûres (Pouilly-Loché Premier Cru Les Mûres).
Located in the Mâconnais sub-region of Burgundy, the Pouilly-Loché AOC is a small appellation (totaling 33 hectares/79 acres) focusing on high-quality Chardonnay. The appellation is centered around the small town of Loché and located a short distance (5 km/3.2 miles) southwest of the city of Mâcon. The vineyards of the Pouilly-Loché AOC overlap those of the Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC so (at least in theory), the wines of Pouilly-Loché may be labeled as Pouilly-Vinzelles. (This, however, would not be true for the Les Mûres Premier Cru.)
As is true of the larger Pouilly-Loché AOC, Pouilly-Loché Premier Cru Les Mûres is required to be a dry white wine produced with 100% Chardonnay grapes.
Eagle-eyed wine lovers may note that this announcement is closely aligned with the approval of three premiers crus vineyards for the Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC (announced the prior day).
Map of the Pouilly-Loché AOC via the INAO
Note: as with all such updates, the paperwork is still winding its way through the bureaucratic back offices of the EU. As such, while this update has been approved and announced by the Republic of France (via publication on the website of the INAO as well as the Official Journal of the Republic of France), the updated Cahier des Charges has yet to be approved by the EU. In the meantime, the new Premier Cru designations are allowed to be used on the labels of qualified wines. In the unlikely event that the change is not approved by the EU, the decree will be rescinded.
References/for more information:
Map of the Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC via the INAO
As revealed on November 20, 2024—via publication on the website of the INAO and in the Official Journal of the French Republic—three Premiers Crus have been approved and designated within the Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC.
Located in the Mâconnais sub-region of Burgundy, the Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC is centered around the communes of Vinzelles and Loché, located a few miles southwest of the city of Mâcon—and to the east of its most famous neighbor, Pouilly-Fuissé.
As with all wines produced in the Pouilly-Vinzelles AOC, the newly appointed premiers crus are required to be dry white wines produced with 100% Chardonnay grapes.
Location of the P-V Premiers Crus within the P-V AOC (base map via the website of Vins de Bourgogne)
Note: as with all such updates, the paperwork is still winding its way through the bureaucratic back offices of the EU. As such, while this update has been approved and announced by the Republic of France (via publication on the website of the INAO as well as the Official Journal of the Republic of France on November 20, 2024), the updated Cahier des Charges has yet to be approved by the EU. In the meantime, the new Premier Cru designations are allowed to be used on the labels of qualified wines. In the unlikely event that the change is not approved by the EU, the decree will be rescinded.
References/for more information:
News of the Wine World: The Toro DO (located in Spain’s Castilla y León comunidad autónoma) has updated its rules and regulation and now allows for the production of sparkling wines. ¡Chinchín!
This update was approved by the EU and published in the Journal of the European Union on November 14, 2024. The new products so approved include quality sparkling wines produced using the traditional method of sparkling wine production in red, white, and rosé styles.
According to the Pliego de Condiciones, these grapes make the ideal base for a sparkling wine with “small intense bubbles and a persistent crown.”
Note: as with all such updates, the paperwork is still winding its way through the bureaucratic back offices of the EU. As such, while this update has been approved and announced by the EU, the website of the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock, Fisheries and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación) has not yet posted an update to the Toro Pliego de Condiciones.
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Photo of the Urbezo PDO via www.mapa.gob.es
Spain’s Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (Ministerio de Agricultura, Pesca y Alimentación, MAPA) has announced the approval of a new Denominación de Origen Protegida (PDO) for wine: the Vino de Pago Urbezo! As of October 26 (2024) the EU has also announced its approval of the new appellation. At last count, this makes for a new total of 26 vinos de pago for Spain.
The new appellation is located in the autonomous community (comunidad autónoma) of Aragón (in the province of Zaragoza, just north-west of the municipality—and wine region) of Cariñena.
The Vino de Pago (PDO) Urbezo is approved for the production of dry wines, to include white (blanco), rosé (rosado), and red (tinto) wines. Wines may be unaged, or they may be labeled with a defined aging designation such as crianza, reserva, or gran reserva. One very interesting point of differentiation in this new appellation is that grape growing and winemaking is required to be certified as organic (as defined by EU Regulation (EC) No 834/2007). Other rules for these wines are discussed below:
Welcome to the world, Vino de Pago Urbezo!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Base Map via the TTB AVA Explorer
On October 29, 2024, the TTB (Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau) of the United States approved the Beverly, Washington American Viticultural Area (AVA). The new AVA is located in Washington State’s Grant County and lies entirely within the previously established Columbia Valley AVA.
The original petition for the Beverly, Washington AVA was accepted by the TTB in 2022 under the proposed name “Wanapum Village AVA.” A request to change the name to “Beverly, Washington” was submitted and approved in October of 2023.
According to these documents, the area’s distinguishing features are primarily its topography and soil. These features are discussed below.
Topography: The Beverly, Washington AVA is located close to the eastern shores of the Columbia River. The area is comprised of low, gently rolling hills with elevations ranging from 515 to 950 feet above sea level. The vineyard slopes are generally south- and southwest-facing, tucked into the edge of the Frenchman Hills (where they meet the Columbia River).
Base Map via the TTB AVA Explorer
Soil: According to the petition, the soil is the primary point of differentiation between the Beverly, Washington AVA and the surrounding Columbia Valley AVA. Soils within the new AVA are largely derived of topsoil deposited by the Missoula floods—a series of floods that occurred at the end of the last ice age. These soils—consisting mainly of sand and gravel atop basalt bedrock—tend to be very well-drained and quite coarse. These coarse soils are less prone to erosion than the finer-grained soils found elsewhere in the Columbia Valley. As such, there is no need for cover crops (as might be used to control erosion). In addition, coarse soils absorb heat faster than finer soils—and the resulting warmer soils promote earlier onset of budbreak, veraison, and other ripening stages of the grapes.
The Beverly, Washington AVA is a relatively tiny area located directly to the south of the Royal Slope AVA. According to the original petition, there are currently two commercial vineyards in the area.
When the Beverley, Washington AVA is brought into force—on November 29, 2024—the total number of AVAs in the United States will be 276. Of these, 21 will be in Washington State.
Welcome to the world, Beverly, Washington AVA!
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org
Photo via: www.viniterredipisa.com
News flash: the Terre di Pisa DOC—first approved as a producer of Tuscan red wines in 2011—has amended its disciplinare to allow for several new styles of wine, to include white wines and rosato (rosé).
Previously, the only styles of wine allowed to be made in the Terre di Pisa DOC were dry red table wines known as Terre di Pisa Rosso (typically based on a blend of red grapes, and required to contain a minimum of 70% Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and/or Syrah) and Terre di Pisa Sangiovese (minimum 85% Sangiovese). These wines require a minimum of 12.5% alcohol by volume (abv).
In addition, a “riserva” category has been approved for Terre di Pisa Rosso. The use of the term riserva is allowed for those wines that have been aged for at least two years. Red wines not using the riserva label term must have been aged for a minimum of 1 year (Terre di Pisa Rosso) or 18 months (Terre di Pisa Sangiovese).
The Terre di Pisa appellation includes 16 of the 37 municipalities (communi/communes) within the province of Pisa. It is centered around the rolling hills about 12 miles south of the city of Pisa (and about 10 miles inland from the city of Livorno).
If you’ve never heard of Terre di Pisa before, don’t beat yourself up. This is a small appellation—total vineyard area is about 150 acres/60 hectares and total production (including around 15 wineries) is less than 10,000 cases a year.
References/for more information:
Post authored by Jane A. Nickles…your blog administrator: jnickles@societyofwineeducators.org