The California Wine Institute has launched Capstone - a state-of-the-art California Wine Education Program across international markets. This unique online education platform will offer access to consistent, high-quality information on California wine, with a rigorous certification program. With a global marketplace that is ever more competitive, we believe that education is absolutely key to increasing sales and enjoyment of California wine.

Content and curriculum for this program will be created by an Education Panel, led by Master Sommeliers Evan Goldstein and Tim Gaiser and including some of the world's most knowledgeable wine professionals, with no less than 20 Master Sommeliers and Masters of Wine, renowned wine educators, wine book authors, iconic winemakers and industry influencers contributing.

The platform will offer users the opportunity to register themselves for a series of certified education courses ranging from an Introductory course all the way up to Advanced Level. The focus will be on wine regions, grape varieties and a range of trending topics including climate change and sustainability, innovation in viticulture and winemaking and California wine history and business. Each region and grape variety guide will provide a consistent look and feel, with data-rich categories of information.

The roll-out of this monumental program will take place through 2021 and 2022 with local partners and initiatives to drive site traffic and registration, easy share features to boost reach and California benchmark wine kits to generate media buzz and enhance certification experience. Over time the site will be translated into local languages for higher audience engagement. It is our hope and expectation that this site will become the “Gold Standard” of region/country-specific wine education programs.

Start your California wine education journey on the Capstone website here:

CAPSTONE CALIFORNIA

UK and Ireland wine trade can undertake Level 1 for free during April 2021 by using code: VIP032021