Learn about wine.
(and sake, and spirits, and beer, and….so much more!)
Your Center for Beverage Education.
Commonwealth Wine School offers the highest quality wine, sake, spirits, and beer education for everyone - from novices to industry experts. Take a single class, or a course of intense wine study. We are the Approved Program Provider for the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, the Wine Scholar Guild and many others.
Upcoming Classes
About Commonwealth Wine School
Commonwealth Wine School is dedicated to providing you the best in wine, spirits and sake education. Whether you are a beginner, connoisseur or industry professional, our dedicated and knowledgeable instructors share their expertise and passion to provide you with a fun and engaging experience. We offer a wide variety of workshops, classes and private events, as well as certification level programs from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the Wine Scholar Guild, and many other regional certifications. We are located in Boston, San Francisco, and many other locations - and ONLINE EVERYWHERE!
Our Calendar
The CWS Blog
‘No Amount of Alcohol is Safe’, declares the World Health Organization.
This common headline may have influenced the alcohol guidelines from the US Department of Agriculture.
Announcing American Single Malt Whiskey
American Single Malt Whiskey is now its own unique and regulated category.
Now Is the Time to Start
What is the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and why is it right for you?
Breaking Down a Wine Label: The Case of the Missing Grape Variety
What does the grape variety name on a wine mean, and why do some bottles not list one?
WSET FAQs
Frequently asked questions about this program, what it means, and who it can benefit!
How We Talk About Wine
How the language we use to communicate the experience of tasting wine has changed over time.
Oak and its Impact on Fermented Beverages
How oak barrels are used in wine, beer, spirit, cider, and sake production, and how their use impacts flavor and texture
Italian-Americans Reconnect with their Heritage Through Wine
How wine education helps Italian-Americans connect with their family’s culture
Talking About Wine
The language that we use to communicate about wine has changed over time, and continues to do so as diversity grows within the wine-lover community.
America’s First AVA
Did you know that the first AVA in the United States was in…Missouri?
Organic, Sustainable, and Biodynamic…Oh My!
An overview of what the terms Organic, Biodynamic, and Sustainable mean in the wine industry
Perfect Pairings with Adam Centamore
We explore the magic and theory behind food and wine pairings with Instructor Adam Centamore.
Basque Beverages
Explore the unique history, style, grapes, and culture of the Basque country.
The Fault in our Wines
Wine faults can rear their head an time you open a bottle. Learn how to recognize the difference between a “bad” bottle and a bottle that you might just not like the flavor of.
Spontaneous Fermentation
Fermentation may seem like a magical process, but often it is highly-controlled by the use of commercially produced, predictable yeasts. Some winemakers are looking to change that by letting the natural micro-organisms in the environment take the driver’s seat.
Long Island AVA
Spanning across both the North Fork and South Fork, the stellar Long Island AVA stands out because of its soil, its climate, and the unceasing drive of the individuals who have devoted their lives to working the land and creating distinctive and impressive wines.
Judgement of Paris
How an innocuous wine tasting in a Paris hotel conference room changed the world.
New Grapes, New Wines!
Chances are you’re familiar with the standard wine grape varieties: Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Syrah, Pinot Grigio, and the rest.
Barolo
The area of Barolo is small compared to other wine regions. The grape from which it is made, Nebbiolo, is finicky.
Nothing Dry about Dry Creek Valley
Sonoma County, 90 minutes north of San Francisco, is gorgeous wine country.
Learning to Love Wine
Does one drink wine in a cozy, wood paneled old pub? Surrounded by flower boxes at a sidewalk cafe?
3 Easy Tips to Guide You On Your Pairing Journey
We've all been there. Your friend invites you over for dinner and tells you to just bring a bottle a wine. Red or white? Light or bold?
Under the Harvest Moon
What wines should I be drinking?! Chilled refreshing whites and lighter reds for the hot days? Heavier red wines for the cool nights?
Tasting with the Professionals
Commonwealth Wine School recently hosted the trade association, “Wines of South Africa,” that promotes South African wines around the world.
The most famous and best known white wine of Basque country is Taxakoli or Txakolina as the Basques call it (pronounced sha-ko-Lee-na) and comes from the Arabic word meaning “thinness”.
Become a Wine Matchmaker
I love working at a small boutique wine shop in downtown Boston and the best part of my day is when a customer asks for help pairing a wine to a dish they are planning to make.
Tuscany: Chianti and Beyond (Part 2)
Chianti may be the most famous name from Tuscany (from a US perspective anyway) but there is much more to the region.
Tuscany: Chianti and Beyond (Part 1)
Wine has been produced in the Tuscan hills since the time of the Etruscans, as early as the 7th century B.C.E., making it an essential piece of the region’s identity.
The Way to Drink Wine
There is nothing better in Paris (or any city for that matter), than strolling into a sidewalk café on busy thoroughfare, sitting down facing the road to people watch and ordering a pichet du vin -
A Toast to Portugal Wines
Portugal, a small country a quarter the size of California, has had a long-time connection with the United States.