The SWS program is an internationally-recognised qualification with the mission of creating new experts in the field of Spanish wines. It is the most advanced and comprehensive certification on the wines of Spain.

The ideal candidate would be someone who already has a base knowledge of wine but who has a passion for obtaining and deepening their knowledge of Spanish wines. The course isn’t about wine production itself as much as it is a focus of the profundity of regions, grapes and styles of wine present in Spain.

The course usually is taken over a period of three days at our shop - the division of days is tailored as best as we can to our students. And then a final in-person exam at a given date a short while after the final class.

Currently Madrid & Darracott offers the course in-person; though online can be looked into. One reason is so students have their teacher at hand, which provides a superior teaching experience. Secondly we taste many wines in-house during the sessions, thus further depending students’ understanding and enjoyment. There is no tasting element to the final exam, but we believe that to truly create excpetional Spanish Wine Scholars you need to sample the wines!

Students of the SWS will study wine regions of the 17 autonomous communities and learn about the factors affecting the regions (e.g. climate, soils, and topography), major grape varieties, and wine styles. Every wine region is covered in the course book, though not every one will be necessarily examined. So everything from Rioja and Ribera to Godello and Monastrell; and from Cava and Sherry to claretes and fondillón!

You must attend class and then pass the examination exam. That’s it!

You get the hours of in-house first hand teaching with our wine expert Luke Darracott SWS (you will have official post-nominals on successful completion of the course and exam), the Spanish Wine Scholar manual - which is like a bible about Spanish wine, a plethora of wine styles to taste throughout the course, and the entrance to the exam itself.

Given that teaching is done in house the course can’t be modified; however we endeavour to find dates, prior to starting the classes, that can fit our students to the best of our ability.

The possibilities are endless. We have had students who did the course purely for the passion they had for wine and a desire to know more and have the pin and certification that proves it! We also have had students already working in the industry as well as those who wanted to start their professional journey in the world of wine. So if you love Spanish wine and want to have more clout at a wine-tasting with friends and colleagues, are thinking about entering the wine industry or world of wine education, or already work in the wine world and would like more certifications for that curriculum, then the SWS program could be for you!

You can either send us an email to info@madriddarracott.com or call us at the shop. We do have our socials, but email is best. Or feel free to stop by and chat to Luke!