Napa Valley Wine Academy — Local services in Napa

I took a Harvest Bootcamp (Level 3) from Napa Valley Wine Academy in Oct, 2021 and cannot say enough good things about it. Was initially worried about being intimidated being with so many wine experts but that feeling quickly passed. All of the NVWA employees, instructors and classmates were very much down-to-earth and unpretentious. They truly cared about preparing us to pass the exam, which was on the 8th and final day of the class. This bootcamp is set up very nicely in that it is meant as an overall review of the topics covered in the manual which is to be read on your own prior to the class. All the key points are emphasized without long, boring presentations. These are tied in very nicely with tasting sessions. Over 60 wines were sampled, covering all major wine regions, styles and grape varieties. Prior to this bootcamp I was very concerned about passing the tasting portion of the exam but after tasting and writing notes on all these wines based on WSET's Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT), you quickly learn to calibrate your nose and palate to gain confidence for the exam. Then there are the field trips - all of which were amazing and cannot be duplicated on your own. A unique experience thanks to the coordination of NVWA. It is obvious that NVWA has a good repore with top notch wineries and winemakers. Finally the lunches provided by NVWA were outstanding and paired very nicely with good quality wines! Every portion of the bootcamp required a lot of effort by NVWA and the result is an exemplary experience that I will...

I was putting this off a bit just because I don’t feel I can articulate into words just what this trip meant to me. I’ve been studying wines through Napa Valley Wine Academy for a few years now. The business itself is set up so well; creating a straightforward journey in a world of wine that can easily feel overwhelming. I say this because this was the main reason we took a leap of faith and invested in one of their guided trips. I’m sure I don’t have to tell anyone that taking a guided trip with a group of strangers can feel iffy to say the least. “Will it be worth it in total? Will it be fun? Groups?” Etc. These trips are so well thought out. I’ve never experienced such a great mixture of fun and education before. The meals were fantastic, the areas chosen were mind-blowing, and the company was great. We were lucky enough to go with Christian, one of the amazingly knowledgeable owners, and a Master of Wine, Romana. I could go on an on about these great people alone. However, if you read this far I’m sure you just want to know if it’s worth it… we are signed up for the Italy trip and call dibs on some of next years! Tomorrow’s not promised, life is meant to be celebrated. Do yourself a favor and invest in these trips if you have a thirst for knowledge and amazing wine. Cheers! Bryan Co-Owner of The...

If you are looking for top notch wine education and experiences, Napa Valley Wine Academy is the best possible choice. I have taken several Wine and Spirits Education Trust courses from them, and their approach and support for students is second to none. I regularly attend their blind tastings, and they are super informative and educational - and not pretentious! The focus is on learning in a supportive environment and enjoying the experience. Most recently, I did a 7-day trip to Germany hosted by Christian Ogenfuss, the co-founder of NVWA and led by Romana Echensperger a Master of Wine and top expert on German wines. Wow - what an amazing experience - we toured 4 of the key German wine regions and went deep into the culture, history and winemaking practices in Germany. We had exclusive access to some of the very best wineries - having the chance to personally interact with a whole new generation of winemakers transforming their industry as well as some of the towering names of German wine. This just scratches the surface of what NVWA offers - there's nowhere better for...