Become a Wine expert with CAFA Wine School

Diploma in Wine & Sommellerie

Distance learning

Diploma in Wine & Sommellerie

Elevate your passion for wine into a distinguished career with the Diploma in Wine & Sommellerie, a prestigious qualification recognized by the French Ministry.
This program is crafted to shape the next generation of commercial advisors and experts in the world of wine and spirits.

As a certified wine expert, you’ll unlock opportunities across the entire spectrum of the industry — from premium retail and fine dining to global distribution — advising on and representing exceptional wines, spirits, liqueurs, and more.

Become a Wine Expert with CAFA Wine School

Are you passionate about wines and spirits? Do you want to master the art of professional wine tasting and selection? Join our distance learning program and become a professional in the field!

By the end of your training, you will:

Master the art of professional wine and spirits tasting and evaluation
Build and curate a distinguished product portfolio, guided by your expert palate

Step into a career where expertise meets elegance — and turn your love for wine into your profession.

Key Program Highlights : Skills And Knowledge You'll Acquire :

■ French and International Vineyards : detailed study and understanding.

■ Master the methodology and vocabulary of wine tasting :

✓ Identify the main taste and aromatic components of wine with professional precision, using CAFA’s analytical tasting method.

✓ Describe the taste balance of wines and hypothesize their composition, quality, and potential.

✓ Evaluate the complexity and evolution of a wine.

✓ Recognize major wine faults

✓ Organize optimal tasting conditions.

■ Pair wines with dishes according to your clients’ tastes.

■ Select wines for clients based on their criteria.

■ Discover new products and ensure the best quality-price ratio.

What are the objectives of the training program and what degree am I awarded upon completion ?

Program Highlights:

French and International Vineyards : Detailed study and understanding.
Tasting Skills the :
- Identify main taste and aromatic components of wine.
- Organize optimal tasting conditions.
- Use CAFA’s analytical tasting method with professional precision.
- Enhance wines with precise and professional tasting notes.
- Describe the taste balance of wines and hypothesize their composition, quality, and potential.
- Assess the complexity and evolution of a wine.
- Detect and identify aromatic and taste deviations in wines.
- Apply tasting skills in a professional setting.

Candidates :

Anyone who is passionate about wines and spirits and holds a high school diploma.

Training organisation :

Distance Learning Phase :

Enrollment open year-round
Evaluation test after each section of the program
Final enrollment deadline to take the exam in July 2026 : March 31, 2026
Unlimited 24/7 access for 1 year —study at your own pace

Face-to-face Phase :

Held once a year
First 2 weeks of July
Location : Bordeaux, France

Professional opportunities :

▪ Sommelier, Wine Bar Manager

▪ Importer, Exporter

▪ Distributor

▪ Brand Ambassador

▪ Wine Retailer, Wine Shop Owner

▪ Wine Journalist, Wine Critic

▪ Wine Tourism Manager, and more.

Admission requirements :

Age 18+
English language proficiency
High school diploma (or equivalent)

Diploma

French State-Registered Professional Level 5 Diploma

Additional Program Features :

Preparing the diploma of wine & sommellerie registered by the French government

National Directory of Professional Certifications State Diploma recognized and controlled by the French government.

How to register ?

Training presentation file on request

Welcome to CAFA FORMATIONS !

Additional Program Features :

Cellar Management : Understand the wine industry, supply chains, and manage wine sales (purchase conditions, pricing, margin calculation, stock management, key ratios for commercial units).
Wine Marketing : Integrate market dynamics into your practice.
Event Organization : Plan and execute wine-related events.
Wine and Food Pairings : Courses and tastings.
Expert Lectures : Hear from winemakers and industry professionals.
Technical Visits : Explore Bordeaux vineyards and beyond during 2 weeks in July with our expert and professionals teachers.

Professional education courses

Tasting techniques and sensory analysis
In-depth study of French vineyards
In-depth study of foreign vineyards
Knowledge of spirits, cold and hot beverages
Wine and food pairing and practical workshops in collaboration with chefs
Sales and commercialization techniques
Fundamentals in Viticulture and Oenology
Wine industry and legislation
Wine markets and marketing
Commercial management and creation of a cellar / cellar management
Practical sommelier workshops

Enroll Today and Transform Your Passion for Wine into a Profession!

Consult our documentation or contact us.

What does the training consist of?

Distance Learning Component: 12 competency blocks, including presentations, video courses, tests, and evaluations.

Face-to-Face Component: Intensive wine tastings, hands-on training sessions, wine and food pairing exercises, château visits, case studies, final exams.

The Program

Introduction

– The history of vines and wine

– Wine industry professionals

– The French wine regions

Viticulture

– The vine

– Soils and terroirs

– Wine estate management

Ampelography

– Grape varieties

– Fruits and grape varieties

White grape Varieties

– White grape varieties : Sauvignon Blanc

– White grape varieties : Sémillon

– White grape varieties : Gewurztraminer

– White grape varieties : Riesling

– White grape varieties : Pinot Gris

– White grape varieties : Chenin Blanc

– White grape varieties : Chardonnay

– White grape varieties : Aligoté

– White grape varieties : Viognier

– White grape varieties : Mauzac

– White grape varieties : Roussane

– White grape varieties : Marsanne

– White grape varieties : Muscat

– White grape varieties : Chasselat

– White grape varieties : Muscadelle

– White grape varieties : Roussette de Savoie

– White grape varieties : Petit et Gros Manseng

– White grape varieties : Grenache Blanc

– White grape varieties : Clairette

– White grape varieties : Savagnin

– White grape varieties : Torrontés

– White grape varieties : Furmint

– White grape varieties : Vermentino

Red grape varieties

– Red grape varieties : Cabernet-Sauvignon

– Red grape varieties : Merlot

– Red grape varieties : Pinot Noir

– Red grape varieties : Syrah

– Red grape varieties : Gamay

– Red grape varieties : Cabernet Franc

– Red grape varieties : Tannat

– Red grape varieties : Grenache Noir

– Red grape varieties : Petit Verdot

– Red grape varieties : Negrette

– Red grape varieties : Mondeuse

– Red grape varieties : Mourvèdre

– Red grape varieties : Carignan

– Red grape varieties : Cinsault

– Red grape varieties : Nielluccio

– Red grape varieties : Sangiovese

– Red grape varieties : Zinfandel

– Red grape varieties : Pinotage

– Red grape varieties : Tempranillo

Wine and food pairings

French and International wine and food pairings

– Wine and food pairings in Bordeaux

– Wine and food pairings in Alsace

– Wine and food pairings in Beaujolais

– Wine and food pairings in Burgundy

– Wine and food pairings in Champagne

– Wine and food pairings in Provence and Corsica

– Wine and food pairings in Languedoc-Roussillon

– Wine and food pairings in South-West

– Wine and food pairings in Rhône Valley

– Wine and food pairings in Loire and Poitou Charente

– Wine and food pairings in Savoie, Bugey and Jura

– World wine and food pairings

Specific wine and food pairings

– Chocolate and wine pairings

– Cheese and wine pairings

– Final exam

Œnologie

– Wine composition

– Vinification of white wines

– Vinification of red wines

– Vinification of rosé wines

– Vinification of sweet white wines and fortified wines

– Vinification of sparkling wines

– Wine and wood

French Wine Regions

– The Bordeaux vineyards

– The Southwest vineyards

– The Loire Valley vineyards

– The Champagne vineyards

– The Alsace and Lorraine vineyards

– The Burgundy vineyards

– The Beaujolais vineyards

– The Jura vineyards

– The Savoie and Bugey vineyards

– The Rhône Valley vineyards

– The Languedoc-Roussillon vineyards

– The Provence and Corsican vineyards

Vineyards of the world

– Vineyards of Italy

– Vineyards of Spain

– Vineyards of Portugal

– Vineyards of Greece

– Vineyards of Germany

– Vineyards of Austria

– Vineyards of USA

– Vineyards of Chile

– Vineyards of Argentina

– Vineyards of Australia

– Vineyards of New Zealand

– Vineyards of South Africa

– Vineyards of China

Soft drinks

– Refreshingnon-alcoholic drinks

– The tea

– The coffee

– The chocolate

Alcohols and alcoholic beverages

– Fermented drinks : Beers

– Fermented drinks : Ciders and Calvados

– Appetizers

– Distillation

– White eaux-de-vie

– Cognac and Armagnac

– Whiskeys and derivatives

– The Rums

– The liquors

– Sake

Cocktails

– The world of the bar

– Bar equipment

– Cocktails history

– Cocktails classification

– Gin-based cocktails

– Whiskey-based cocktails

– Rum-based cocktails

– Cognac-based cocktails

– Vodka-based cocktails

– Sparkling cocktails

– Non-alcoholic cocktails

– Various cocktails

– Creating cocktails

The service of wines and alcohol

– The service of wines

– The service of red wine

– The service of white and sparkling wine

– The service of an alcohol

The basic rules of tasting

– The sommelier’s tools

– Visual

– Olfactory

– Gustatory

– Analysis and synthesis

Coming to Bordeaux

To help you in your search :

Our address is the 108 Quai des Chartrons 33000 Bordeaux (opposite the Hangar 14)

The tram B passes just in front of the school (tram stop: Cours du Médoc)

Most students look for room-mates online as Bordeaux is a giant University town with over one quarter of a million students (second largest student population in Europe), so people are looking for room-mates or people are renting rooms for students all the time.

** It is a good idea however to organize your lodging in advance, as most schools start at the beginning of September in Bordeaux **

Prices range anywhere from 250- 400 Euros/month for sharing (room-mate) a room and 400 – 600 Euros/month for having your own room completely furnished

Here are some useful links in your search :