INTRODUCTORY LEVEL 1 | 6 HOURS | CALIFORNIA WINE CAPSTONE
California Wine Certification Program: Capstone Level 1
Your introduction to one of the world's most exciting and iconic wine regions.
California produces some of the most celebrated wines in the world -- and there's far more to know than Napa Valley and Chardonnay. This introductory course gives you a rich, structured understanding of California wine from the ground up: its history, its landscape, its grapes, and its place on the global stage.
Over 6 engaging hours, you'll explore how California's unique geography -- from the Pacific Ocean to its mountain ranges -- shapes wine style, discover the key AVAs and iconic wineries that define the region, and understand what makes California one of the world's most important wine-producing nations.
Beginner-friendly, expertly taught, and the perfect starting point for anyone serious about California wine.
Introductory Level 1 | 6 Hours | Pricing announced soon
How the Capstone California Certification Works
Level 1 is your starting point, and the gateway to the full Capstone California Wine Certification Program.
1
Begin with the free California Wines 101 course to get familiar with the basics.
2
Complete the Level 1 course and study materials to prepare for your exam.
3
Pass the Level 1 exam to earn your Level 1 certification and become eligible for Level 2.
What you'll explore in Capstone California Level 1
HISTORY & HERITAGE
- Major eras in California wine history: Mission era, post-Gold Rush expansion, Prohibition, and modern resurgence
REGIONS & GEOGRAPHY
- The impact of Pacific Ocean influence and mountain ranges on viticulture
- The AVA framework including landmark regions such as Napa Valley and Sonoma County
- Map California's major wine regions and climatic influences
- Explain labelling and AVA concepts relevant to California
GRAPES & VITICULTURE
- Grape-growing practices and significant grape varieties
- Recognise leading varieties and typical wine styles by area
- Taste with reference to regional and stylistic benchmarks
CALIFORNIA ON THE WORLD STAGE
- Communicate California wine confidently to customers or audiences
- Understand what makes California one of the world's most important wine-producing nations
Course Details
Course Delivery
TBC, confirm with Sovna.
Assessment
TBC, confirm with Sovna.
Entry Requirements
TBC, confirm with Sovna.
Who is this course for?
Wine professionals and advanced enthusiasts who want recognised depth in California wine without duplicating the full WSET wine ladder.
Meet your WSET Certified Educator, Sovna Puri
Sovna Puri is India's leading WSET Certified Educator and an Approved Programme Provider with the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, London. She holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits and was recognised in the WSET Future 50.
She has spent over a decade teaching wine in classrooms, vineyards, restaurants, and corporate boardrooms across India. Her teaching is rooted in real-world experience. Wine is meant to be felt, not just memorised.
She approaches wine the way it is meant to be experienced: as part of a meal, a moment, and a culture. Students leave her sessions able to apply what they have learned the next time they open a bottle.
For first-time wine students, she keeps the WSET Level 1 day approachable, structured, and immediately useful. By the end of the session, complete beginners are tasting with a method and recognising what is actually in their glass.
What students say
*****
Sovna has taken me through WSET levels 1, 2 and 3. At level 3, one realizes just how complex a subject this is and how extraordinary it is for someone to not merely be able to master it, but to explain it so brilliantly.
*****
The course sparked my interest in wines. It made me realise that this is an excessively male-dominated industry. The industry needs more women, and I think trainers like Sovna are doing an excellent job in bringing more women to it.
4.9 stars from 812+ students on Google
Read all reviewsAbout the California Wine Certification Program: Capstone Level 1
California produces some of the most celebrated wines in the world -- and there's far more to know than Napa Valley and Chardonnay. This introductory course gives you a rich, structured understanding of California wine from the ground up: its history, its landscape, its grapes, and its place on the global stage.
LIST PRICE
Pricing announced soon
ALL INCLUSIVE
EARLY BIRD PRICE
To be announced
Be the first to get early bird pricing when the next batch is announced.
Limited seats per batch. No payment now.
All-inclusive: tasting samples, study materials, and exam fee.
What is included in your fee
- Tasting samples
- Study materials
- Exam fee
Course facts
- Duration
- 6 hours
- Total study time
- TBC
- Exam format
- TBC
- Pass mark
- TBC
- Delivery
- TBC
- Language
- English
- Entry requirement
- TBC
- Certificate issued by
- TBC
Next California Wine Capstone batch
Dates for the next California Wine Capstone batch will be announced shortly. Join the Early Bird Waitlist to receive first access to batch dates, early bird pricing, and priority enrolment.
Frequently asked questions
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Talk to Sovna before you enrol
Have a question about the California Wine Capstone programme, or want to discuss group and corporate enrolment? Sovna will answer directly.