About
Where wine comes to life, from vine to bottle to glass.
The Northwest Wine Academy was born in 2004 as the first working and teaching winery of its kind in Western Washington. That distinction still holds today, and it's what makes us unlike any other program you'll find.
Whether you're taking your first steps into the wine industry, deepening your professional expertise, or simply following a lifelong passion for wine, you've found the right place.
Hands-on learning, for real.
Our students don't just study wine. They make it.
Wine Production students get their hands in the harvest, picking and crushing grapes, then guiding wines through every stage of production. Sales and Marketing students develop the materials that bring those wines to market and run the events in our own tasting room. The classroom extends well beyond four walls.
Along the way, you'll build connections that matter. Volunteer opportunities with local wineries and industry events give you real experience and real relationships in a field where both count.
Study your way.
Take a single class to explore your interest, or go all the way. We offer Certificates and Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degrees in both Wine Production and Marketing & Sales of Food & Wine. You can pursue credentials at your own pace, on your own terms.
Award-winning wines, made by students like you.
Since our first vintages released in 2005, Northwest Wine Academy wines have earned medals at prestigious competitions year after year. Those aren't our wines, they're yours. Student-produced, hand-crafted, and recognized for excellence.
Your journey in wine starts here.
Vision
To transform passionate learners into confident wine professionals, through a one-of-a-kind program where real vineyards, real production, and real industry experience are part of every student's journey.
Mission
The Northwest Wine Academy prepares skilled, work-ready professionals who are equipped to meet the evolving needs of the wine, food service, and hospitality industries — through rigorous hands-on training, industry partnerships, and a learning environment unlike any other in the Pacific Northwest.
Objectives
- Hands-on learning - in spaces built for the wine industry.
- Discover the full story behind every pour, from vine to glass.
- Walk away with the skills employers in the wine industry are looking for.
Your passion for wine brought you here. We'll give it somewhere to go.
The Industry
Washington wine is a big deal. And it's only getting bigger.
Washington state is the second-largest wine producer in the nation, and the industry's roots run deep. Wine grapes were first planted at Fort Vancouver by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1825, and what began as a modest agricultural experiment has grown into an economic powerhouse. According to the Washington Wine Commission, the state is home to more than 800 wineries and 350 grape growers, producing over 40 varietals and 12.5 million cases of wine annually, generating an $8.6 billion impact on Washington's economy.
That kind of scale means one thing for people who love wine: opportunity.
A wine career is more than a dream. It's a real path.
Careers in the Washington wine industry span far more than the vineyard. Whether you're drawn to the science of winemaking, the artistry of the sommelier, or the strategy behind wine marketing and branding, there's a place for your passion in this industry. The Northwest Wine Academy exists to help you find it, and to give you the hands-on training and credentials to pursue it with confidence.
Our Faculty
Our instructors are highly-qualified, well known and respected wine industry veterans who bring a wealth of expertise and experience to the classroom, ensuring that students are well-prepared to enter the job market after graduation, or progress in their current careers.
Our Students
Northwest Wine Academy students come from all over the world, with a variety of backgrounds. They include career changers, industry professionals seeking career advancement skills and those who want to explore and learn about wine. Current and graduating program students work in supervisory and management positions as winemakers, importers, restaurant owners, marketing professionals, and sommeliers.