Top Exam Scorers

Bruno Vianna, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • I recommend to students to take advantage of the full FWS toolset, including e-learning lessons and quizzes, all very informative and helpful.
  • Executive Director & Professor, Brazilian Society of Sommeliers - SBSomm
  • WSET Diploma
Congratulations to Bruno Vianna, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Bruno: I’m a wine professional, Executive Director at the Brazilian Society of Sommeliers (SBSomm). I was a founder in 2002 and acted as its president for 14 years. I’m professor and Program...

Audrey Herd-Smith, IWS

Andrea Mcewan IWS
  • The IWS programs are very complete and offer an amazing level of education that goes beyond the basics and is very detailed.
  • Sales Manager, Manhattan NY, Vineyard Brands
  • WSET Level 3
Congratulations to Audrey Herd-Smith, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Audrey: I have worked for Vineyard Brands a wine importer since 1992 to 2007 and then again since 2015 in New York. I also worked as an Antinori Wine Specialist for Ste Michelle Wine...

Waka Takagi, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • The FWS program provided additional knowledge on history, culture, geography...It also gave me confidence to pursue my passion in the field.
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • WSET Levels 1 & 2
Congratulations to Waka Takagi, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Waka: As an amateur wine enthusiast, my wine study journey began by trying to “decode” the descriptive information written on the wine labels, mostly the Old World Wines, where they often do...

Jörg Philipp, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • I managed to find an education system and manual, that structured (my knowledge) and added many more layers to the picture.
  • Founder, Vinoria Wine Education
  • WSET Level 2, Spanish Wine Scholar
Congratulations to Jörg Philipp, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Jörg: I am a wine professional always looking for something new. My main field is the consulting of wineries for the Chinese market, as well as importers in China. My career started in a wine...

Tommy Trull, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • The French Wine Scholar program's intense course of study has given me incredible insight into one of the most complex and significant homes of viti- and viniculture on the planet.
  • Wine Director, Seaboard Wine Bar & Taproom
  • WSET Level 2, WSET Level 3
Congratulations to Tommy Trull, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Tommy: I'm currently Wine Director for Seaboard Wine Bar & Taproom, a growing company (three more locations on the way!) in Matthews, North Carolina. I curate the wine program for the company's...

Roberto Colombi, SWS

Andrea Mcewan SWS
  • I found so much quality, value and exciting alternatives to the mainstream grape varietals that I can’t wait to work on my next wine program.
  • Owner, Union Provisions
  • Levels 1 & 2 Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET Levels 2 & 3
Congratulations to Roberto Colombi, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors with the Florida Wine Academy! About Roberto: I grew up in the country side of Italy, in a family that always loved wine and with several relatives already in the hotel and restaurant business.My...

Paul Van Calster

Andrea Mcewan Rhone
  • The Master-Level Program helps gives me more ‘body’ in discussions with winemakers and clients.
  • Owner, WIJNPASSIE DENTELLES DE MONTMIRAIL VOF
  • WSET Level 3, French Wine Scholar
Congratulations to Paul Van Calster for passing the Rhône Master Level exam with highest honors! About Paul: Born 31/12/1954. My professional career : 43 years in KBC (retailbank), from Junior Clerk to Office-Director with 12 employees.Wine-enthusiast since the beginning of the 1980’s starting...

Yunkyung Lee, IWS

Andrea Mcewan IWS
  • My successful completion of the IWS program has given me the courage to pursue more advanced wine studies.
  • CEO and Educator, Wineleaders (online Wine Education)
  • Master Sommelier; WSET Levels 1, 2 & 3; French Wine Scholar; Spanish Wine Scholar
Congratulations to Yunkyung Lee, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Yunkyung: I have worked as a Sommelier and Restaurant Manager in Korea and Singapore. Participated in a national Sommelier competition 3 times and took the 1st prize in the year of 2007, 2nd...

Rene Reed, IWS

Andrea Mcewan IWS
  • For our business, the knowledge has helped me to procure great Italian wines at good value pricing.
  • Co-owner / Wine Buyer, George’s Pastaria
  • Level 1 Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET Level 3
Congratulations to Rene Reed, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Rene: I started taking classes so that I could communicate better with our Wine Sales Reps. I sometimes felt they would sell our Italian restaurant whatever their wine of the week might be. I...

Stephen Gilgunn, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • I found it to be very thorough and informative and it has made me want to continue my wine education.
  • Wine Enthusiast
Congratulations to Stephen Gilgunn, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Stephen: I studied to be a chef in my native Ireland before moving to Paris many years ago. After working as a chef in Paris I decided that I would like to work front of house and so I...

Thomas B Burckell, SWS

Andrea Mcewan SWS
  • The Spanish Wine Scholar program allowed me to turn my passion into tangible knowledge.
  • Wine Enthusiast
Congratulations to Thomas B Burckell, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Thomas: In 1972 my girlfriend, now wife of forty-two years, and I, were introduced to Spanish Wine as fifteen-year-old summer exchange students. Since our first encounter my love for...

Bart Crols, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • FWS raised my interest in French wine regions, grapes and processes I had hardly heard of.
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • WSET Level 3
Congratulations to Bart Crols, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Bart: I only got the wine “virus” when I met my wife. My late father-in-law had a real interest in wine and several books, a.o. Hugh Johnson’s World Atlas of Wine. As I learned to appreciate the...

Duc Tran, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • I would love to start a career in wine, and the FWS program has greatly contributed to a knowledge, understanding, and passion that I want to share with others.
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • WSET Leve 2, WSET Level 3
Congratulations to Duc Tran, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Duc: I am an enthusiast and a collector who really enjoys learning about wine. I got bit by the wine bug twelve years ago while at a fancy restaurant downtown with a couple of friends. After...

Christopher Jon Pares, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • The knowledge and thoroughness that the FWS course offers is exactly the kind of thing a somm like me needs to survive, and eventually thrive, in the France-obsessed New York wine scene.
  • Sommelier, Oceana
  • Certified Sommelier, Italian Wine Scholar
Congratulations to Christopher Jon Pares, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar with highest honors! About Christopher: I’m a native New Yorker, working in Manhattan restaurants since 2008. In 2011, I met a sommelier at work for the first time; it was a job I didn’t know existed. I wanted to...

Alexander Lomas, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • There's no doubt it has added value not only to my current roles but within the industry as a whole and I’d certainly recommend the program to both professionals & enthusiasts alike.
  • Wine Educator, Newcastle Wine School
  • WSET Level 2, WSET Level 3
Congratulations to Alexander Lomas, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Alexander: I am wine professional based in Newcastle upon Tyne in England UK. I currently work as a lead tutor at www.newcastlewineschool.com where I host informal tastings open to everyone...

Kevin Welch, FWS

Andrea Mcewan Rhone
  • The manual is packed with information about the entire Rhône Valley, and the information is presented in an organized and concise manner.
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • WSET Level 2, French Wine Scholar
Congratulations to Kevin Welch for passing the Rhône Master Level exam with highest honors! About Kevin: I am a surgeon and wine enthusiast who became interested in wine after sharing a bottle of Chateauneuf du Pape with my (then) future father-in-law nearly 20 years ago. Since that time, I have...

Marc-André Alain, SWS

Andrea Mcewan SWS
  • The Spanish Wine Scholar program really made a world of difference in the way I approach the wines from this country.
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • WSET Level 2
Congratulations to Marc-André Alain, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Marc-André: I have been a wine enthusiast for many years, but my real interest to learn more about this subject, including the understanding of where the wine I buy comes from and how it...

Kazuyo Okamura, FWS, SWS, IWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • These have helped me a lot to gain detailed knowledge and historical and political background.
  • Wine Enthusiast
  • WSET Level 3
Congratulations to Kazuyo Okamura, FWS, SWS, IWS, for passing all three Wine Scholar exams with highest honors! About Kazuyo: Since I lived and studied International relations and Diplomacy in Paris as a student, I have been a huge wine enthusiast. Later I have worked in the financial and media...

Kevin Day, FWS

Andrea Mcewan FWS
  • I am also excited to taste French wine now with this education as a backdrop...The journey never truly ends!
  • Editor in Chief, Opening a Bottle
  • Italian Wine Scholar with highest honors
Congratulations to Kevin Day, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Kevin: I am first and foremost a wine writer, and the editor-in-chief of my own wine publication centered on French and Italian wine called Opening a Bottle, which has around 180,000 readers...

Alexandre Ma, SWS

Andrea Mcewan SWS
  • The SWS program is absolutely the best and the most detailed Spanish wine study program in the World.
  • Founder & Education Director, AMA Education
  • Italian Wine Scholar, WSET Diploma
Congratulations to Alexandre Ma, SWS for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Alexandre: My wine dream was taking off from my dear hometown Ningxia, where you can find some pretty iconic Chinese wines. After almost a decade of studies and works from Rhone Valley to...