In stark contrast among a world population of almost 8 billion, there are less than 400 Masters of Wine. Suffice to say, this is an elite crowd.

While one might infer the circle of wine experts is small, it’s promising to know that with Internet courses and multiple wine education programs introduced to wine enthusiasts eager to learn, the space is growing. Not everyone needs or wants to become an MW. Most people want to learn about wine for the social benefits alone.

To communicate in corporate circles or among friends, oenophiles don’t have to go to the extreme of becoming an MW to fit in; in fact, most do so to climb the corporate ladder. There are also a series of sommelier and wine education courses meant to propel careers within the wine industry, such as a WSET (Wine, Spirits Education Trust) certification. Four levels begin the groundwork in growth to learn about New and Old World wines, but some people simply want to learn the basics and a bit beyond – and take levels 1 and 2, skipping the diploma.

For those who find wine intimidating, Napa Valley Wine Academy offers online courses that are approachable and affordable. Best of all, you don’t have to live in Napa Valley to enroll. This ever-expanding school of wine knowledge offers a series of non-WSET wine courses meant to enhance your wine speak.

For $125, you can take an online Wine 101 Foundation course and receive an introduction to all aspects of wine knowledge. Most people are curious why wine tastes a certain way, and through this course, the answers are revealed in an easy to understand format. To know wine-speak among social circles is to know the major grape varieties, wine regions and a bit of the wine-making processes that help create character in a wine. Added to this focused education are lessons on how to pair foods with wines – who wouldn’t want to sign up?

For those who want to step up a level and become a certified American Wine Expert (AWE), there’s a course online for $595 that will educate you on wines in the U.S. market.

To find out more about the online courses offered at Napa Valley Wine Academy, visit https://napavalleywineacademy.com/