Adult & Continuing Education Classes and Certificates

JWU's Charlotte Campus offers a wide variety of non-credit recreational cooking and wine education classes for all skill levels.

Chef's Choice Recreational Cooking Classes
Whether you're a novice or a serious amateur, our Chef's Choice cooking classes offer something for all skill levels and age groups. 

Wine and Spirits Certificate Programs
We offer non-credit beverage certifications in partnership with the world-renowned Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the Society for Wine Educators (SWE) and L’Ecole du Vin of Bordeaux.

These specialized programs for hospitality professionals and wine enthusiasts are tailored to varying degrees of expertise. You will earn a certificate for each level completed successfully.

To register, complete the form in the WSET Schedule and Registration (300K PDF). For more information, or to register by phone, contact Patricia DelBello at 980-598-1431.

Level 1: WSET Award in Wines This seven-hour class provides a basic introduction to the primary wine styles, grape varietals, tasting methods and food pairing techniques. It is ideal for wine enthusiasts, restaurant servers without prior formal wine education and those who wish to boost wine confidence for hospitality, retail or other front of the house positions in the industry.
Saturdays, 9am-4pm: September 21, 2013; January 18, 2014; February 15, 2014; March 15, 2014
Tuition: $199

Level 2: WSET Award in Wine & Spirits Covering key grape varieties wine styles of wine produced around the world, as well as the production of spirits and liqueurs, in this class you will learn the WSET systematic approach to tasting wine that will help you access wines in a structured format. Recommended for those in the retail, hospitality or wholesale areas of the wine and spirits industry who are interested in obtaining professional certification, as well as wine enthusiasts wishing to expand their knowledge and gain a broad view of wines produced around the world.
Summer: June 3, 10, 17, 24; every Monday for four consecutive weeks from 10am-2pm.
Final exam: June 24 from 2pm-3pm.
Fall: October 5, 6, 12, 13; Saturday and Sunday for two consecutive weeks from 10am-2pm.
Final exam: October 13 from 2pm-3pm.
Winter: January 29–March 5, 2014; every Wednesday night for five consecutive weeks from 6pm-9pm.
Final review and exam: March 5 from 6pm-8pm.
Tuition: $850

Level 3: WSET Advanced Award in Wine & Spirits This course provides a comprehensive look at the world of wines and spirits with an intense focus on the systematic approach to professionally tasting wines and is ideal for anyone wishing to expand their wine knowledge or to gain confidence and authority to make informed decisions in the wine and spirits trade industry. The course also provides the skills to advise management or customers on wine and spirit selections.
Fall: November 2, 9, 16, 23, 30; every Saturday for four consecutive weeks from 9am-4pm.
Final exam: November 30, 2013, 10am-1pm.
Spring: March 17 – May 5, 2014; every Monday evening for seven consecutive weeks from 5:30pm-9:30pm.
Final exam: May 5, 2014, 6pm-9pm.
Tuition: $1350