We would like to take the opportunity to answer a few commonly asked questions regarding our events. We hope these answer most of the questions you may have. We look forward to seeing you at our events and we thank you for making The Washington Wine Academy the premiere wine education resource in the DC area!

Q: Do you serve dinner at your events?

A: Generally, we serve a variety of cheese, fruit and sliced bread to cleanse the palate between the various flights of wine, unless it is one of our featured wine dinners such as the “On the Town” program, in which case the menus are usually noted in the event information. Another exception would be our “Pairing with Food: The Ultimate Purpose of Wine” where food samples are served in conjunction with the tasting.

Q: Why do you have so many different educational events?

A: In order to best fulfill the needs and requests of our members, we have carefully planned out a variety of different events designed to allow people to feel comfortable regardless of their current level of knowledge. If you’re completely new to wine, our “ABC’s of Wine” is the class to start with. If you have some wine knowledge but would like to learn a little more about the generalities of wine, our “Up to Speed” 3-night program or one of the “A Study of Styles” sessions is recommended. If you have an interest in learning more about the wines from particular regions such as Bordeaux, Napa Valley or Chianti, look into our PASSPORT program. For professionals or restaurant personnel in the wine industry looking to earn certifications and enhance their careers, we recommend the PASSPORT program in conjunction with the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust).

Q: What time should I arrive for these events?

A: It is recommended that all members and guests arrive at the scheduled start time, as we often host a champagne or sparkling wine reception immediately prior to the event, which gives the attendees a few minutes to meet and mingle with each other and with our staff.

Q: Is there parking nearby?

A: The Washington Wine Academy places a high emphasis on convenience for our members and guests, and we always post the closest available Metro lines or parking garage options on the event information notice to accommodate both the public transportation commuters as well as those who elect to drive to the event.

Q: How much wine do you end up drinking during the event?

A: We typically taste and sample seven to ten wines, with an average pour of 2 oz. per wine. We provide Styrofoam cups and dump buckets to expel the wines after tasting, as this enhances the experience and is standard at all professional wine tastings. We usually offer cheese, fruit and sliced bread as well as ice water to each patron to accompany the wine served. The Washington Wine Academy is committed to the enjoyment of our guests and upholding the compliance regulations of all jurisdictions and reserves the right to refuse service to intoxicated guests, as this may distract other patrons.


If you have any additional questions please feel free to call our office at (703) 971-1525 to discuss. We are happy to post additional frequently asked questions, and look forward to seeing you at our events!