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April, 2008: Alexandria, Virginia. Washington Wine Academy partners with Reston Limousine to bring Virginia Winery day trips to the DC Metro area...

Washington Wine Academy’s (WWA) partnership with Reston Limousine will fill a gap missing in wine travel today…wine tastings made simple!

Travel on a Reston Limo mini-bus on one of the WWA’s “Virginia Wine Day Trips” and be treated to a day of tasting fine wine and culinary delights at some of Virginia’s outstanding wineries! The wineries visited will change monthly and it is important to continually check the WWA website to stay up-to-date on trip details. Trips will take place on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year.

Simply sit back, enjoy the scenery, relax and let Washington Wine Academy and Reston Limousine take care of the details.

 

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December, 2007: Alexandria, Virginia. Washington Wine Academy lauded by Washingtonian Magazine…

Washingtonian Magazine rates “Wine Night at the Movies” the Best thing to do on a Friday night in the DC area in their December 2007 “Best of” issue.

WWA’s “Wine Night at the Movies” held in conjunction with the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse is an outstanding value and entertainment worthy of all (21 and over, of course). This event combines a top blockbuster movie with an optional wine tasting presented by the trained staff of the Washington Wine Academy.

If you haven’t spent Friday night at Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse for this event, you are truly missing out on something special!

Get more information including the current showing and wine details at http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com

 

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November, 2007: Alexandria, Virginia. “Wine Arounds” abound! Washington Wine Academy brings us a new Urban Adventure in wine…

Washington Wine Academy (WWA) brings us a new venture and a great compliment to its popular Virginia Winery Tours. The new Wine Arounds partners WWA with Reston Limousines of DC and promises a monthly event where the participants are whisked to divine local eateries to sample their food and wine offerings.

Each month you will Board a Reston Limousine limo bus and head over to that month’s chosen restaurants, see the sights as you are guided through town with no worries of traffic or directions. Price will include transportation, tapas and wine samples.

More information can be obtained by subscribing to Washington Wine Academy’s monthly newsletter “Weekly Vine” the most up-to-date listing of WWA events…sign up for the “Weekly Vine” by visiting the WWA at http://www.WashingtonWineAcademy.org and click on the “Sign up for our Newsletters” button.

 

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May, 2007: Alexandria, Virginia. Washington Wine Academy announces the creation of the DC School of Beer; offering beer education to the DC area…

The DC School of Beer allows the Washington Wine Academy the ability to bring our concept of wine education to the world of beer with quality beer education for the entire DC Metro area.

Initial offerings will include an introductory course entitled “ABC’s of Beer” and a follow-up course “Beyond the ABC’s of Beer”. If you have ever wondered about the differences in beers...ales, lagers, IPA's and more classes at the DC School of Beer are meant for you!

Details on course offerings and our staff can be obtained by visiting us at http://www.washingtonwineacademy.org/DCSchoolofBeer.htm

 

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January, 2007: Alexandria, Virginia. Tom Finigan, CSW joins the Washington Wine Academy team …

Tom Finigan, CSW brings 10 years wine experience with him as he joins the WWA as a Faculty Speaker.

Tom’s honors include the coveted Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) from the Society of Wine Educators. And, Tom is a member of the American Institute of Wine and Food (AIWF) and just recently passed his "Wine Century", recognition for having tasted over 100 different grape varietals. Tom will be teaching the Intermediate Certificate - Level 2 courses for the Washington Wine Academy.

Washington Wine Academy welcomes Tom to their highly trained staff!

For more information on Tom please visit the WWA’s “Our Faculty and Staff” page at http://www.washingtonwineacademy.org/wwa-people.htm

 

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September, 2006: Alexandria, Virginia. Washington Wine Academy (WWA) announces “Wine Night at the Movies” in partnership with Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse

“Wine Night at the Movies” sponsored by the Washington Wine Academy and the Arlington Cinema ‘N’ Drafthouse brings outstanding new entertainment to Friday nights in the DC area.

Every Friday night at 6:15 PM Wine Night at the Movies combines a top box office movie or special event and a chance to enjoy fine wine. The scheduled event changes from week to week and always promises to be great entertainment. Enjoy an optional wine tasting run by the talented and trained staff of the WWA. Wine experts from the Washington Wine Academy will be on hand to discuss the select wines chosen for the event or talk about wines in general.

Visit http://www.arlingtondrafthouse.com/ for details on each week’s film or special event offering.

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October 2005: Georgetown Wine School to be a part of Washington Wine Academy

The Washington Wine Academy has graciously absorbed the membership of the Georgetown Wine School, previously run by Barry Bassin or Tasmin Imports and the Georgetown Wine & Spirits.

Barry has moved overseas and recommends the Washington Wine Academy

A note from Barry states, "There are various wine study programs offered in the Washington area. The one which I like best and recommend to you is the Washington Wine Academy.

Their lead instructor is Michael Franz, whose excellent wine columns you have no doubt read in the Washington Post and elsewhere. This is a quality wine education program and is worthy of your attention. You may find additional information about the Washington Wine Academy on their website, www.WashingtonWineAcademy.org.

Sincerely,

Barry Bassin
Georgetown Wine School"

We wish Barry all the best in his future endeavors in his new tropical home!

 

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July, 2005: Alexandria, Virginia. Washington Wine Academy (WWA) accepted as a Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Approved Training Center.

Washington Wine Academy is proud to announce its acceptance as a WSET training center. WSET was founded in 1969 and has grown into the foremost international body in the field of wines and spirits education, with a suite of sought-after qualifications.

For the Washington Wine Academy, acceptance by WSET as an Approved Training Center is a major goal achieved! “We are happy to be approved as a WSET training center, one of only 7 such centers in the United States. It is truly an honor that we have worked hard to gain. We will work even more diligently to properly represent the high level of education expected from the WSET centers.” states Jim Barker, President of the Washington Wine Academy.

Washington Wine Academy students can earn official WSET credentials -starting with the Intermediate Certificate, then the Advanced Certificate as well as Diploma offerings. “In the coming years, the Intermediate, Advanced, and Diploma levels of the WSET program will become essential credentials to anyone wishing to enter, or advance within the wine trade; I highly recommend this program to anyone wishing to attain a comprehensive knowledge of wine.”– Tom Finigan, CSW, Washington, DC.

Our staff is highly trained and includes graduates of the WSET Advanced Certificate - Level Three as well as WSET Diploma Certificate holders (Level Four).

Tom Finigan, CSW; Tom holds the Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and currently teaches the Intermediate Certificate - Level 2 courses for the Washington Wine Academy. Tom is a Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) with the Society of Wine Educators and just recently passed his "Wine Century", recognition for having tasted over 100 different grape varietals. Jason Whiteside, Country Vintner teaches the WSET Advanced Certificate Courses along with additional staff members listed on our Faculty Page.

For details on this impressive and new direction of the WWA, please visit their Wine Certification page at http://www.washingtonwineacademy.org/wine-certification.htm

 

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April 2004: Washington Wine Academy acquires the Washington DC Chapter of the Wine Brats Organization

The Washington Wine Academy is pleased to announce the recent acquisition of the former staff and members of the Wine Brats Washington, DC chapter.

This was made possible after the February 2004 dissolution of the national Wine Brat chapter structure (35 individual chapters across the US were shut down) by the National Wine Brat organization.

The Washington DC chapter (one of the largest and most active) needed a new home from which to host their fun and informal wine events. As the Washington Wine Academy has been member and friend of this local chapter for many years, we were glad to provide a new home for them.

See our event listing for all sorts of fun events previously hosted by the DC Wine Brats!