Certified Rioja Wine Educator - November 2026

Only available for candidates selected by the Control Board of the Rioja DOCa

Application deadline: 30th June 2026

Tentative dates of the study trip: 2nd to 6th November 2026

The Certified Rioja Educator Programme is an exclusive initiative designed to train wine professionals as certified specialists in Rioja wines. Combining comprehensive online study with immersive on-site training, the programme ensures the highest standards of knowledge, rigour, and communication excellence, developing educators capable of sharing both the expertise and passion that define Rioja.

We are looking for committed, dynamic and proactive professionals who already teach, train, or communicate about wine and who can envision meaningful ways to integrate Rioja into their educational activities, events, and courses.

Graduates of the programme will be recognised as Certified Rioja Educators, authorised to deliver official Rioja courses both in person and online through wine schools, training centres, and online educational platforms.

Programme Structure

Phase 0: Application & Selection
Candidates must submit a CV and cover letter outlining their motivation and how they plan to incorporate Rioja into their educational activities. Applicants will be evaluated based on the submitted documentation and a possible online interview in English, taking into account personal motivation, professional background, educational qualifications, and outreach capacity. In addition, we seek to ensure geographic and intersectional diversity and value prior engagement with Rioja or Rioja Wine Academy.

Phase One: Online Training
Selected candidates will gain access to an in-depth online course covering Rioja’s geography, history, viticulture, winemaking and marketing aspects. This phase concludes with a final exam that must be passed within a set timeframe to progress to the next stage. 

Estimated duration of the online course: 30 hrs.

The final exam consists of 30 multiple-choice questions, which you will have to answer within a time limit of 30 minutes. In order to pass, you must answer 75% of the questions correctly. You have a maximum of 2 attempts.

Phase Two: Study Trip
A highlight of the programme, this five-day English-language course from Monday 2nd to Friday 6th November 2026, taking place in the heart of the Rioja region.
Participants will immerse themselves in Rioja’s culture and landscape, meeting local experts and fellow trainees while taking part in technical workshops, guided tastings, and exclusive visits to wineries and vineyards. This immersive experience is designed to provide a deep, authentic understanding of Rioja through hands-on activities that complement and build on the online learnings.

Accommodation, local transport in Rioja, and lunches during visits are included. Participants are responsible for organising and funding their own travel to Logroño.

Please note: The dates for on-site study trip are currently tentative and may be adjusted in response to scheduling conflicts or other circumstances. Any changes will be communicated to applicants before acceptance.

Phase Three: Final Project
To complete the certification, participants will submit a written project of 1000-2000 words on a topic assigned by the Control Board. This final assessment will demonstrate both their understanding of Rioja, combining theoretical and practical insights, and their ability to communicate its values effectively in an educational context.

If you are someone involved in wine education and training, with at least two years’ experience, command of languages and keen to be a Rioja ambassador, you are the ideal candidate for this role. 

Requirements

• Proven experience and active involvement in the wine industry for at least 2 years
• Already involved in wine education, training or communication
• Languages - strong command of English
• WSET 3/4 or equivalent strongly recommended
• Completed WSET educator training is a plus
• Good communication skills
• Strong commitment

Certified Rioja wine educators will make several commitments to be eligible to maintiain their certification.

To apply, simply click the "Request Access" button at the top of the page. Questions about the program can be directed to academy@riojawine.com.