Wine Education

Stephanie Fox Lone Star Education

American Wine Society Education

AWS Lone Star Chapter Education

Stephanie Fox heads up the AWS Lone Star Chapter’s wine education program. Her wine expertise is available for Lone Star Chapter wine tasting events.

Stephanie is a diploma level member of the International Sommelier Guild. She is also a member of the Society of Wine Educators where she achieved the designation of Certified Specialist of Wine. Stephanie currently teaches Wine Certification classes for the International Sommelier Guild at El Centro College in Dallas. She also serves as a judge in prestigious wine competitions such as the Lone Star International Wine Competition.

She has visited numerous wineries throughout the world and has conducted educational sessions and tastings throughout the country. Her passion for wine led her to write the book Cheers Y'all. In addition, she has been involved in a few humble attempts at grape growing and winemaking and is a member of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association.

Wine Evaluation

Go to our Wine Evaluation web page for a discussion on how the American Wine Society evaluates wine.

Download a PDF copy of the AWS wine evaluation guide and evaluation chart.

National Tasting Project

The NTP is a wine education and tasting opportunity for AWS Chapters across the US. Each year the NTP committee chooses a theme and selects several widely available wines that show different styles within the theme. Chapters hold tastings to sample the wines and then see how their ratings compare to other AWS chapters. Go to the National Tasting Project of the American Wine Society website for more information.

AWS Wine Judge Certification Program

PURPOSE: To train and test AWS members in their ability to form objective, educated, and critical opinions on wines.

ELIGIBILITY: All participants must be current "paid" AWS members with at least two years of Chapter comparative tasting, or equivalent, are eligible when the prerequisites are fulfilled.

CURRICULUM: The overall program will be inclusive - for individuals who want to become competent judges and for those who want to learn how to evaluate wines better through advanced training. Attendance at annual AWS National Conferences is mandatory as this is where the sessions are held.

DURATION: Three years. The Level I classes (Year 1, 2, and 3) must be completed within a four year period, unless special permission is granted. Additionally, students must participate in judging at two competitions per year and manage one competition during the three year period (these verification forms will be given to participants and they must be signed by competition chairperson and sent to the WJCP Chair).

Go to the Wine Judge Certification Program of the American Wine Society website for more information.