The Scholarships

The Golden Vines® Wine Scholar Guild Scholarships offer scholars the opportunity to undertake their choice of the WSG’s extensive courses specialising in some of the world’s most interesting wine countries and regions. The Scholarships allow winners to deepen their expertise as they continue their career progression, while gaining industry-recognized credentials. Winners will also benefit from a 1-year WSG membership, giving them access to an active global community and abundant educational content and resources created by the world’s leading authorities in wine. These Scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the Barca-Velha Golden Vines® MW Scholarship Judging Panel to outstanding applicants who the Judges feel are not yet ready for the Diversity Scholarships, but who they wish to recognise and aid on their educational path.

Winners of this scholarship may select the WSG program that most closely aligns with their trajectory of study or career. Scholars may select either French Wine Scholar®, Italian Wine Scholar®, Spanish Wine Scholar®, German Wine Scholar®, Bordeaux Masters, Bourgogne Masters or Champagne Masters.

Wine Scholar Guild

Founded in 2005, Wine Scholar Guild is the only wine education provider to focus solely on the most influential wine regions of Europe, instilling a deep understanding of these wines, winemakers and their culture.

Wine Scholar Guild offers immersive, region-specific wine education through online, in-person and study abroad certification programs. WSG certifications set the industry standard for up-to-date and in-depth information through three distinct levels of study: Essentials, Scholar and Masters.

In addition to certification programs, WSG members become part of an active global community to go beyond the textbook with educational content and resources created by the world’s leading authorities in wine.

The Judges



  • Richard Bampfield MW

  • Nina Basset FIH, Gérard Basset Foundation

  • Joana Pais, Head of Prestige Marketing, Sogrape

  • Clement Robert MS, Liquid Icons

  • Jancis Robinson OBE MW

  • Luis Sottomayor, Head Winemaker, Casa Ferreirinha

  • Neil Tully MW, The Institute of Masters of Wine