February 3, 2026 (Napa, CA & Seattle, WA) — Napa Valley Wine Academy (NVWA), the world’s leading provider of wine education, today announced a strategic partnership with the Washington State Wine Commission to develop and launch a dedicated Washington Wine Learning Platform, a new digital education hub designed to elevate trade and industry understanding of Washington wines.
The platform, developed by Napa Valley Wine Academy for The Washington State Wine Commission, is scheduled to go live in May 2026 and will serve as Washington State Wine Commissions’ central online destination for structured wine education.
At the core of the platform will be a flagship Introduction to Washington Wines course, created collaboratively by NVWA and The Washington State Wine Commission and delivered through NVWA’s proprietary learning technology and instructional design framework. The course is designed to build confidence, fluency, and credibility among trade professionals who communicate about Washington’s regions, wines, and producers.
“This partnership reflects a shared commitment to long-term, high-quality wine education,” said Christian Oggenfuss, Founder and CEO of Napa Valley Wine Academy. “Washington is producing some of the most compelling wines in the world, and this platform brings together Washington State Wine Commission’s regional expertise with NVWA’s global leadership in wine education to create a best-in-class learning experience for the trade.”
Through the partnership, Napa Valley Wine Academy will design and develop the digital learning platform and educational architecture, while working closely with the Washington State Wine Commission to ensure the content remains authentic, regionally accurate, and aligned with Washington’s educational and promotional goals.
“This collaboration allows us to invest in education at a new level,” said Kristina Kelley, Executive Director of the Washington State Wine Commission. “Our trade partners and industry members have identified education as a key priority, and we believe the Napa Valley Wine Academy is the ideal platform to strengthen how Washington wines are understood and represented in the larger marketplace.”
The Washington Wine Learning Platform will feature interactive digital coursework, maps, assessments, and certification, with the flexibility to support future Washington-focused educational modules as the program evolves. The platform is intended for trade professionals, educators, and approved industry participants.
Additional details regarding enrollment and access will be announced closer to the May 2026 launch.
About Napa Valley Wine Academy
Founded in Napa, California, Napa Valley Wine Academy (NVWA) is North America’s leading wine education provider and the largest provider of WSET® programs in the Americas. NVWA delivers globally recognized certification and professional development programs across wine, spirits, beer, and sake, serving both aspiring enthusiasts and industry professionals.
With students in more than 20 countries, NVWA is widely recognized for its academic rigor, innovative digital learning platforms, and commitment to student success. The Academy partners with regional wine bodies, trade organizations, and global institutions to design custom education programs that build knowledge, confidence, and credibility in the marketplace.
NVWA’s programs are developed and delivered by a world-class faculty of educators and industry experts and are supported by proprietary learning technology and instructional design frameworks that set the standard for modern beverage education.
To learn more, visit napavalleywineacademy.com
About the Washington State Wine Commission
The Washington State Wine Commission (WSWC) represents every licensed winery and wine grape grower in Washington State. Guided by an appointed board, the mission of the WSWC is to drive growth of Washington Wine through Marketing, Communications, and Viticulture & Enology Research. Funded almost entirely by the industry through assessments based on grape and wine sales, WSWC is a state government agency established by the legislature in 1987. To learn more, visit www.washingtonwine.org.