Wine Industry Career Series: Give the Gift of Learning - The Wine Gift That Lasts a Lifetime

Napa Valley Wine Academy wine industry careers woman typing on a laptop, with a close-up of her hands on the keyboard and a partial view of her face.

It’s that time of year again when you start stressing over what to gift to get the wine or spirits enthusiast in your life. Can you even remember what you gave them last year? Can they? But what if this year were different?

What if you could give them a gift that could last—a lifetime? Something that would really enhance the enjoyment of their favorite beverage for years to come. Something that might even help them land a job in the wine and spirits industry. Forget the tchotchkes and latest gadgets that end up in the back of the kitchen drawer. This year, show them you really care with a gift that keeps on giving by giving the gift of learning.

A wine class is a great gift idea for the wine lover in your life. At the Napa Valley Wine Academy, our in-person and online classes start at just $49 and there are courses for beginners through advanced students. Some are just for fun (Enjoy Any Wine with Any Food), while others lead to resume-enhancing credentials (WSET).

Wine not their thing? Not to worry, we’ve got you covered with spirits and sake courses too! And, if you’re just not sure what class they’d like you can stuff their stocking with a gift card so they can choose the one that suits them best.

Beyond classes, we offer wine and whiskey aroma kits to delight your resident oenophile and help them hone their tasting skills for months or years to come.

Or, how about the ultimate gift—a one-on-one mentoring or coaching session with a Master of Wine or other industry experts, including career coaches, so your recipient can get guidance and advice from the best in the biz.

And the best part is, these gifts aren’t sitting on a container somewhere on the ocean waiting to hit the store shelves. We will not run out—I promise!!!

So this year, give your loved ones an experience they’ll never forget—one that will last a lifetime. Give the gift of learning.

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WSET Certified Educator, Instructor

Karen Wetzel

Karen Wetzel is a highly regarded, experienced Wine & Spirits Industry professional and a well-credentialed Wine & Spirits Educator. With over 30 years in the industry, she has experience in most every aspect of the distribution and supply chain and her expertise can help you jump start or advance your career. Starting as a sales rep, Karen has held key positions within the distribution and supplier network including Category Manager, National Accounts Manager, Director of Sales and Director of Wine Education. She has helped countless others advance their careers through mentorships and best-in-class sales training courses. She has also developed wine & spirits education programs for employees, distributors and restaurant/retail trade partners with the goal of helping them thrive in our industry. Karen is a WSET Certified Educator, has her WSET Level 3 in Wine & Spirits and WSET Level 2 in Spirits and holds expert certifications for Napa Valley, Rioja and American wines from the Napa Valley Wine Academy. Today, Karen teaches at the Napa Valley Wine Academy. She also develops career development content and coaches Wine & Spirits Industry Professionals.