Prince of Wine

What Prince of Wine does

Prince of Wine Academy is a privately held wine education company operating as an Approved Programme Provider of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET). The company offers a portfolio of six WSET certification courses across three credentialing levels — Level 1 (introductory), Level 2 (intermediate), and Level 3 (advanced) — delivered in both online and in-person formats. Course pricing ranges from $350 for Level 1 Online to $1,650 for Level 3 In-Person, with all revenue derived from one-time course enrollment fees that bundle instruction, materials, exam fees, and certificates. The online channel uses the third-party WSET Online Classroom platform with structured guided learning modules, videos, quizzes, and Secure Remote Invigilation for exams, while the in-person channel runs intensive classes out of a single classroom facility at 853 Atlantic Ave, Ste 202, Long Beach, CA, with cohort sizes that include tastings of 10 to 81 wines depending on level. The academy is founder-owned and operated by Walid Romaya, who holds the DipWSET and serves as Lead Instructor; no external funding rounds or institutional capital have been disclosed. The customer base is a horizontal mix of wine enthusiasts, hospitality and restaurant professionals, wine trade employees, and serious collectors, served globally for online courses and regionally (Southern California) for in-person classes, with a marketing presence across the company website, Facebook, X/Twitter, Instagram, and an email newsletter. A channel partnership with e-tasting.com extends the offering into approved at-home tasting kits for online students. The business operates with 1–10 employees and no public revenue disclosure; structurally it is a small, founder-led education services business whose core assets are the WSET accreditation, the founder's DipWSET credential, and proprietary supplemental study resources layered on top of the standardized WSET curriculum.

Name

Prince of Wine

Legal name

Prince of Wine Academy

Website

https://princeofwine.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Prince of Wine Academy is a WSET-accredited wine education company offering Level 1–3 certification courses in online and in-person formats, serving individual wine enthusiasts, hospitality professionals, and collectors through its Long Beach, CA headquarters and global online channel.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wine Education

NAICS

Exam Preparation and Tutoring (611691)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Bar & Beverage (Bartending/Mixology/Coffee/Tea) (EDAOAKAH)

Keywords

• Wine education courses
• WSET certification programs
• Wine tasting training
• Online wine classes
• Professional wine credentials

Headquarters

HQ city

Alpine

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Course Enrollment Fees: One-time fees for WSET certification courses including all course materials, enrollment, exam fees, and certificate. Prices range from $350-$1,650 depending on course level and delivery format (online vs in-person).
2. Certification and Materials: Revenue from providing official WSET certificates, lapel pins, textbooks, study guides, and digital course materials as part of course enrollment.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Prince of Wine Academy is a WSET Approved Programme Provider offering structured wine education certification courses across three levels (Level 1 introductory, Level 2 intermediate, Level 3 advanced), each delivered in both online self-paced and in-person classroom formats. Courses include WSET-issued certificates, lapel pins, study materials, and proctored exams, with hands-on tasting of 10 to 81+ wines depending on the level.

Product overview

Prince of Wine Academy operates as a wine education platform offering a portfolio of WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certification courses. The offering consists of six distinct products organized across three certification levels: Level 1 (introductory), Level 2 (intermediate), and Level 3 (advanced), each available in both online and in-person formats. Online courses provide flexible self-paced learning through the WSET Online Classroom with video modules and instructor support, while in-person courses deliver intensive classroom instruction with guided tastings. All six products collectively form a tiered educational pathway enabling students to progress from foundational wine knowledge through advanced wine expertise and professional-level certification.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• WSET Level 1 Award in Wines (Online) Introductory online wine course covering basic wine knowledge, tasting techniques using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting, and food pairing fundamentals. The four-week self-paced program includes WSET Online Classroom access, digital materials, interactive modules, quizzes, and a 30-question multiple-choice exam with a WSET-issued digital certificate. Priced at $350.
• WSET Level 2 Award in Wines (Online) Intermediate online course exploring grape varieties, wine regions, winemaking processes, and the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine. The five-week program covers 22 regionally important grape varieties across 70+ geographical indications, with weekly instructor support and a 50-question multiple-choice exam. Priced at $700.
• WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (Online) Advanced online wine qualification covering key factors in wine production, detailed study of still, sparkling, and fortified wines, and the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine. Includes 30 hours of guided learning, 54 hours of personal study, at least 6 wines tasted per unit, and WSET certificate and lapel pin upon completion. Priced at $1,499.
• WSET Level 1 Award in Wines (In-Person) One-day in-person introductory wine course covering grape growing, winemaking, principal wine styles, tasting techniques using the WSET Level 1 Systematic Approach to Tasting, and food pairing basics. Includes 6 hours of classroom learning, the study guide 'An Introduction to Wine', tasting of at least 10 wines, and a 45-minute 30-question multiple-choice exam. Priced at $395.
• WSET Level 2 Award in Wines (In-Person) In-person intermediate wine course covering principal and regionally important grape varieties, wine regions, winemaking factors, and tasting techniques using the WSET Level 2 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine. Includes the complete WSET Level 2 study pack with textbook, 16 hours of classroom delivery, tasting of at least 38 wines, and a 50-question multiple-choice exam. Priced at $895.
• WSET Level 3 Award in Wines (In-Person) Advanced in-person wine qualification requiring completion of Level 2 as a prerequisite. Covers wine production factors, principal still, sparkling, and fortified wines, and the WSET Level 3 Systematic Approach to Tasting Wine. Includes textbook, course specification booklet, student workbook, laminated SAT card, tasting of at least 80 wines, 38 hours of classroom learning plus 51.5 hours of private study, and a comprehensive 2.5-hour two-unit exam. Priced at $1,650.

Quantifiable outcome

• WSET certification enabling use of WSET certified logo on business cards and professional materials
• +1 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerWSET is the primary accreditation body for wine education. Prince of Wine Academy is an Approved Programme Provider offering WSET Level 1, 2, and 3 certifications. All course registration information is shared with WSET in England for exam ordering and candidate certification.
• e-tasting.comminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorApproved WSET wine kit supplier for at-home tasting experiences. Offers Level 1 tasting kit with ten 50ml WSET-approved samples and Level 2 wines tasting set for students to taste along during online courses.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• International Wine Center: NYC-based WSET-approved wine school delivering Levels 1–3 in classroom and online formats; directly comparable curriculum and audience to Prince of Wine.
• Napa Valley Wine Academy: WSET Approved Programme Provider based in California offering WSET Levels 1–3 in online and in-person formats; the closest direct competitor to Prince of Wine in both geography and product scope.
• Capital Wine School: Washington D.C.-based WSET Approved Programme Provider offering Levels 1–3 plus adjunct courses; mirrors Prince of Wine's in-person + online model in a different U.S. geography.
• Wine Folly: Online wine education platform and content publisher with strong consumer brand reach; competes with Prince of Wine for self-directed wine learners seeking paid learning experiences.

Emerging players

• GuildSomm: Independent sommelier training community offering credentialing through Court of Master Sommeliers and overlapping educational content for wine professionals and enthusiasts.

Broad incumbents

• WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust): The global accreditation body whose curriculum and credentials Prince of Wine delivers; the broadest incumbent in wine education and the source of the academy's competitive moat.

Regional players

• Grape Experience: U.S. wine education provider operating in-person and online certification courses; comparable category but primarily serving a different regional student base than Prince of Wine.

Others

• Society of Wine Educators: Industry credentialing body offering CSW and CWE wine certifications; competes with WSET at the certification layer and overlaps with Prince of Wine's professional student segment.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/princeofwine
• Facebookfacebook.com/Prince.Of.Wines
• Instagraminstagram.com/princeofwine
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prince-of-wine

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prince of Wine