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About Us
Our Story
Wa Wine Guild
Education from Grape to Glass!
The Washington Wine Professionals (dba WA Wine Guild) is a Walla Walla based 501c3 non-profit alcohol industry educational organization, helping illuminate, elevate and educate alcohol industry professionals and enthusiasts. The WA Wine Guild is founded and led by Christopher Chan, Advanced Sommelier CMS, Wine, Beer, Cider and Spirits educator, special events and hospitality expert.
The WA Wine Guild will strengthen and embolden the alcohol industry by offering a common educational curriculum specifically curated for producer tasting room employees/staff/owners. “I believe knowledge is power, power is confidence, confidence builds trust, trust is the foundation of a good relationship, a good relationship is reciprocated, often in a purchase. The WA Wine Guild will ensure our industry is reading the first 3 chapters of the same book and using common vocabulary to communicate to the consumer…” says Chan. “Everyone wants to be seen as smart when they speak upon a subject, so, let’s arm our front line and make consumers #WAWine ambassadors with the right knowledge they can beam about.”
Our Mission
The WA Wine Guild’s mission is to establish and exercise a foundational knowledge base for all PNW alcohol industry professionals so that the heritage, history, facts, methods, styles, technology, terrain and terroir are communicated concisely, consistently and conversably to the consumer.
Industry professionals are the key to helping lift sales and customer appreciation by educating and elevating a guest’s experience with factual and forthright information, context and terminology. This will be achieved with the Washington Wine Certified curriculum and examination.