Capital Wine School

09/02/2026

11 Oregon Pinots. 90 Minutes. One Master of Wine. 🍷

If you love Pinot Noir, this is a tasting you’ll want on your calendar.

Join Jay Youmans MW for an in-person exploration of Oregon’s Willamette Valley and the styles that have helped make it one of the world’s most exciting Pinot Noir regions.

You’ll taste 11 wines from acclaimed producers including Beaux Frères, Bergström, Ponzi, Archery Summit, Cristom, Domaine Drouhin, Nicolas-Jay and more.

Along the way, Jay will explore:

• The differences between key Willamette Valley sub-AVAs, including Dundee Hills, Eola-Amity Hills, Ribbon Ridge and the Chehalem Mountains
• How soil, elevation and clone selection influence style
• What separates Oregon Pinot Noir from examples from Burgundy and California
• Why the region has earned such strong critical attention over the past two decades

Expect an impressive lineup ranging from the 2019 Appassionata Allegro to the 2024 Domaine Drouhin Dundee Hills Pinot Noir, with plenty to compare, discuss and discover along the way.

📅 Saturday, September 12, 2026
⏰ 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 Capital Wine School, Washington, DC
🎟️ $115 / 🍷 11 Oregon Pinot Noirs
🎓 Led by Jay Youmans MW
📲 Register at https://tinyurl.com/3mk577xy

Pinot lovers, this one is for you!

09/01/2026

🐑🍇 Can we talk about the unsung heroes of the vineyard for a second? We just had to share this post.

Not your typical vineyard workers.
Our sheep are part of the system, moving through the vineyards to support soil health and biodiversity through rotational grazing.
They take their job seriously.
The secret is in our soil.

08/31/2026

🍾🥂 Our Champagne Specialist 2-Day Intensive is coming this OCTOBER!

Presented in partnership with Comité Champagne, this immersive certification dives deep into Champagne's history, terroir, production, and style ~ taught by Jay Youmans MW and Kasia White DipWSET.

📅 October 24 & 25, 2026 | 9 AM–5 PM
💰 $795 / Space is limited
🥂 Register / Learn more @ https://tinyurl.com/5by7d7td

Day 1: Terroir & the Champenoise method, tasting techniques, workshops (Perfect Pairing, The Champagne Game) + 6 Champagnes tasted

Day 2: Recommending, serving & storage, workshops (The Cellar Master, The Wine Merchant), 6 more Champagnes tasted, and the final exam

✔️ Includes: 14 Champagnes total, PDF study booklet, online prep modules, and final exam

Ideal for sommeliers, retailers, importers, and serious wine enthusiasts ready to master one of the world's most celebrated sparkling wines.

Please note: pre-course prep is required, so early registration is recommended. Our classroom is on the second floor with no elevator access.

08/28/2026

Today we want to know: who's in the Claudia Chamberlain Alumni Club? 🙋‍♀️🙋🏾‍♂️

Raise your glass 🍷 (or your WSET pins) if you've ever taken a class with the one and only Claudia Chamberlain, DipWSET!

From perfecting your swirl to understanding why Sancerre and Chablis don't run in the same circles, Claudia has educated and inspired so many of you here at Capital Wine School.

Drop a 🍇 in the comments if you've had the pleasure of taking a class with her.

08/27/2026

08/26/2026

Want more wine knowledge in your inbox? 🍷📚

Subscribe to our newsletter for upcoming classes, tastings, wine education, and new opportunities to keep learning.

You’ll find the signup link on the top left and bottom left of our website (capitalwineschool.com) ~ because there’s always another grape, region, or bottle worth discovering. 🍇

08/25/2026

We are absolutely loving this post from - THANK YOU so much! It means the world to us that you're enjoying the journey with us!

First day of school! For the past seven months or so, I’ve been having a blast self-studying wine. Reading books I’ve picked up here and there, trying bottles from Trader Joe’s or the liquor store down the street, and doodling my opinions has been so fulfilling for me, and a great way to dip my toes into the giant ocean that is the wine world. It’s been safe, low stakes, and ultimately non-serious; I’ve been getting a lot of things “wrong,” but relishing in the enjoyment that is drinking wine for drinking wine’s sake.
Now, I’m really excited to take things to the next level (literally) as I pursue WSET Level 2 through !

I look forward to having better language to describe what I’m tasting and more geographic, environmental and cultural context to inform my selections, but I’m also excited to be able to look back at this first chapter as a fun, silly introduction to this hobby.

Cheers to learning more but still keeping the fun part in! 🥂

08/24/2026

Willamette Valley Pinot Noir has spent two decades proving it doesn't need to imitate Burgundy to be great. 🍷✨

Join Jay Youmans MW, one of fewer than 500 Masters of Wine worldwide, for an in-person deep dive into Oregon's most celebrated red. We'll taste our way through sub-AVAs like Dundee Hills and Eola-Amity, unpacking how soil, elevation, and clone selection shape what ends up in your glass — and what actually separates Oregon Pinot from its Burgundian and Californian cousins.

🍇 Oregon Pinot Noir with Jay Youmans MW – In-Person Class
📅 September 12, 2026 | 5:30–7:00 PM
📍 Capital Wine School, Washington, DC
🎟️ Join us at https://tinyurl.com/3mk577xy / $115 | 1.5 hours

Tasting lineup announced closer to the date. Link in bio to reserve your seat ~ Jay's classes tend to sell out.

Please note: our building does not have an elevator; there are several flights of stairs to the second-floor classroom.

08/21/2026

🎉🎓 Announcing our WSET Diploma Graduates! 🍷🎓

Congratulations to the following students who recently completed their WSET Diploma in Wines with the Capital Wine School - we're so proud to be a part of your journey.

✦ Alexey Svotnev, DipWSET ~ Software Developer, Peace Corps
✦ Colin Williams, DipWSET
✦ Meg Nolan, DipWSET ~ Founder, The Preferred Pour
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WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines Eligibility: Students who have successfully completed the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines qualification are eligible to enroll in the WSET Diploma in Wines by registering for a WSET Diploma Unit D1 Wine Production course.

🍇 Our next Unit D1 course starts on October 14; learn more here https://tinyurl.com/yewaa8ec