Member Benefits
Wine Discovery. Wine Fun. Wine Friends.
Do more than taste wine – discover it!
The American Wine Society is all about making wine knowledge exciting and fun!
Members explore wine together, through relaxed chapter tastings, a magazine, national tasting events and much more. American Wine Society has a great reputation in the wine industry, with remarkable relationships with winemakers, wineries, and wine-related businesses around the globe that give members access to incredible wines and experiences.
AWS Chapters
AWS Education
AWS Resources
Partner Discounts
- Unique and informative wine tastings and other local chapter events.
- Join an existing chapter (or two) or start a new chapter – its up to you.
- Chapters are included in a $1 million general liability insurance policy carried by the American Wine Society (exclusions and limitations on alcohol consumption apply).
- A National Conference held in a different US location each year.
- The National Tasting Project that encourages members to taste and score wines, then compare to judged scores.
- A three year Wine Judge Certification Program.
- WineSmarts I and II educational programs offered at the national conference.
- American Wine Society Wine Journal magazine is published quarterly.
- American Wine Society News e-newsletter is published bi-monthly.
- Online educational materials.
- Member-only YouTube content.
- Discounted prices for Amateur and Commercial Wine Competitions.
- Recognition when visiting wineries and wine-related businesses around the US, many of whom offer discounts to card-carrying members.
- Wine cruises, tours, and Eastern Winery Exposition, travel discounts.
- Discounts through partners such as the Napa Valley Wine Academy, The National Wine School, The Wine Center, PhillyWine, and the Society of Wine Educators.
More than 6,000 American Wine Society members can’t be wrong.
Consumers and wine professionals are invited to…
“I always look forward to our monthly chapter events. They are a great opportunity to get together with people, make new friends and learn about wine.”
“American Wine Society is the best place for folks who have newly discovered their interest in wine. It gives them an opportunity to understand and appreciate what makes a good wine, or a bad wine, for that matter. “
“New members are able to spread their horizons by the mentoring of long time members, and of course the longtime members get to learn about new wines through the enthusiasm of new members. the circle of chapter life.”
“I enjoy being able to belong to more than one chapter and have even visited chapters in other states. Each one has its own unique personality and way of hosting tastings and I always learn so much.”
Member Discounts
Get the most value from your membership — Wine-Related Discounts
Among the many benefits of American Wine Society membership are wine discounts and wine education savings offered by our industry and other service partners. Most of these discounts could more than pay for your American Wine Society membership dues.
Contact the National Office (memberservice@americanwinesociety.org) for the exclusive promo codes for American Wine Society members.
Wine Education Discounts
Boost Your Wine Smarts
We’re all about wine exploration at the American Wine Society. In addition to less-formal educational chapter events, we offer classes at the national level, including Wine Judge Certification Training, our WineSmarts series, and National Training Project (NTP) instruction. Additional wine education opportunities are available though our education partners:
Napa Valley Wine Academy – 10% discount on published course prices, including Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), both online courses or live in Napa, Santa Barbara, Orlando, Tampa, Denver, Cleveland, Las Vegas or Nashville.
The National Wine School – As a token of appreciation for the Society’s members, the School offers a discount of up to $100 on all online wine courses for current members.
The fastest-growing sommelier accreditation agency in the USA, the National Wine School provides top-notch wine education through two platforms: a SCORM-compliant platform for university programming and a direct-to-student platform for online sommelier certification. Save 20% on tuition, up to $100. The discount does not apply to wine or other expenses.
The Wine Center – 10% discount on WSET II and WSET III online and in-person courses, exams must be taken in Nashville, St. Louis, Benton or Little Rock.
Phillywine – Discount on in-person WSET classes in Philadelphia
Society of Wine Educators – Discount on membership and programs, see below.
Winery & Restaurant Discounts
When You Visit
Your American Wine Society membership card identifies you as someone who is serious about wine. Many wineries and wine businesses appreciate your deeper interest in learning about their products and gladly offer free tastings, wine discounts and other perks.
Some wineries are American Wine Society Professional Members or American Wine Society Welcome Here participants, so they know us on some level. Other wineries have heard of us, and many have not. Next time you visit a winery, present your current membership card and see what happens. It may help to explain about American Wine Society’s educational focus. Always be courteous and remember that you represent American Wine Society. Don’t forget to buy wine!
Many members report great success, “easily saving the cost of membership on one weekend trip to wine country.”
SEMIFREDDO Italian Restaurant, Manassas, VA
Founder, Owner, and Chef for 23 years, Franklyn Hernandez, wants to share his passion for great dining and fine authentic Italian cuisine with AWS members. This special discount includes half-priced select wine bottles all day Tuesday and Wednesday and 20% for AWS members showing their AWS membership card all other days.
Society of Wine Educators Discount
As a member of ASW, you’re entitled to exclusive discounts from the Society of Wine Educators.
$99 SWE Membership:
• Access to SWE’s Member Portal (wine and spirits maps, blank maps, world updates for wine and spirits, and recorded webinars.)
• Members-only webinars
• Full access to the SWE Wine & Spirits Academy
• Discounted pricing for all SWE events and certification programs
$400 for the Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) or the Certified Specialist of Spirts (CSS)
• Certified Specialist of Wine
• Certified Specialist of Spirits
Free Online Prep Classes from SWE’s Director of Education, Jane Nickles, CSE, CWE
AWS Members can take SWE’s Online Prep Classes free of charge if they are a current SWE Member and have a current CSW/CSS Exam Credit.
$75 for the Hospitality/Beverage Specialist Certificate:
The Hospitality/Beverage Specialist Certificate (HBSC) is an entry-level, beverage knowledge program designed to fulfill the needs of the hospitality and culinary industries and their employees. The Beverage Specialist Certificate can also be used as an entry-level course for those planning to pursue higher levels of wine, beer, or spirits certification.
Eastern Winery Exposition Discount
Join us in March 2026 for networking, learning, equipment purchasing, wine tasting, meeting the experts, socializing, and sharing wine, knowledge, tips & techniques. The American Wine Society will be at the opening reception featuring eastern wines that earned medals in the American Wine Society Commercial Wine Competition. Stop by the American Wine Society booth at the trade show and say hi.