Scott Thomas, CWE, IWA
Founder and Lead Educator
Professional Qualifications
Master's degree: Wine Culture and Communication University of Gastronomic Sciences
Certified Wine Educator + Certified Specialist of Wine
Vinitaly International Academy Certified Maestro Educator
Italian Wine Ambassador
Certified Sommelier
WSET III
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From restaurants to sales to the vineyard, I've spent most of my adult life working in wine.
2018.. a pivotal beginning of two years in Northern Italy, allowing endless European travel and a deep understanding of wine cultures and regional traditions. This transformed my understanding of wine and sparked a newfound passion for sharing what I've learned.
Today, I'm a Denver-based wine educator and consultant. I hold a regular teaching engagement at MSU Denver's School of Hospitality and taught several master's courses at the University of Gastronomic Sciences, plus led dozens of large-scale seminars at the Keystone Wine and Jazz Festival, Crested Butte Wine and Food Festival, and Steamboat Food and Wine.
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I believe wine education should be approachable, unpretentious, and above all, experiential. I bring fun to the subject knowing that wine can be complex, but wine education doesn't need to be. I'm a staunch advocate for exploring regions and grape varieties that are rarely spoken about to encourage discovery and continued biodiversity.
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OUR MISSION
To promote the pleasure of wine while deepening our understanding of cultures and strengthening the connection between producer, place, and consumer. We believe in convivial education while bringing people tother. We believe every bottle tells a story of traditions and history. We believe in building and supporting our wine community through civic engagement, mentoring, and scholarships. We believe wine is a vehicle of joy and discovery
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what we do
Grappolo Wine School was born after seeing the need for in-person wine education in Colorado. We are a mobile wine academy. We come to your home, office, or restaurant, offering a wide array of services, including corporate events, private parties, personal sommelier, cellar consultations, hospitality industry training, and an Italian wine certification course.
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Photo: Jonathan Resnick Photography
Photo: MSU Denver Amanda Schwengel
Photo: Jonathan Resnick Photography
Photo: MSU Denver Amanda Schwengel
Our values
