Edinburgh Meets Napa: A New Transatlantic Whisky Education Partnership
Apr 08, 2026
At Edinburgh Whisky Academy, we’ve always believed that whisky education should be as enjoyable as it is rigorous. So, when Napa Valley Wine Academy CEO Christian Oggenfuss reached out to Kirsty McKerrow to explore a partnership, we were intrigued. And, as it turns out, completely aligned.
On paper, we’re separated by thousands of miles. In practice, the two academies share plenty of common ground. Both of us believe that drinks education can be serious without being stifling, detailed without being dull and personal even when the audience spans the globe. NVWA say, “Wine can be complex. Wine education shouldn’t be.” We feel exactly the same about whisky. And Christian noticed something we’ve seen too: more learners than ever want to dig into a category properly, not just dip a toe in. That’s where our Qualifications Scotland (QS)-Approved courses come in.
Kirsty McKerrow said of the partnership: “I’ve long admired what Christian has built with Napa Valley Wine Academy, and we’re thrilled to be able to offer their large, engaged community the chance to join our Certificate in Scotch Whisky as returning NVWA customers. America is an important market for us and California tops the list of where most of our US candidates are based, so the potential for growth here is significant.”
Partnerships like this are about shared purpose. And together, we’re making whisky education more accessible and more engaging, wherever learners happen to be. And that, we think, is worth raising a glass to.
To celebrate the launch, Napa Valley Wine Academy are hosting a complimentary webinar series with some familiar EWA contributing experts: Vic Cameron, Dave Broom, Scott Sneddon, Jenny Karlsson and Matt Burgess. Keep an eye on their socials (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok & LinkedIn) for more details soon.
Through this partnership, our Certificate in Scotch Whisky course is now accessible to NVWA’s community in a seamless, on-demand format. Register via their website and you’ll have immediate access to our learning platform. Although the course is online, the experience remains personal with both teams at NVWA and EWA always available to answer questions and support your learning journey.
