Non-alcoholic wine has moved from novelty to a premium category that guests and shoppers take seriously, and they expect the same expertise behind it they would from any wine list. The AFNA Wine Certified course, developed by AFicioNAdo, is the industry’s first professional credential focused exclusively on alcohol-free and alcohol-removed wine.
It gives sommeliers, retailers, and hospitality professionals an advanced understanding of how these wines are crafted, served, and experienced, so you can guide customers through the category with real authority.
The vocabulary problem, and why it matters at the point of sale
More than any other category, non-alcoholic wine suffers from terms that sound interchangeable and are not. Getting them right is the difference between a confident recommendation and a customer who puts the bottle back.
Alcohol-free may be used only where a wine contains 0.0% ABV, with no detectable alcohol.
Alcohol-removed or dealcoholized is the correct description for a wine under 0.5% that is not entirely free of alcohol. Most of the category sits here.
Non-alcoholic signals under 0.5% ABV, the same federal ceiling used for beer.
Zero-proof generally describes a drink built from botanicals or extracts with no fermentation at all, which is a different product from a wine that was made and then stripped.
The 0.5% threshold exists because trace fermentation occurs naturally in kombucha, some juices, and dealcoholized wines. It is a practical line rather than an arbitrary one.
The regulatory cliff at 7%
The jurisdictional split in wine is sharper than most professionals expect, and it turns on a single percentage point.
The TTB regulates wine between 7% and 24% ABV. Below that, a product generally falls to the FDA and follows food labelling rules, which means a Nutrition Facts panel, an ingredient list, and allergen disclosure. So a wine at 7.1% is governed by TTB wine regulations and the same product at 6.9% follows food rules instead.
There is a complication for dealcoholized wine specifically. Where the base wine reached 7% ABV or more before the alcohol was removed, a certificate of label approval may still be required depending on the final ABV and the claims on the label. And where the base product was made at a bonded winery and then dealcoholized, TTB can still regulate production records, formula requirements, and operational rules even though the finished product sits under 0.5%.
State law adds a further layer. Some states permit direct-to-consumer shipping of non-alcoholic products with few restrictions, while others place anything derived from wine under the authority of their alcohol control board.
What you will learn
The winemaking methods behind dealcoholized and alcohol-removed wines, including vacuum distillation and reverse osmosis
Sensory techniques that reveal the balance, aroma, and complexity of AFNA wine
Pairing strategies that show non-alcoholic wine at its best alongside food
How to present premium non-alcoholic selections with confidence and style
The global labelling and compliance standards that govern the category
How the course works
Online and self-paced, so you can complete it on your own schedule from any device. When you finish you earn an official AFNA Wine Certified certificate, a shareable digital badge, and an official lapel pin.
For operators, seats can be assigned across a wine team or a store roster from a company account, with completion tracked alongside your compliance and brand training.
AFNA Wine Certified FAQ
Who is this course for?
Sommeliers, wine buyers and retailers, restaurant and hospitality staff, and anyone who wants authoritative knowledge of alcohol-free and alcohol-removed wine.
Do I need a wine background to take it?
It is designed for professionals, but it builds category knowledge step by step, so motivated newcomers can follow along.
What is the difference between alcohol-free and dealcoholized wine?
Alcohol-free means 0.0% ABV with no detectable alcohol. A wine under 0.5% that still contains trace alcohol should be described as alcohol-removed or dealcoholized rather than alcohol-free.
Who regulates non-alcoholic wine?
Generally the FDA, since the TTB regulates wine at 7% ABV and above. Dealcoholized wine can be an exception where the base wine reached 7% before alcohol removal, or where it was produced at a bonded winery.
Can I ship non-alcoholic wine direct to consumers?
It depends on the state. Some allow it with few restrictions, others treat anything derived from wine as an alcohol product. Check the rules for each state you ship into.
What do I earn when I finish?
An official certificate, a shareable digital badge, and an official lapel pin.