World’s first non-alcoholic wine certification to launch this month
AFicioNAdo is expanding its alcohol-free drinks training with AFNA Wine Certified, a new programme designed to give professionals the skills to excel in the fast-growing premium no-and low-alcohol wine sector.
Training for a growing market
AFicioNAdo, the world’s first professional training and certification programme dedicated to alcohol-free and non-alcoholic adult beverages, will launch AFNA Wine Certified on 15 August 2025.
The course was co-founded and authored by Rachel Martin, a wine producer with more than 20 years’ experience and a recognised leader in luxury non-alcoholic wine. It aims to give retail and restaurant professionals the knowledge and practical skills to master the alcohol-free and non-alcoholic (AFNA) wine category.
According to NielsenIQ, annual sales of non-alcoholic beer, wine, and spirits in US off-premise outlets have reached US$740 million, up around 31% year-on-year, but still only account for about 0.7% of total alcohol-category sales. With non-alcoholic beverage sales projected to hit US$1 billion by 2026, and global non-alcoholic wine volume growth running at about 7%, the programme offers a timely opportunity for professionals to respond to changing consumer tastes.
Expanding AFicioNAdo’s portfolio
AFicioNAdo already offers certifications such as AFNA Beer Certified and Cannabis Beverage Certified. The new wine programme covers both foundational and advanced training in alcohol-free and alcohol-removed wines, including production, sensory evaluation, market trends, labelling, and service.
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“When Rachel first approached me about developing this certification, it was immediately clear she was the right person to lead the charge,” said Meagen Coester (Anderson), founder of AFicioNAdo. “Her vision and deep expertise made her a natural fit to co-found and author this important new vertical for our platform. At AFicioNAdo, we build each certification alongside industry leaders and pair it with powerful learning technology – allowing us to deliver world-class training at a fraction of the time and cost of traditional in-person programmes.”
Martin studied viticulture, enology, and sensory analysis at Napa Valley College and the University of Bordeaux. She founded Oceano Wines and its luxury non-alcoholic range Oceano Zero, which has been praised for its terroir-driven style. She also authored the petition that established the Middleburg Virginia AVA.
“I’m honoured to co-create AFNA Wine Certified to bring rigour, confidence, and credibility to this expanding field,” said Martin. “This certification empowers professionals to blend tradition and innovation – developing the knowledge and skills to thrive across the full spectrum of the category and meet the evolving expectations of today’s wine consumer.”
Programme details
The course includes:
- Comprehensive curriculum covering AFNA wine styles, production, marketing, labelling, and service.
- Final assessment requiring a minimum 80% pass mark.
- Training on US, EU, UK, and Canadian regulations and service standards.
- Near-immediate ROI, with learners seeing benefits within one week of certification through AFicioNAdo’s technology partner Nitecapp™.
- Professional recognition with the title “AFNA Wine Certified”, a digital certificate, and a lapel pin.
Registration for AFNA Wine Certified opens in August 2025 at alcoholfreeaficionados.com.
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