(Wines&Vines) - Winemakers, tasting room managers, wine educators and other sales staff may learn something and earn a credential from the California Sustainable Winegrowing Association’s (CWSA) Sustainable Wine Ambassador course.

The new online ambassador course has graduated and certified 211 of 225 participants to date. Wine Institute says the five-part course should take about an hour to complete, and certificate applicants must at least click on all sections before taking the 25-question, multiple-choice test. Classes may be interrupted and resumed at any time, so students can complete them at their leisure

The diversity of disciplines—sustainable, organic, Biodynamic—remains confusing to many within the industry, not to mention consumers. Others, including servers, tour guides, sales people, sommeliers—even those who’ve followed the progress of sustainability for years—may learn facts to help educate a thirsty public.

Allison Jordan, executive director of CSWA, told Wines & Vines that the course is tailored for sales, marketing and tasting room professionals in the industry, and meant to be “fun for consumers— that segment that’s really interested.”

She hopes it will nurture “greater understanding about sustainability and the specific practices it requires.” CSWA wanted to ease communication about sustainable winegrowing by explaining the more than 200 practices required to attain it.

“We wanted to create an easy and fun way to learn, so that our ambassadors will turn around and help us tell the story.”

 Applicants shouldn’t need crib notes to complete the program. They can save or copy course content and revisit it at will—even before attempting the test. The course subjects include California wine, sustainable winegrowing, sustainable viticulture, sustainable winemaking as well as employees and communities.