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The International Certificate in Wine Law (ICWL)

The University of Ottawa Faculty of Law is launching the International Executive Certificate in Wine Law (ICWL): a dual-component program bridging the regulatory divide between North American markets and traditional European viticultural heartlands. 

Combining flexible online academic instruction with immersive, on-the-ground experiential learning in Canada and Italy, the ICWL offers a Dual-Track Credential: 

  • Complete Part I or Part II individually to earn a Regional Wine Law Specialist Certificate, or complete both to earn the full International Executive Certificate in Wine Law.

Participants gain strategic insights into cross-border regulatory compliance, alcohol licensing, excise oversight, and intellectual property protection, including Geographical Indications (GIs), trademarks, and brand enforcement. The curriculum addresses international trade, commercial distribution, production standards, and emerging governance frameworks, ranging from environmental sustainability and Indigenous viticultural sovereignty to digital commerce, smart labeling, and marketing compliance.

Two-Part Experiential Structure

Vineyard with lake

Part I: Canadian Wine Law

Focuses on the North American regulatory landscape, blending foundational online instruction with on-site immersion in the Okanagan Valley. During this initial module, participants complete operational compliance walkthroughs at estate wineries, examine interprovincial trade and direct-to-consumer regulations, and engage directly with local grower associations, regulatory bodies, and winery legal teams.

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Part II: The European Wine Law Framework

Explores the European Union's "Code of Wine," historical appellation systems, and cross-border trade agreements like CETA. Through field-based studies in Tuscany, participants explore centuries of legal heritage firsthand while connecting directly with European regulatory agencies, trade specialists, and international legal experts.

Who Should Attend?

To preserve an exclusive, high-impact learning environment, cohort size is strictly capped at 25 participants:

  • Practicing Lawyers: IP, commercial, regulatory, agricultural, and tax law practitioners seeking industry differentiation.
  • In-House Counsel & Compliance Officers: Legal teams representing wineries, distilleries, distributors, and provincial liquor authorities.
  • Industry Executives & Policy Makers: Senior leads from industry associations (e.g., Wine Growers Ontario, Wine Growers BC), government agricultural agencies, and import/export firms.
  • Advanced Law Students: High-performing students specializing in international trade, agricultural, or food and drug law.

Note: Instructions are delivered primarily in English, catering to international legal and industry professionals.