Eve's Wine 101

Vinitaly International Academy Celebrates 7 New Italian Wine Ambassadors

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VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – The Course
July 2022 marked an exciting foray into the UK and Europe for VIA. The July course was held in London and Austria for the very first time, bringing Italian wine education to two new countries. In London, the course was taught live by VIA Faculty member Sarah Heller MW at the Institute of Masters of Wine, with the satellite venue in Austria was the Weinakademie in Rust participating by live link. Managing Director of Vinitaly International, Stevie Kim, remarked, “I was delighted to be able to host our first UK edition of VIA at the Institute of Masters of Wine, a location that represents the pinnacle of wine education. Likewise, the Weinakademie in Rust presents the largest WSET program available in Europe.”

Students participated for 3 days, tasting 38 Italian wines and taking a difficult 2.5 hour exam. The result? Seven students became newly certified Italian Wine Ambassadors. London student Richard Taylor summed up his experience, “Taking the VIA Italian Wine Ambassador course moved me such a long way on in my Italian wine journey, and it is such a joy to be part of this community over the last few weeks and heading into the future.”

What is VIA
The Vinitaly International Academy certification course is recognised as the gold standard of Italian wine education. The VIA community comprises over 1000 candidates, of whom 307 have now achieved the title Italian Wine Ambassador and 15 of those are qualified as Italian Wine Experts. All elements of the course are carefully curated by the VIA Faculty team, made up of Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar IWE, assisted and advised by scientific advisor Professor Attilio Scienza. The ethos behind the course is a sound scientific focus on the native grapes of Italy and on the characteristics of the 20 regions’ biodiversity, history, culture, and business.

The VIA Community, composed of all students who have ever studied the program since its inception in 2017, welcomes wine professionals and wine enthusiasts from all over the world, forming a supportive and professional network that extends far beyond the limits of the classroom and includes lasting friendships, an open forum for sharing wine information, and career opportunities. Members continue to participate throughout the year in events such as Academic Field Trips all across Italy, gathering in Verona to judge at 5StarWines and Wine Without Walls, attending OperaWine and wine2wine Business Forum, and continually increasing their knowledge and growing their connections across the wine sector.

Students who take the VIA course come from every aspect of the wine sector, including educators, journalists, importers, hospitality, retailers, and beyond. Faculty member Sarah Heller MW reflected on the impact of VIA, “We invite students to join a profound and up to the minute conversation about Italian wines and what makes them so unique in the world, giving them new tools to communicate these wines and the solid foundation to become true Ambassadors, promoting Italian wines around the world.”

Upcoming VIA Italian Wine Ambassador Courses
VIA holds satellite courses at various times during the year. The Flagship Course is held annually in Verona in the days leading up to Vinitaly International Wine and Spirits Exhibition. The next Flagship course will be held 24-27 March 2023. Applications will open in January 2023. Satellite courses in other locations around the world will be announced later in the year, through VIA social media and on the VIA website.

For more information, please visit our website at:
https://vinitalyinternational.com/vinitaly-international-academy/
Instagram: vinitaly international
To Apply: https://eventi.vinitalytour.com/en/sign-up-via/
Send us an email at: via@justdothework.it if you have further question
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About: Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. It offers a complete educational path with standardized courses that will teach professionals and educators to master the diversity of Italian wine in a rigorous, organized manner. VIA’s main objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals such as Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts: in turn, they will support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. VIA was founded by Stevie Kim, Managing Director of Vinitaly International. The new VIA ecosystem avails of the guidance of Italian trade associations Federdoc, Federvini, Vignaioli Indipendenti FIVI, and Unione Italiana Vini as members of the Institutional Advisory Board. Italian vine genetics scholar, Prof. Attilio Scienza, oversees VIA’s scientific and educational direction as the Chief Scientist. VIA Faculty Sarah Heller MW and Henry Davar teach the flagship Italian Wine Ambassador course. To date, there are 307 Certified Italian Wine Ambassadors of which 15 are also Italian Wine Experts.

Kosher Food and Wine Experience Makes Triumphant Return to London and Israel

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London/Tel Aviv– The world’s largest public kosher food and wine extravaganza came back with a triumphant “L’chaim!’ this spring following a 2-year coronavirus break. The annual Kosher Food & Wine Experience (KFWE) is still the hottest ticket in the kosher culinary world, attracting thousands of restaurateurs, chefs, caterers, and foodies hungry for the latest and greatest in fine kosher wines and cuisine.

Royal Wine Corp. through its Israeli and British distributors, respectively Zur Agencies and Kedem Europe, spearheaded the long-awaited return of these two events – May 30 in Tel Aviv, Israel, and on June 21 in London. More than 240 wines from Israel, France, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. were sipped and savored, and guests had a unique chance to meet the winemakers and learn the stories behind each bottle.

Both shows featured rare premium wines along with accessible everyday wines, sparkling wines, whiskey, French and Italian liqueurs and more.

The Sheraton Grand London Park Lane was the scene where more than 800 KFWE guests enjoyed an exceptional selection of kosher wines and spirits. More than a dozen Israeli wineries were present with their latest vintages, including boutique wineries such as Domaine Du Castel, Yatir Winery, Flam Winery, Jezreel, Matar by Pelter, and Psagot.

At KFWE London, Royal Wine and Kedem Europe introduced a new line of kosher wines from Burgundy produced by Domaine du Château Philippe le Hardi. The line includes three wines from the 2020 vintage: a Gevrey-Chambertin Villages, a Chambolle-Musigny Villages, and a Beaune 1er Cru. Royal Wine did not offer high-end quality red Burgundy wines since 2004.  

“As the kosher market has evolved and matured over the past 18 years, we believe that many fine kosher wine connoisseurs will particularly appreciate these refined and complex Pinot Noir wines,” says Gabe Geller, Royal Wine’s director of PR. “They will retail between $100-130. Royal also introduced in London the Laufer’s Select Tokaji Late Harvest and Tokaji Ice, both high-quality dessert wines from the famed Tokaji region in Hungary. Both wines will be SRP $45,” he added.

Cooloo alcoholic ice-pops were the perfect refresher, as it was the first time the KFWE was held over the summer months. Also featured was a cocktail bar with deliciously tasty concoctions created by top mixologists using Walders and Bicerin liqueurs.

Along with the unlimited wine tastings and whisky masterclasses, the London event featured legendary buffet by caterer Arieh Wagner. He and his team served up hot and cold dishes including Turmeric-Infused Cauliflower with tahini, hummus, and pomegranate seeds; Baba Ganoush with cashew nuts; Beef Carpaccio with truffle oil and fresh truffle; Poke Salmon and Tuna; Pulled Beef Arancini; a salt beef carvery; and dairy-free desserts such as tiramisu, Eton mess, and crème brûlée. 

The Trask at the Port of Tel Aviv set the scene for KFWE 2022 in the Holy Land with tastings of more than 300 wines and an extensive rooftop buffet. Guests enjoyed wines and beverages from the various wine regions of France (Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Provence and Alsace, including super-premium wines from world-renowned wineries – Château Lascombes, Château Giscours, Château Léoville Poyferré, Champagne Drappier, Château Clarke-Rothschild and more), Spain , Priorat, Galicia and more), Italy (Chianti, Montepulciano and Northern Italy), New Zealand, California (Sonoma, Napa and more), Argentina (Mendoza), South Africa and of course Israel (Shiloh, Jezreel and Psagot).

KFWE 2022 showcased hundreds of different wines and spirits produced in renowned wine regions, available at every price point.  Geller summed up both events, “It was wonderful to see friends learning about wine together, discovering new vintages from around the world, and finding the perfect bottles—most of which are kosher for Passover—to enjoy at home or at their next celebration.”

About Royal Wine/Kedem

Since 1948, Royal Wine Corp., also known as Kedem, has been owned and operated in the United States by the Herzog family, whose winemaking roots date back eight generations to 19th century Czechoslovakia.

TodayRoyal Wine’s portfolio of domestic and international wines range from traditional wine producing regions of France, Italy, and Spain, as well as Israel, New Zealand, and Argentina. Additionally, Royal Wine Corp.’s spirit and liqueur portfolio offer some of the most sought-after scotches, bourbons, tequilas, and vodkas as well as hard to find specialty items such as flavored brandies and liqueurs.

The company owns and operates the Kedem Winery in upstate New York, as well as Herzog Wine Cellars in Oxnard, California, a state-of-the-art-facility featuring guided wine tours, a fully staffed modern tasting room, gift shop and catering facilities. Additionally, the winery houses the award-winning restaurant Tierra Sur, serving the finest Mediterranean inspired contemporary Californian Cuisine. Follow Royal Wine on Face Book.com/RoyalWineCorp/, and instagram.com/royalwinecorp/, and twitter.com/royalwinecorp

Italian Wine Academy expands to offer (online) English-speaking blind tasting sessions

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VERONA, ITALY (PRWEB) – In June 2020 the Italian Wine Academy decided that to supplement their courses they would offer blind tasting sessions for students, always in English. These evenings present the students with an extra opportunity to practice not only their tasting skills, but also their language skills. At the heart of WSET courses, there is the notion of building a common vocabulary designed to aid students in communicating about wine in an international context; IWA are using the English speaking blind tasting to take this a step further. Lead by native speaker and faculty member Dr Rebecca Lawrence, students are encouraged to use the session to learn new vocabulary and express their views on the wine, its characteristics, and qualities, using clear, confident, and most importantly, correct, English.

As Stevie Kim, founder of IWA comments, “we’re privileged to have a native speaker from the UK leading these courses. The stereotypes are true, Rebecca is very strict and inflexible, but this is exactly what you need when using the SAT, and when learning to communicate at a higher level.” She goes on to say, “I saw an opportunity to give our students and WSET community in Verona that extra added value that is so often missing: more time with wines, more language practice, and transferable skill-building for their futures.”

The sessions of 30 minutes involve tasting three wines blind, often with a carefully chosen theme. This means that students cannot form assumptions about the wine ahead of time, and forces them to think on the spot when describing wines, this enhances quick reactions in a second language (the majority of attendees are Italian native speakers or have English as a second or third language), a skill that is fundamental to working and presenting wines; a sommelier or sales representative may know their wine, but not what a client will ask about it! Dr Lawrence then guides the students through her tasting note, inviting discussion. Due to the broad range of levels in the room, Lawrence first uses her note to explain how a student from Level 2 should accurately describe the wine, and then moves through, all the way to giving guidance to diploma students. This means that participants can get the support they need no matter what stage of the WSET journey they happen to be on. Feedback from the students has been resoundingly positive, in a recent anonymous survey responses said that the sessions were “very useful for both the terminology and technical tasting skills”, and many attendees commented that the tastings were not only a change to improve their language skills but to meet others and expand their English speaking network in Verona.

Details about the English Speaking Blind Tasting are released on the Italian Wine Academy social media channels and for more information please email: info@italianwineacademy.org.
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About: the Italian Wine Academy is a wine school based in Verona, and it is an Approved Programme Provider qualified to teach WSET wine courses. WSET – Wine & Spirit Education Trust is the world’s largest provider of education on wine and spirits. WSET qualifications are globally recognized as the international standard in wine and spirit knowledge for wine professionals and enthusiasts. Vinitaly International Academy hosts WSET at wine2digital, next to the headquarters of Veronafiere.

Eight New Masters of Wine Announced — Two from the US in the 2019 “Vintage”

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London – The Institute of Masters of Wine has announced eight new Masters of Wine, from five different countries.

The new members of the IMW are Julien Boulard MW (PR China), Thomas Curtius MW (Germany), Dominic Farnsworth MW (UK), Lydia Harrison MW (UK), Heidi Mäkinen MW (Finland), Christine Marsiglio MW (UK), Edward Ragg MW (PR China) and Gus Jian Zhu MW (USA).

There are now 390 Masters of Wine, based in 30 countries across the world.

The new MWs have proved their understanding of all aspects of wine by passing the Master of Wine examination, recognised worldwide for its rigour and high standards.

The MW examination consists of three stages and culminates in the submission of a final research paper, an in-depth study on a wine-related topic from any area of the sciences, arts, humanities, or social sciences.

In addition to passing the examination, all MWs are required to sign the MW code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. The code of conduct requires MWs to act with honesty and integrity and to use every opportunity to share their understanding of wine with others.

There are 14 Masters of Wine in the ‘2019 vintage’, as Edouard Baijot MW (France), Nicholas Jackson MW (USA), Brendan Jansen MW (Australia), Jonas Röjerman MW (Sweden), Harriet Tindal MW (Ireland) and Jonas Tofterup MW (Spain) were announced as MWs in February. They will all be formally welcomed to the IMW at a ceremony in London later this year.

The 2019 crop shows the increasing internationalisation of the IMW. The top six countries where MWs are based around the world are Australia, France, Germany, New Zealand, the UK and the USA.

Meet the new Masters of Wine

Julien Boulard MW (PR China)

Born in Alsace, Julien arrived in China in 2003 after studying Mandarin at university. After completing a master’s degree in international affairs, he worked for five years for a wine importer in Nanning, before setting up his own company Zhulian Wines, specialising in wine education. Unsatisfied with solely mastering an exotic language, he started to study wine and became an accredited educator of the Bordeaux Wine School in China in 2008. He then passed the WSET Diploma in 2012 and embarked on the MW journey in 2013. His fluency in Mandarin, both spoken and written, his reputation on Chinese social media (Weibo and WeChat), his wine knowledge, as well as his experience as a wine educator, enabled him to become a key professional on the Chinese wine scene. He is a judge for various wine competitions in China and Hong Kong and writes sporadically when he manages to find time between teaching, tasting and daughter-caring.

Research paper

Exploring the potential of Marselan production in China.

Thomas Curtius MW (Germany)

Thomas is primarily a specialist in PR, digital communications and business development. He studied communications and economics at the University of Mainz and started his business career as a TV journalist for n-tv, the first news television channel in Germany. Later he moved into the automotive industry and joined the PR department of a premium car manufacturer in Stuttgart, Germany. After various positions in the passenger car division, he took over responsibility for events, trade shows and digital communication within global truck, bus and van communications. He heads a dedicated team which develops and manages communications projects, trade shows and product presentations around the globe. Thomas has also been intensively involved in the wine business for more than two decades. He sees great advantage in bringing his expertise in strategy, change management and digital communication together with his knowledge in wine. He concluded his WSET Diploma in 2010 and is now also a member of the WSET International Alumni Advisory Board. He works as a consultant, teacher and lecturer. He judges in wine competitions, runs wine seminars and masterclasses for professionals and enthusiasts, and writes articles spreading his passion for wine. When not travelling or developing new ideas and concepts in business, Thomas loves to run in the vineyards around his town or work in his garden.

Research paper

Current opportunities and threats for ProWein, Vinexpo, Vinitaly and London Wine Fair: An investigation into ProWein exhibitors’ attitudes towards European wine trade shows.

Dominic Farnsworth MW (UK)

Dominic is a partner at the London law firm Lewis Silkin where he specialises in intellectual property. He is both a solicitor and a trademark attorney and his practice focusses on brand protection, advertising and sport. He acts for a number of businesses in the drinks sector. His interest in wine was sparked by walking past Lay & Wheelers’ shop on the route to school. It was more reminiscent of an antiquarian bookshop than a retail store and the rows of unintelligible labels only added to the mystery. Love of the taste of wine followed and was reinforced by finding that wine had a tendency to be produced in some of the most beautiful parts of the world by interesting people. He followed the WSET route through to the Diploma. Then, setting himself the goal of either climbing Himalayan peaks or passing the MW, he took what he thought was the easier option! He lives in South West London, married with two children, and his other interests include music, travelling and mountains.

Research paper

The threats posed by government regulation to the sale of wine in the United Kingdom.

Lydia Harrison MW (UK)

Lydia was born and lives in London, where she enjoys the diversity of wines available. She started officially in the wine industry after university by joining Majestic Wine where she worked for six years, culminating in the position of senior manager of the Battersea branch. During this time she completed the WSET Level 3 and Diploma with distinction and was awarded several prizes for her exam results: trips to Jerez and the Douro which cemented her love for fortified wines, and the Vintners’ Scholarship for the highest mark in Diploma in the UK trade, which she used to tour New Zealand and its wine regions. She joined WSET School London in 2013 and teaches all levels of WSET wine qualifications, specialising in Bordeaux, fortified wines and tasting technique at Diploma level. She also organises an eclectic programme of evening tasting events and is a Bordeaux Ambassador for the Conseil Interprofessionnel du Vin de Bordeaux (CIVB).

Research paper

Online wine education – comparing motivations, satisfactions and outcomes of online vs. classroom students.

Heidi Mäkinen MW (Finland)

Heidi currently works in Helsinki as a wine ambassador for a Finnish wine importing company where her main tasks are on-trade wine education and portfolio development. At first, she studied theatre and drama research at university, yet after gaining her bachelor of arts she followed her bigger passion to work in hospitality and to learn more about wine. Before her current job she worked for 12 years on the restaurant floor, both in her native Finland and the UK. With her international work experience and knowledge gained from her success in national and international sommelier competitions she continues to help and mentor other professionals to develop themselves within the industry. Passionate and excited about food, wine and travel, Heidi is always looking at new opportunities to explore the world.

Research paper

A critical assessment of Finnish on-trade wine education – satisfaction levels and opportunities for development and improvement.

Christine Marsiglio MW (UK)

Christine is a Canadian residing in London, where she is a wine educator and programme manager at WSET School London, and mum to a three-year-old and a one-year-old. She recently contributed to the development of materials for the newly released WSET Diploma and teaches all WSET levels. Before discovering her love of wine education, Christine was tastings executive at Decanter where she ran panel tastings and helped organise the Decanter World Wine Awards. During the course of her MW and WSET Diploma studies, Christine was awarded scholarships from the Family of Twelve, Freixenet, and the Derouet Jameson Memorial Foundation. She holds an MSc in oenology and viticulture from École Supérieure d’Agriculture d’Angers, France, where her thesis focussed on the early detection of Brettanomyces in wineries. She also holds a BSc in chemistry and biology from the University of Alberta in Canada. Christine is a keen long-distance runner, cook, and traveller.

Research paper

The sensory effects of different lactic acid bacteria on wine.

Edward Ragg MW (PR China)

Edward co-founded Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting in Beijing with his wife and partner Fongyee Walker MW in 2007. Having read English at Oxford University, Edward began blind-tasting at Cambridge whilst writing a Ph.D. on American poet and Burgundy tippler Wallace Stevens. A former captain and coach of the Cambridge blind-tasting team, Edward co-wrote and revises regularly the Cambridge University Guide to Blind-Tasting. He has also published widely in international wine magazines, literary journals and has authored three collections of poetry. Formerly a Professor at Tsinghua University (2007-2017), he completed his WSET Diploma in 2012 and began the MW study programme in 2015. Together with Fongyee, he is the other authorised tutor of the WSET Diploma in mainland China. Edward also has judging experience, serving as guest international judge for the McLaren Vale Wine Show (2012) and Perth Royal Wine Show (2019), as well as judging in Chinese competitions. He is keen to expand his international judging experience and also make wine in future.

Research paper

Portfolio management strategies of major Chinese wine importers: an analysis of the evolving mainland Chinese import market 2008-2018.

Gus Jian Zhu MW (USA)

Gus has become a seasoned wine educator under the tutelage of Fongyee Walker MW and Edward Ragg MW, the co-founders of Dragon Phoenix Wine Consulting. He has combined his wine education resulting in an MSc in viticulture and enology from UC Davis, with practical winemaking experience at Napa Valley’s Cakebread Cellars, and hospitality and sales experience at the Hall Winery in Napa. Gus’ commitment to the academic field of wine is evidenced by his MW research paper about the sensory science of wine; and by co-authoring a review paper, A Quarter Century of Wine Pigment Discovery, published in the Journal of Food and Agriculture. Gus provides education and consulting services at Gus Zhu Wine Consulting. He works as an international consultant on wine education and is committed to sharing his knowledge as a certified educator for all levels of WSET qualifications in wines. Gus shares his expertise with global WSET Diploma candidates in the online classroom and as a guest lecturer at the Dragon Phoenix in Beijing and Napa Valley Wine Academy.

Research paper

The impact of acidity adjustments on the sensory perception of a Californian Chardonnay.

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The Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) is a membership organisation with an unsurpassed international reputation. Its Members – the Masters of Wine (MWs) – hold the most respected title in the world of wine. The IMW promotes excellence, interaction and learning across all sectors of the global wine community. MWs have proved their understanding of all aspects of wine by passing the MW examination, recognised worldwide for its rigour and high standards. In addition to passing the examination, MWs are required to sign the code of conduct before they are entitled to use the initials MW. The code of conduct requires MWs to act with honesty and integrity, and use every opportunity to share their understanding of wine with others. There are currently 390 Masters of Wine today, working in 30 countries. The membership encompasses winemakers, buyers, journalists, shippers, business owners, consultants, academics, and wine educators. There were 359 students in the MW study programme from over 45 countries.