BLOG

wine education

INTERVIEW: Paul Miles, Executive Director at IWEG, a WSG provider in Toronto

INTERVIEW: Paul Miles, Executive Director at IWEG, a WSG provider in Toronto

Meet Paul Miles, educator at IWEG in Toronto, Canada.  School: IWEG Educator: Paul MilesLocation: Toronto Paul Miles has worked in both the alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverage industry for over twenty years, specializing in brand strategy, channel and trade marketing, strategic account and distributor management, as well as business development. He is a graduate of Bristol University in England and has an MBA from the University of Edinburgh Business School in Scotland. He has also attended the Advanced Management Program at INSEAD in France. In 2014 he completed the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits (Pass with Merit). What made you decide to move into wine and, more specifically wine education? Wine has always been an integral part of my life. I was born into a British family in the wine industry in the island of Madeira, Portugal...
INTERVIEW: Paulo Brammer & Thiago Mendes of EnoCultura, new FWS program provider in Brazil

INTERVIEW: Paulo Brammer & Thiago Mendes of EnoCultura, new FWS program provider in Brazil

Meet Eno Cultura, a new French Wine Scholar approved program provider in Brazil. Their first FWS session is scheduled to begin October 18th in Sao Paulo. Learn more HERE. Sharing their accumulated knowledge from over 25 years combined experience in the European wine industry, Paulo Brammer and Thiago Mendes founded EnoCultura wine school in 2013. Q: Paulo, could you give us a bit of background on your personal and/or professional history in wine and your wine school, Eno Cultura?
INTERVIEW: Reto Thörig and Juan Lo Bello from Wein-Werkstatt (Basel, Switzerland)

INTERVIEW: Reto Thörig and Juan Lo Bello from Wein-Werkstatt (Basel, Switzerland)

Meet Reto Thörig and Juan Lo Bello from Wein-Werkstatt in Basel, first wine school to offer the French Wine Scholar® program in Switzerland! The first FWS sessions at Wein-Werkstatt are scheduled to begin March and June 2020, more information and registration HERE You state on your website that you help students to “experience wine – understand wine – promote wine”. Could you please introduce all the activities offered by Wein Werkstatt, your wine school in Basel?
INTERVIEW: Sybille Troubleyn of WineWise in Belgium

INTERVIEW: Sybille Troubleyn of WineWise in Belgium

An Interview With WSG's Newest French Wine Scholar Program Provider We were recently lucky enough to add a fantastic Belgian school to our global French Wine Scholar Program Provider network. Sybille Troubleyn of Winewise in Antwerp tells us in this interview about how she got into wine, why she feels the French Wine Scholar program is a great addition to a WSET education provider's repertoire and how her school and the style of education they offer to wine students in Belgium is unique.   1)  What type of education experience do you provide at your wine school that sets you apart?    We offer international wine qualifications and "Keep Up" sessions for wine professionals...
Introducing the WSG Producer Guide 

Introducing the WSG Producer Guide 

For the past 12 months, I have been hard at work bringing to life our new Producer Guide, the brainchild of our Founder and President, Julien Camus. As the project neared completion, I sat down with Julien to reflect on his motivations and vision for creating this groundbreaking initiative. -Justin Martindale MW, WSG Membership & Community Manager 
Investing in Your Wine Career

Investing in Your Wine Career

Following the WSG webinar series “Navigating a Career in Wine & Spirits”, it seems like an appropriate time to dive in a little deeper on some of the topics covered. Most would agree that there is no greater investment than the investment you make in yourself!
Is Wine Education Teaching for the Wrong Era?

Is Wine Education Teaching for the Wrong Era?

Wine education has historically been built around a sensible goal: creating structure in a complex world. For decades, education has helped professionals and enthusiasts navigate regions, grapes, appellations, tasting frameworks and technical language — all in a wine industry that has become increasingly globalised and commercially sophisticated.
James Faulds, SWS

James Faulds, SWS

Congratulations to James Faulds, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About James: I am a wine enthusiast hoping to combine my love of cooking and wine. Seeking education in wine seemed a logical step to me as wine and food paired well can
Judging at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2024

Judging at the Decanter World Wine Awards 2024

If there’s one thing in the world I love, it’s judging. From driving, to elite sport, to other people’s parenting, if you’re looking for someone to cast ill-informed opinions out into the wind, I’m your man. So, when the opportunity arose to contribute to what is probably the world’s greatest wine judging competition, I signed myself up quicker than you can say ‘baby-lead weaning’. Thankfully this is one area where I’m at least a little more qualified to apply
Karen Rasmussen, FWS

Karen Rasmussen, FWS

Congratulations to Karen Rasmussen, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Karen: I am a wine professional with 10 years beverage industry experience in Denver, Colorado. In 2013, I caught the ‘wine bug’ working in a local wine shop and
Leslie Nguyen, IWS

Leslie Nguyen, IWS

Congratulations to Leslie Nguyen, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Leslie: After being a respiratory therapist for almost 20 years and feeling burnt out, I wanted to venture into a new career path.  A
Live Preview | SWS with Rick Fisher (RECORDING)

Live Preview | SWS with Rick Fisher (RECORDING)

Watch the Preview of the Spanish Wine Scholar Program, with Rick Fisher, Spanish Programs Director
Looking Back on 15 Years of Specialized Wine Education

Looking Back on 15 Years of Specialized Wine Education

This month, the Wine Scholar Guild celebrates its 15th anniversary! Such a milestone gives pause for thought. I’d like to share with you—our students, members and supporters—some key moments, joys and stressors we’ve had on this extraordinary journey.
Managing Interpersonal Skills in Your Wine Career

Managing Interpersonal Skills in Your Wine Career

A lot of hard work goes into investing in your wine career and equally important is making sure that you have developed the right interpersonal skills or what is more commonly referred to as “people skills".
Marc-André Alain, IWS

Marc-André Alain, IWS

Congratulations to Marc-André Alain, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Marc-André: I have been a wine enthusiast for many years, but my real interest to learn more about this subject, including the
Mark Annett, IWS

Mark Annett, IWS

Congratulations to Mark Annett, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors! About Mark: I am “officially” retired but for the past 5 years I have worked at wineries pouring wine for people, listening to their stories and
Mary Kirk joins Wine Scholar Guild as Community and Membership Manager

Mary Kirk joins Wine Scholar Guild as Community and Membership Manager

We are thrilled to announce that Mary Kirk will be joining the WSG team as our Community and Membership Manager. Mary has been part of the WSG family since its beginnings and we are delighted to have her come onboard in this capacity as we know that she will be a great addition not only to our team, but more
Max Branco Rossmark Schramm, SWS

Max Branco Rossmark Schramm, SWS

Congratulations to Max Branco Rossmark Schramm, SWS, for achieving highest honors in the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with Celebrare, Brazil. About Max: I am 26 years old and I’m a Civil Engineer. I ended up in the alcoholic beverages’ world through beer. My brother
Pascaline Lepeltier: Sommelière Moderne

Pascaline Lepeltier: Sommelière Moderne

Pascaline Lepeltier is one of the world’s most respected and modern sommeliers and restaurateurs. Her list of accolades and professional achievements is endless. In 2018, she was the first woman ever to obtain the Meilleure Ouvrière de France in sommellerie (this is a very prestigious award that loosely translates to "best tradesperson of France") and the same year, she was named Best Sommelier of France. 2018 was action-packed for Pascaline as she also featured in popular wine-themed movie Somm 3. 
PODCAST: Jane Anson & Andrew Jefford on Bordeaux

PODCAST: Jane Anson & Andrew Jefford on Bordeaux

Mastering Bordeaux, a primer with Jane Anson and Andrew Jefford of Decanter Magazine.