Last weekend I met a new group of wine professionals and enthusiasts while delivering a WSET Level 2 course in Brisbane. I’ll come back to WSET, but would first like to say that it never ceases to amaze me the depth of passion and knowledge that is displayed by our industry supporters. Sure, a lot of people enjoy a tipple but there are those who live it….and they are the best unpaid ambassadors for industry!!
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) are based in the UK who deliver and administer training programs around wines and spirits designed to educate both novice and industry professional alike. WSET UK are supported by a world-wide network of approved providers who deliver programs on their behalf. I was fortunate enough to enter the WSET program 3 years ago as a student and quickly thereafter became a tutor. WSET programs start at a very introductory one day Level 1 (eg. merlot is a grape that makes merlot wines and merlot smells and tastes like….) up to the Level 4 Diploma which is a two year full-on immersion into the world of wine and to some extent wine business. Successful completion of the WSET Diploma is a recommended pre-requisite for entry into the Master of Wine program…it is that highly regarded!! WSET training, at various levels, is quickly becoming a standard requirement for hospitality job applicants in many countries. The QLD College of Wine Tourism (insert vested interest statement here….my employer), offers WSET Level 1 & 2 courses throughout the QLD area. I am the fortunate crusader who gets to deliver a lot of them….I say fortunate because I get to taste the wines as I go. The Level 2 is a three day classroom course (+ some significant reading pre-course) during which around 50% of the time is spent tasting 40+ wines from around the world. Not bad for a day-job?? Some examples from the course this week include:
2014 Petaluma Hanlin Hill Clare Valley Riesling
2011 Reichsgraf Von Kesselstatt Josephshofer Mosel Riesling Kabinett
2008 Les Vins de Vienne ‘La Chambee’ Condrieu
2011 Howard Park Great Southern Chardonnay
2010 Chateau Lafaurie-Peyraguey Sauternes
2011 Shadowfax Geelong Pinot Noir
2009 Pierre Naigeon Gevrey-Chambertin
2010 Clos de L’Oratoire St-Emillion
2012 St Hugo Barossa Shiraz
2012 Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage
2012 Chateau Mont Redon Cotes du Rhone
2011 Chateau Mont Redon Chateauneuf-du-Pape
The 4 Syrah/Shiraz based wines were probably the best bracket of the course.
Back to my amazement…the course participants included hospitality professionals and enthusiastic imbibers. Their background knowledge and in some cases detailed understanding of wine styles, vintage conditions by region and exposure to international wines proved to me that interest in wine of all origins is not lacking. It was also great to see that parochialism remains an enduring force….international benchmarks are tumbling as Australian quality challenges (sounds like a headline: was that too parochial??). There are some benchmarks however that will remain unchallenged….Condrieu, indigenous Italian whites and Alsace all come to mind.
We all know that our time is short and that wine is plentiful….wine education helps to improve the ratio.