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Wanted: Vinitaly International Academy seeks 50 Italian Wine Ambassadors

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330 DOCs, 73 DOCGs and over 541 native grape varieties (Source: D’Agata I. Native Wine Grapes of Italy, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2014) require a lot of explaining and Vinitaly International has taken on the mission to simplify complexity through a new educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy. VIA was first launched back in February by Stevie Kim (Managing Director of Vinitaly International) and Doctor Ian D’Agata (Scientific Director of Vinitaly International Academy) and now the two masterminds of the world of Italian wines are back with a new announcement: Vinitaly International Academy is on the look out for 50 wine professionals to send out into the world as the new Ambassadors of Italian Wine. (http://youtu.be/VkQ4evxy-6U).

Verona, Italy (PRWEB) July 25, 2014

330 DOCs, 73 DOCGs and over 541 native grape varieties (Source: D’Agata I. Native Wine Grapes of Italy, University of California Press, Berkeley, 2014) require a lot of explaining and Vinitaly International has taken on the mission to simplify complexity through a new educational project, the Vinitaly International Academy. VIA was first launched back in February by Stevie Kim (Managing Director of Vinitaly International) and Doctor Ian D’Agata (Scientific Director of Vinitaly International Academy). The aim of the project is to explain, divulge, and broadcast the characteristics of Italy’s myriad grape varieties and the high quality of its many wines.

Now, after five successful stopovers of the Academy around the globe (NY, Chengdu, Shanghai, Dalian, Verona, with further stops in 2014 planned for Moscow, Hong Kong, and Melbourne), the two masterminds of the world of Italian wines are back with a new announcement: Vinitaly International Academy is on the look out for 50 wine professionals to send out into the world as the new Ambassadors of Italian Wine. (http://youtu.be/VkQ4evxy-6U).

For this ambitious project Vinitaly International Academy is now ready to offer standardized officially recognized six hour courses and two certification levels that will greatly enable all those who love Italian wine to speak of it in a unified, organized manner with true in depth knowledge of each specific Italian grape variety, wine and production zone. The ultimate aim is to create approved VIA certified wine specialists who can support Doctor Ian D’Agata in teaching the courses around the world and broadcasting the excellence of Italian wines to help producers increase sales in top international markets.

“We have now outlined a 3 year program to target aggressively the potentially most important Italian wine markets. Some include, but not limited to, China, Russia, Hong Kong, the US, Brasil, Korea, Germany, Austria and Swizerland” explains Stevie Kim. “I have personally been scouting the past 3 years for candidates to be enrolled in our intensive program. We will however be also accepting requests from a greater sample.“

Here is how it works: the Vinitaly International Academy will offer easy to follow, intensive four day wine courses of six hours made up of classroom lectures and wine tastings (roughly 24 hours of lectures and 12 of wine tasting in total) devoted to Italian native grapes, specific Italian terroirs, wines made from international varieties, trends and updates on Italian wine, and Italian wine history. Each course will be then followed by an exam with a written and oral section that will allow candidates to achieve two levels of certification: Italian Wine Ambassador and, VIA’s highest level, Italian Wine Expert.

In order to better prepare for the VIA courses and exam, certificate candidates are strongly encouraged to taste Italian wines on their own and follow the Executive Wine Seminars (EWS) organized by VIA throughout the year all over the world. These are divided into three categories: introductory, advanced and focused and all provide certificate hopefuls with a chance to taste and learn about wines and grape varieties that may not be as prevalent in home countries of certificate attendees.

Who can follow the courses? VIA certifications are especially indicated for all those who have a good working level of wine knowledge (WSET graduates, for example) and who wish to greatly strengthen their awareness about Italian wines. The course is ideal for professional sommeliers, restaurant and hotel employees, educators, wine writers and winery personnel.

No other course on Italian wines offers a similar level of knowledge and credibility and VIA certification graduates will also be at an advantage in their work place.

In the words of Ian D’Agata: “Over the years, it became apparent to all those involved in Italian wine –sommeliers, wine shop, restaurant owners, state monopoly experts and wine journalists- that the overall level of knowledge on Italian wine was non-specialized, mainly as a consequence of not much quality written information being available. Our goal at VIA is to offer specific training in Italian wines that in no way duplicates or wishes to rival existing, outstanding wine courses or certifications such as WSET and MW. Rather, we hope the VIA certification will enable people already well versed in wine to become even more knowledgeable on Italian wines. We strongly encourage VIA certification candidates to obtain their WSET diploma first”.

About:

Veronafiere is the leading organizer of trade shows in Italy including Vinitaly (http://www.vinitaly.com), the largest wine event in the world. The 47th edition of Vinitaly counted some 148,000 visitors (+6%), of which 53.000 were international attendees (+10%) visiting from 120 countries. On 95.000 square meters, 4.200 exhibitors welcomed trade professionals, media and producers alike. The next installment of the fair will take place on 6th- 9th April 2014. The premier event to Vinitaly, OperaWine (http://www.vinitalyinternational.com) “Finest Italian Wines: 100 Great Producers”, will unite international wine professionals on April 5th 2014 in the heart of Verona. Veronafiere also created Vinitaly International in 1998 to develop a global platform for the promotion of companies in the Italian wine and food sectors.
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