Education

The London based Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the world`s largest wine educational institution and offers international courses and qualifications in the field of wines and spirits. In the course of the past 40 years the educational program of the WSET has established such a firm footing in the world of wines that worldwide approximately 27.500 candidates per year pass WSET exams. More than 400 training centers in more than 55 countries offer a qualification program in the area of wines and spirits.
The highest training level is reached with the DIPLOMA IN WINES AND SPIRITS which at the same time is recommended as preparation for the Master of Wine exam. More than 300 candidates worldwide successfully pass the Diploma per year.
Since 1991 the Austrian Wine Academy – a nonprofit organization- offers qualification and training programs to all wine enthusiasts. The Austrian Wine Academy is based in Rust, a second office has been opened in Krems. Annually up to 15.000 candidates attend more than 700 courses all over Austria.
Since 1993 the DIPLOMA IN WINES AND SPIRITS is offered on the job in cooperation with the British Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in German language. Up to now several thousand participants from 21 nations have attended the diploma courses and more than 500 have graduated and were awarded the title Weinakademiker.

The DIPLOMA IN WINES AND SPIRITS    imparts a qualification which certifies broad up-to-date knowledge about wines, fortified wines and winegrowing countries all over the world, viticulture and cellar management as well as knowhow in the field of wine tasting and wine rating. Furthermore the curriculum includes the most important spirits of the world. Graduates are able to describe and assess the quality potential and state of maturation of wines.

The education addresses the following target groups:

• wine merchants
• vintners
• restaurant owners
• journalists
• private wine lovers

• The following qualifications entitle to directly enroll for the diploma course:
• Austrian Wine Academy Advanced Course 2- Wines and Spirits
• International Certification WSET Advanced Certificate
• WIFI-qualified sommelier or an equivalent international sommelier qualification
• Advanced Certificate Wine of the Zurich based School of Life Sciences in Wädenswil
• Equivalent international qualification

Course Contents

Unit 1: The Global Business of Alcoholic Beverages: Production and consumption worldwide, the local market for wines and spirits, the marketing of wines and spirits

Unit 2: Wine Production: Viticulture, vinification, maturation, treatments and packaging

Unit 3: Wines of the World

Unit 4: Spirits of the World: Methods of production, types and styles of spirits

Unit 5: Sparkling Wines of the World: Methods of production, types and styles of sparkling wines

Unit 6: Fortified Wines of the World: Methods of production, types and styles of fortified wines

Unit 7: Thesis

Additional Information: Austrian Wine Academy    www.weinakademie.at