New WSET diploma for Central Europe

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) and the Austrian Wine Academy (AWA) have announced a new diploma course focused on the wines and spirits of Central Europe.

Beginning in May of this year, the course will be run in English by the AWA at its training centre Rust, in the Austrian wine region of Burgenland.

The course is designed to offer “a unique opportunity to combine learning about international wines and spirits with practical first hand experience in viticulture and winemaking".

Workshops will focus on areas within Austria such as Wachau and Kamptal and also varieties such as Blaufränkisch. Course days will also be held in Hungary with visits to regions like Tokaj, Eger and Sopron.

The cost of the course is €4,900 but bursary schemes will be available for diploma students, along with study trips to Austrian wine regions and awards for top graduates. One bursary, given by the AWA, covers 50% of the costs.

The course is open to members of both the on- and off-trades and journalists, with a qualification to WSET Level 3 or an advanced qualification from the AWA.

Lecturers include: Lynne Sherriff MW; Dr. Gabriella Mészáros, an AWA academician from Hungary; Stefan Pagacs an AWA academician from Austria; László Romsics from Hungary and Dr. Josef Schuller MW.

Schuller (pictured above), managing director of Austrian Wine Academy, said: “This Central European Diploma programme is special in many respects. There will be a particular emphasis on the Central European wine regions through in-depth lectures but also through visit programmes to different wine growing areas.”

For more information on the course contact Irene Bachkönig on i.bachkoenig@weinakademie.at

Rupert Millar, 03.02.2011