Amorim lends support to Master Sommeliers

The Court of Master Sommeliers’ European branch has confirmed a partnership with natural cork supplier Corticeira Amorim, which will offer education about wine faults for the organisation’s members and students.

While Amorim’s research and development team has already carried out extensive work on identifying and tackling the causes of TCA, or cork taint, more recently the company extended its focus to a project exploring the beneficial effect on wine of the phenolic and volatile compounds found in natural cork.

The deal sees Amorim join companies including Riedel, The Dorchester Hotel and Champagne Laurent-Perrier as official supporters of the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe. Amorim also sponsors the Taster of the Year Trophy at the annual Master Sommelier examinations in London.

Ronan Sayburn MS, chief operating officer of the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, welcomed the new partnership with Amorim, as he outlined the organisation’s global sommelier education programme, which currently boasts 220 individuals qualified to use the Master Sommelier title.

“The opening and serving a bottle of wine is a key skill for our Master Sommeliers,” commented Sayburn. “Now we can work with Amorim to develop an in-depth understanding of cork stoppers.”

Carlos de Jesus, director of marketing & communication for Amorim, welcomed the move to support “key ambassadors” for the company’s natural cork product. “They are the point of contact with the consumer, as a bottle of wine is selected, opened and poured,” he noted. “And with fine wines, such as the ones on top restaurant lists, the majority of bottles are naturally cork-closed.”

As a result, concluded de Jesus, “We are delighted to be able to support such an important educational organisation as the Master Sommeliers, and the vital work they are doing with in the hospitality industry.”