Vinitaly International Academy adds 8 Italian wine ambassadors in Chengdu

Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) has added eight new Italian Wine Ambassadors in Chengdu, capital of China’s southwestern Sichuan province, bringing the total number of VIA-certified Italian Wine Ambassadors to 139 worldwide.

The eight newly added Italian Wine Ambassadors posing with Stevie Kim (second from left) and Ian D’Agata (second from right)

The eight students earned the title after they passed a written exam on 20 March following a week-long training course with Italian wine educator Ian D’Agata in Chengdu, the third mainland city where the VIA has rolled out educational courses after Beijing and Shanghai.

The course provides an opportunity for wine professionals to enhance their knowledge of Italy’s native grapes and distinctive wines. “The VIA certification course enables all professionals to speak of Italian wine in an unified, organised and thorough manner”, according to Vinitaly.

Stevie Kim, managing director of Vinitaly International, spoke highly of the Chinese commitment to Italian wine studies: “Sometimes, we are criticised by the low percentage of pass rate but in the end, the candidates will often resit the exam. I am always amazed by how much enthusiasm and determination exists among the Chinese candidates, despite the difficulties in broaching the course in English, not to the mention the less familiar pronunciation of the most obscure native grapes”.

There are now 139 VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassadors worldwide. In Greater China region, there are now two Italian Wine Experts and 38 Italian Wine Ambassadors.