Napa, CA, January 2017 — The Napa Valley Wine Academy has been nominated for WSET EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR 2016. The Academy is one of only eight (8) education providers chosen from hundreds across the globe, and the sole U.S. school represented. Based in London, The Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) provides globally recognized wine and spirits certifications which help elevate careers and standards across all segments of the food, beverage and hospitality industries. The award is given in association with Riedel, the wine glass company.
“We are extremely grateful to our wonderful community of distinguished instructors and local vintners, viticulturists, and coopers who are instrumental in our commitment to providing excellence in education; as well as to our greater community of students who come from across town and across the globe to the Academy and to Napa Valley for their educational experiences with us,” says Napa Valley Wine Academy Director of Education, Catherine Bugué.
The Educator of the Year award goes to the WSET provider who has made a significant contribution to WSET courses and qualifications in the past year while achieving superlative results in WSET courses and demonstrating innovation in education. The award will be announced on the evening of January at the Guild Hall in London.
60% Student Increase
The Academy has increased course offerings and visibility of the WSET in the last academic year not only at its Napa headquarters by offering more class options, but also by opening new markets to the WSET and expanding offerings in other key markets. The school saw a 60% increase in student registrations across its locations in California, Florida, Nevada, Ohio, Tennessee and Colorado.
These growth numbers are attributable in part to being chosen as the education provider for several wine & spirit distributors across the USA as well as large wine brands, hotels and hospitality companies.
Student Return Rate: 70%
The Academy also sees a 70% return rate for students who have taken a WSET course with the Napa Valley Wine Academy. “We firmly believe that our dedication to excellence in instructors, classroom material, online education modules, engaging student exercises and tools, webinars, among numerous other benefits, as well as the quality of the WSET courses, are the key factors in our strong student community,” Bugué adds.
“From the outset, our goal was to create a community of students, educators and industry leaders who are passionate about wine and spirits, and can share their passion through education,” explains Christian Oggenfuss, Director, Napa Valley Wine Academy. “We are so proud to be part of this vibrant community,” he adds.
Five Masters of Wine Educators at the Academy
Five Masters of Wine currently instruct and host webinars at the Napa Valley Wine Academy: Peter Marks, Christy Canterbury, Mary Margaret McCamic, Matt Deller and Tim Hanni. In addition, Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser holds SommDay Workshops at the Academy.
ABOUT THE NAPA VALLEY WINE ACADEMY
The Napa Valley Wine Academy offers courses in several of America’s best-known wine markets: Napa Valley, Santa Barbara, California and at Bern’s Epicurean Hotel in Tampa, Florida in addition to locations in Colorado, Ohio, Tennessee, Nevada (Las Vegas) and Orlando, Florida.
The Academy headquarters are at 2501 Oak Street, Napa, CA, 94559.
Wine classes include those for enthusiasts such as Wine 101 as well as numerous certification courses for beginners as well as advanced students. The Academy is an Approved Program Provider with The Wine & Spirit Education Trust in London and a private school member of the Society of Wine Educators. Napa Valley Wine Academy offers the International Wine Professional, American Wine Expert, French Wine Society and SommDay tasting and service sommelier classes with Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser, among numerous other classes.
