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Accredited sommelier course returns to Yorkshire

For the second year running, Yorkshire will once again host one of the only accredited sommelier courses in the North as a new programme of study opens up in February 2013.

Brought to the UK by the UK Sommelier Association (North), the course enables wine lovers and those working in the industry to take their passion further and become fully accredited.

The course, which will be hosted at the Double Tree Hotel at Granary Wharf, will cover the fundamental skills and knowledge needed to become a sommelier, and will focus heavily on food matching, something which is becoming increasingly popular.

Michele Muccilli, Chairman of the UK Sommelier Association (North) said: “The facts on wine consumption in the UK show just how much more popular wine is becoming with consumers. Experts are predicting that wine sales in the UK will climb to almost £9bn by 2014, and that 823 million bottles of white wine will be drunk per year by 2013.

“But people are no longer happy to order just any bottle of red, white or rose. They appreciate wine more, they want to know where the wine was made and want to know what food its best served with. That’s why this course is so suitable because a big focus in on food matching – this seems to be what people are most interested in.”

The course has been designed to appeal not only to those working in the industry, but to members of the public too. Michele added: “Restaurant owners and managers who want to enhance the dining experience for their own customers are realising the value of sending their own employees on this course and having that in-house expertise to offer to their customers.

“People who enjoy wine and who want to know more about it, including how to food match, are coming along too – the course content is suitable for anyone and you don’t even need to have previous qualifications or experience.”

Mattia Boldetti, owner of VINeataly at Granary Wharf, sent members of his own team on the courses in recognition of the value their knowledge could bring to the business. He said: “If you claim to sell good wine, you need to be able to talk to your customers about it, to talk about its origin, how it was made and what food it works best with. Customers want us to recommend wines to them and this definitely enhances their overall experience. Feedback from our own customers has already been very encouraging.”

To find out more about the courses, guest lecturers, pricing or to book the course, visit www.uksommeliernorth.com or email michele@uksommeliernorth.com.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Anna Baxter (Trumpet Communications) .