Learn to Taste Wine like an Expert
New figures from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) reveal that demand for wine and spirits education is higher than ever, as more businesses recognize the return on investment in educated staff. WSET, the largest global provider of qualifications in the field of wines and spirits, is reporting a record 85,487 candidates globally in the academic year finishing 31 July 2017, an increase of 19% on last year, marking 15 years of growth. The UK continued to lead the global table with candidate numbers up 14% to 19,401. However, Mainland China and USA followed closely behind both seeing impressive growth with candidates up 41% to 12,813 and 48% to 11,487 respectively.
According to Wine Intelligence UK Landscapes 2016 Report (released June 2017) the number of regular wine consumers in the UK has dropped from 29 million two years ago to 28 million today. The silver lining for the trade is that wine consumers are showing higher spend per bottle and greater product interest when choosing wine to drink both at home and in restaurants.
The report notes that supermarkets are seeing consumers focus less on discount multi-buy offers and more on region of origin, brand awareness and recommendations, and generally becoming more adventurous with their choices. Evidence from a new study by Franklin & Sons has revealed similar behaviour for spirits purchasing, with consumers favoring more premium brands. This trend is also not uncommon here in Malaysia, where wine retailers and grocery stores have started arranging wines by country and grape varietal.
As local consumers are acquiring higher education in wine, the need for more knowledgeable staff is therefore greater than ever, encouraging businesses to prioritize formal training and accredited qualifications for staff to cater to customers’ discerning tastes and drive profits. Being a wine enthusiast, I was naturally attracted to the notion of upgrading my wine knowledge and tasting skills. I did some research online on the options available in Malaysia for a WSET Level 2 approved program provider and narrowed my selection to Taylor’s School of Hotel Management, AYS Wine and Sake Consultancy and Berjaya University. There could be more course providers now, you can check from the official WSET website.
The 3 institutions did not differ much in terms of course fees, however they are all based in KL and the investment will be significantly higher having to travel and stay in KL for the 3 day duration. After approaching AYS Wine and Sake, I was delighted to learn that they are willing to conduct their course here. I helped them source for a suitable space with a projector, well-lit room and pantry. And before we knew it, the first ever WSET Level 2 course in Penang was held on 16 – 18th May 2018 at eSovo, Union Street.
Over the course of the 3-day program, we were introduced to tasting techniques, food and wine pairing and factors influencing wine style, quality and price. We had the opportunity to taste over 30 bottles of wines from grape varietals such as Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Grenache, Riesling, etc. We also tasted sparkling wine, fortified wines and spirits. We were educated on the WSET systemic approach to tasting (SAT) wine, which equipped us with the wine linguistic skills to describe the nose, taste and differentiate wines. Towards the end of the day, you may feel the effects of tasting too many a glass so it is recommended to make full use of the spit bucket. To obtain your certification and pin, you need to pass a written exam. There will be a lot of memorizing work to be done. Good news is, it is harder to fail than to pass Level 2.
Our trainer Anthony holds a WSET Level 3 Award in Wine & Spirits. During the time, he was acquiring his WSET Diploma in Wines & Spirits and is the first WSET accredited Sake specialist in South East Asia. Along with Siva who comes from a background of sales and marketing, and has been managing WSET courses in one of the leading private universities in Malaysia, they form a formidable team in imparting their knowledge through training and consultancy in F&B industry especially in Wines.
Ever since our batch, AYS Wine & Sake has been conducting numerous courses and wine/sake tasting events in Penang. They have made their presence felt here and it is only good news for Penangites as we acquire and expand our knowledge in wine education. This course has certainly helped me be more confident and comfortable discussing wine with other enthusiast and connoisseurs. It has also influenced my travel plans (in a good way) as I often include a visit to the winery whenever possible. I have since visited some of the world famous wine regions such as Chianti in Tuscany, Santorini, Malborough, Central Otago, Margaret River, Hunter Valley and many more to come.
AYS WINE & SAKE CONSULTANCY
PLT LOT 201A, PODIUM BLOCK,
FABER TOWERS JALAN DESA BAHAGIA,
TAMAN DESA, 58100,
KUALA LUMPUR.
Tel: +(60)38 060 8089 / +(60)12 358 0713 / +(60)12 773 0456Email: siva@wineandsake.my
Web: wineandsake.my
