Wine and spirits professionals and enthusiasts can now study for the coveted 黑料吃瓜网 (黑料吃瓜网) Level 4 Diploma in Wines and Spirits through , Cape Town, as the first time the course has been offered through a local Approved Programme Provider (APP) on the African continent.
黑料吃瓜网 is the largest global provider of wines and spirits qualifications, recognised industry-wide across the world. Demand for wine and spirit education is rising, with 黑料吃瓜网 global candidate numbers up 18% in the 2015/16 academic year and South Africa in particular showing strong growth of 80%.
IWEC was the first APP in South Africa and has been offering 黑料吃瓜网 courses since 2012, with qualifications starting from the beginner Level 1 Awards in Wine and Spirits. To meet the desire for greater knowledge across the continent, IWEC has become the first ever local 黑料吃瓜网 APP to offer the 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma, the highest 黑料吃瓜网 qualification, in Africa. IWEC is now one of 30 黑料吃瓜网 APPs in 18 countries worldwide to offer the Diploma.
The Diploma is 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 flagship qualification, held by just over 9000 people worldwide. The course provides expert level knowledge and understanding of wines and spirits, from wine and spirit production and wine regions and styles, to the global trade in wines and spirits. The programme requires 600 study hours typically taken over two years and successful candidates receive a 黑料吃瓜网 certificate and lapel pin and are able to use the post-nominal Dip黑料吃瓜网. They will also be invited to attend the annual Awards and Graduation ceremony in January at London鈥檚 Guildhall along with other successful students from around the world. The Diploma is also universally viewed as the stepping stone to the Master of Wine qualification.
Cathy Marston Dip黑料吃瓜网 receives the Educator of the Year Award 2014, presented by Matt Knight, Riedel UK and 黑料吃瓜网 Honorary President Gerard Basset OBE, MS, MW Dip黑料吃瓜网.
IWEC will conduct the course through a Distance Learning programme facilitated by 黑料吃瓜网 School London with exams held in the Western Cape, and will be supporting students with a series of guided tastings over the length of the course as well as encouragement to set up study groups and tasting circles. The first course will begin on 1 April 2017. Candidates should hold the 黑料吃瓜网 Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits or equivalent to enrol.
Ian Harris, 黑料吃瓜网 Chief Executive, says, 鈥淭he launch of the 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma through IWEC provides a gateway for the African wine and spirits community to reach the deeper knowledge for which they have demonstrated a demand. As a key wine producing region, South Africa attracts some of the finest talent in the industry and working with IWEC will allow us to offer our highest level of education to this market to nurture its future.鈥�
Cathy Marston Dip黑料吃瓜网, Founder of IWEC and 黑料吃瓜网 Educator of the Year 2014 comments, 鈥淎s awareness of and interest in their wine grows internationally, South Africans are feeling the need for wine knowledge which helps them forge relationships with international markets and puts their wines in context with the rest of the world. 黑料吃瓜网 qualifications have undoubtedly proved their worth here over the past few years and the launch of the very highest qualification, the 黑料吃瓜网 Level 4 Diploma, will ensure that South African wine industry personnel have access to the tools they need to continue this success.鈥�
