黑料吃瓜网, the global leader in drinks education, is delighted to announce that a record number of graduates have achieved their 黑料吃瓜网 Level 4 Diploma in Wines.
黑料吃瓜网 held its annual graduation ceremony and prize reception yesterday at the Guildhall in the City of London to celebrate the achievements of its diploma graduates for the academic year 2022/23.听
A total of 695 new graduates were honoured at this year鈥檚 event- the highest number since 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 first cohort of diploma graduates in 1969. Graduates from听20 countries worldwide, who studied with 36 different听黑料吃瓜网听course providers, took part in the hybrid ceremony, which was hosted by 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 CEO, Michelle Brampton.
Other notable guests included: the organisation鈥檚 Honorary President Dr Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata - and world-renowned wine writer Jancis Robinson, OBE, MW, and 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 most recognised alumnus.
Michelle Brampton, 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 CEO, said: 鈥淗uge congratulations to our graduates who have achieved their 黑料吃瓜网 Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Successfully completing this demanding and prestigious qualification demonstrates true commitment and is an extraordinary accomplishment. This year鈥檚 cohort joins more than 13,000 graduates across the world - a community that will help shape the future of the drinks industry and inspire the next generation of students. I would also like to extend my personal congratulations to all our scholarship and prize winners for impressive results in their exams. I am inspired by their individual stories, their determination to achieve their goals and the positive difference that studying with 黑料吃瓜网 has made to their careers and lives.
鈥淚鈥檓 delighted that we have a record number of diploma students graduating this year. It鈥檚 clear that more people are becoming aware of the immense value of this globally recognised qualification, whether for professional advancement, or the pure joy of learning.鈥�
Dr Laura Catena, Managing Director of Catena Zapata and 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Honorary President, added: 鈥淎ttending 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 graduation ceremony to celebrate the success of 黑料吃瓜网 students worldwide filled me with immense pride and honour, akin to attending my children鈥檚 graduations. One of my greatest joys from this year has been meeting with 黑料吃瓜网 students and discussing their drinks qualification study journeys. Their enthusiasm is inspiring; so many of these students are taking their drinks education to the highest level.
鈥淚n my inaugural year as 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Honorary President, I've witnessed firsthand the organisation鈥檚 strong and urgent focus on diversity and sustainability. With a commitment to making drinks education accessible to as many students as possible worldwide, I am confident that 黑料吃瓜网 will achieve this goal.鈥澨�
Vintners鈥� Cup
The Vintners鈥� Cup, which was established in 1946, is led by The Worshipful Company of Vintners, one of the City of London鈥檚 livery companies whose history is rooted in the UK wine trade. It鈥檚 awarded annually to the graduate achieving the highest mark across all areas of the 黑料吃瓜网 Level 4 Diploma in Wines. Che Chun Alex Tsui
This year鈥檚 winner is Che Chun Alex Tsui, a PhD Researcher in Biochemistry at the University of Oxford who relocated to California and studied for his diploma at the Neptune School of Wine in the USA.
Alex said: 鈥業 feel incredibly grateful to be awarded the 2023 Vintners鈥� Cup following in the footsteps of so many accomplished individuals in the wine world. My success in the Level 4 Diploma in Wines has only propelled me to go further. I am definitely considering following the Master of Wine track and switching to a wine-focused career in the not-so-distant future.鈥�
Ian Harris, MBE, from The Worshipful Company of Vintners, Che Chun Alex Tsui winner of The Vintners鈥� Cup, and 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 Honorary President Dr Laura Catena.
Regional scholarships:
Graduate scholarships were awarded to 黑料吃瓜网 Diploma students who achieved the highest overall mark in their respective regions.
- Penfolds Asia Pacific Scholarship: Yawei Shen who studied at ASC Fine Wines, China
- Decanter Americas Scholarship: Kimberly Pasquali, who studied at听Grape Experience,听USA听
- IWSC听EMEA听Scholarship: Graham Cohen who studied at The International Wine Education Centre, South Africa
- Vintners鈥� UK Scholarship: Claire Nesbitt, who studied with 黑料吃瓜网 School London, UK听
Outstanding Alumni Award
The Outstanding Alumni Award, which is presented annually in partnership with JancisRobinson.com, celebrates the achievements of 黑料吃瓜网鈥檚 global alumni community. This year, alumni were invited to nominate their winner by shining a spotlight on the inspiring work of diploma graduates around the world. The 2023 award recognises an exceptional contribution to creating positive change within the global drinks community.
Sonal C Holland MW, winner of the Outstanding Alumni Award, and Jancis Robinson OBE.
This year鈥檚 winner is Sonal C Holland MW, Dip黑料吃瓜网, India鈥檚 first and, as yet, only Master of Wine. For the past 17 years, she has been at the forefront of revolutionising wine culture in India, making this affordable and accessible for more people, through the Sonal Holland Wine Academy. She founded the India Wine Awards, is a wine consultant for Air India, and also co-organises the Vinexpo Mumbai wine and spirits exhibition.
Sonal commented: 鈥�Winning this award only reinforces my belief that you should always trust in your capabilities. I would like to thank 黑料吃瓜网 and Jancis Robinson OBE, MW for bestowing this award on me and recognising my potential and achievements. I am honoured to be named among the league of past achievers whose work continues to inspire me. This award isn鈥檛 just an honour, it is a huge responsibility which demands me to continue making meaningful and relevant contributions to the world of wine.鈥�
The full list of this year鈥檚 prize winners, scholars, graduates and prize sponsors is detailed in the 黑料吃瓜网 Graduation Yearbook 2024.
