Covid-19 pandemic has had a global whipsaw effect on practically every industry in the world. While professionally certain sectors like the leisure and hospitality industry have been hit the hardest in America – 35.9 percent unemployment. On a personal level, this unexpected down time has forced us to focus on resetting our priorities.
Coronavirus pandemic, high unemployment, racial inequality, revolutionary riots – 2020 is shaping out to be cathartic. From baby boomers to generation Z, we have this pioneering opportunity to discard the superficial rat race. Hopefully re-write history. Recreate an honest, mindful, and empathetic identity. And all of this starts with education.
Even though campuses all over the globe have been shut since February. Fortunately in the wine industry, due to occupational hazard, (unpredictable and unconventional working hours) wine enthusiasts and industry veterans enhance their skills with online or remote learning.
As the world reopens, we caught up with our Alma Maters to explore how Covid-19 has impacted them and what is their vision of wine education post Covid. First a quick synopsis of the wine certifications we have earned to better comprehend the magical world of wine.
Wine & Spirits Education Trust: Irrespective of race, creed, gender, or experience, WSET makes it possible for people to stand out as equals. WSET’s all encompassing wine and spirits program is not only the holy grail for beverage education. In our humble opinion it is the gold standard for high quality learning, be it remote or in person. WSET offers Level 1 to 4 with 4 aka Diploma being the expert level qualification achieving the coveted title DipWSET (including yours truly).
Vin Italy Academy: If the traditional noble grapes like Chardonnay to Cabernet doesn’t cut it, dig deeper in to the largest collection of native grapes with Managing Dr. Ms. Stevie Kim’s pet project – VinItaly International to become a VIA Italian Wine Ambassador. Did you know Italy’s National Registry of Grapes boasts 461 official grape varieties, 377 of which are genetically different Native grapes? VIA is the quintessential resource of everything we love about Italy – history, heritage, food, and wine.
CMSA: Mom and pop eateries to Michelin star studded outfits, neighborhood Bed and Breakfast to luxury hotel properties, all have one thing in common – Sommelier. The Court of Master Sommeliers America especially here in America is deemed essential, especially if you have any desire to rise up in the ranks. Certified Sommelier was the first industry certification we attained. But it’s a bitter sweet victory as CMS has turned out to be one of the most closed minded and cult-like club, accessible to a handful of handpicked souls (all for self-centered reasons).
Wine and spirits industry is an interactive sector. With the current lock-down, and social distancing guidelines, how has Covid-19 impacted wine education.
WSET: Like most other sectors, wine education has been hard-hit by the current crisis. Although we previously offered our courses as online options, the majority of our students around the world took classroom-based courses and most of these have been cancelled or postponed over the last few months due to local government restrictions. In addition, our online courses still involved taking an offline exam at the end of the course so students have been unable to complete their qualifications. However, as a result of the COVID-19 situation, we have fast tracked our digital learning development and are now offering our course providers a much wider range of options for teaching our courses online. We are also now in a position to offer our online Level 1 Awards (wines, spirits and sake) and our level 2 Awards (wines and spirits) with a remotely invigilated online exam. This means that more of our students can continue with their WSET learning journey while not able to attend classroom sessions or exams. On a positive note, as a global business with 800 plus course providers in 70 countries, we are now seeing China emerge from the crisis with our course providers here starting to offer traditional classroom courses again.
VIA: Although it’s been challenging, it has made people think about new ways to educate and has given rise to the possibility of global interaction rather than just local. I think we will look back at this time and realise that despite the difficulties it has given rise to very positive changes in the education sector.
According to Gill-Gordon Smith, (IWE-academic support manager, head of the wine and spirits school TAFE in South Australia, a wine maker, and retailer): Covid has thrown a complete curve ball for both lecturers and students. Lecturers have had to adapt to online teaching, (a challenging experience as engaging students without appropriate in person reactions has it’s restrictions). While the students experienced anxiety over trying to learn a new way in addition to studying for their respective courses.
With the hospitality sector shut down, unemployment skyrocketing, how does it affect wine schools? And what measures have you taken to sustain interest and participation?
WSET: The majority of our global course providers are feeling the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. However, we have worked hard to offer them a range of digital learning options so that they can continue to engage with their students. Course providers are also being incredibly inventive offering their students webinars, quizzes and online tasting sessions. (I can attest to this as my provider – Philly Wine School went above and beyond to support our individual successes).
VIA: This is the biggest challenge for wine schools, because without students there is no school. However, while we haven’t been able to have people physically at the wine school, this shouldn’t mean that engagement with students should stop. In fact it makes it even more important. Wine schools should still be supporting their students as well as recruiting new ones. For example we have continued with our online flashcards, we have moved our classroom sessions to online interactive courses that mirror our classroom as closely as possible, and we have even started an English Speaking Virtual Tasting, where students are guided through a wine each week by a member of our faculty, with a focus on the WSET Systematic Approach to tasting at different levels. This has allowed students to continue to engage with our team, calibrate their palates and hone their skills, all from the comfort of their own homes.
What modifications moving forward are you anticipating to keep your educational programs alive and thriving?
WSET: continues to roll out our ‘digital first’ strategy but we recognize that this will never replace the magic of classroom learning for our students. We are continually reviewing our product offering to ensure that is keeping inline with market requirements. We have other exciting developments coming soon so watch this space!
VIA: The most important thing is to listen to what your students want and adapt to make their experience the best you can possibly provide. Offering courses not only in the classroom but also online, providing extra support and resources, giving them varied educational experiences that are not simply the typical classroom lecture, all of these are fundamental for a thriving school. As is of course the other side of things – having the very best, highly experienced educators.
Any message to our hard-hit hospitality industry?
WSET: We are there to support you in these difficult times. We are today launching an initiative – Raising Spirits – to offer our beleaguered hospitality professionals the opportunity to take an online Level 1 Award in Spirits course so that they can increase their drinks knowledge while they are not able to work. We are reaching out to the wider US drinks industry to help us fund this initiative with a view to providing 5,000 course places. To find out more visit Raising Spirits.
VIA: I think there are still many difficult days ahead of us. However, I think we all will come out stronger and smarter because of this crisis. I also think that the future of our world will depend on how we are able to embrace the adversities and transform them into opportunities. It will take some time but best ideas come through during hardships.
In all probability, with the pandemic uncertainty, economic downfall and the potential threat of a second wave, it will take a while for the hospitality sector to return to normalcy and flourish. History teaches us like all previous crisis, WW I and II, Great Depression, let’s not forget Prohibition, or the multiple financial crashes – we did indeed come back.
While we are waiting, why not utilize this time to collectively elevate the future of the wine world and our own personal career goals? Crisis like this pandemic don’t last forever, but education and learning does. And there is not better time than the present to invest in your future. Especially with incentives like:
- Capital Wine School: Effective immediately, the Capital Wine School is accepting applications for full scholarships for WSET Level 1 – 4 certifications in 2020/2021.
- Cooper’s Hawk Scholarship for Black American Wine Professionals: This scholarship is to assist Black Americans who are passionate about pursuing a career in the wine industry. To apply click here.
- Somm Foundation offers award over $150,000 in annual scholarships to beverage professionals worldwide.
- Antica Terra Wine: Wine maker Maggie Harrison and Chef Timothy Wastell are offering one year mentorship to Black, Indigenous, and People of Color – mentorship@anticaterra.com
- Women of the Vine & Spirits: are offering scholarships for Professional & Leadership Development, Student Educational Scholarship, Continuing Education, and WSET Scholarship.
- Wine Empowered: Wine Empowered is a 501(c)3 non-profit educational organization that provides tuition-free wine classes to women and minorities in the hospitality industry.
- Dream Big Darling: The annual Dream Big Darling Leadership Retreat is our signature mentor ship experience held every fall at Santa Margarita Ranch in the Paso Robles Wine Country.
- Wine Dialogues: Women considering a wine career or working in the industry are invited to apply for one of their scholarships or continuing education awards.
- NVWA Education Foundation 501c3: Les AOCs du Languedoc (and IGP Sud de France) announce a partnership with the Napa Valley Wine Academy to provide a scholarship for candidates enrolling in the WSET Level 4 Diploma program for the 2020-2021 Academic year.
- American Society for Enology and Viticulture: The ASEV annually awards numerous scholarships to students pursuing a degree in enology, viticulture, or in a curriculum emphasizing a science basic to the wine and grape industry.
- Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits: several actions to promote racial equality, from philanthropic grants and community education programming, to internal workplace initiatives and programs to support Black- and minority-owned wine and spirits businesses.
Credits: Gill-Gordon Smith, Australia. WSET – England. VIA – Italy.
The first book we read about wine – Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil.
About Author
