Image courtesy WSET

The NSW Wine Industry Association (NSW Wine), with the support of the NSW Government has launched the NSW Wine WSET Scholarships annual program.

Under this new initiative, 15 scholarships will be on offer for The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) training programs in early 2022 at The Sydney Wine Academy at TAFE NSW Ryde.

WSET programs offer qualifications that are recognised in over 70 countries across the world and provide a strong foundation of wine knowledge and skills, with programs ranging from entry-level to advanced courses.

“We are delighted to be working with the TAFE NSW Sydney Wine Academy, the largest WSET specialist school in Australia and past winner of WSET International Wine Educator of the Year,” NSW Wine president Mark Bourne said.

“The Academy, based in Ryde, has excellent educational facilities including a unique wine sensory centre and wine evaluation theatre.

“These new scholarships are a great opportunity for those key front-of-house staff that present our wines to the public to further their wine education and careers, at the same time as expanding their knowledge of NSW wines and those dedicated wineries that craft the premium and diverse wines of NSW.”

As part of the program, NSW Wine will also be encouraging further experience in the NSW wine industry by supplying wine and coordinating special presentations for a range of special courses and covering the costs of scholarship recipients to participate in NSW trade tastings and events.

“In the long-term, we hope that this program will grow sales and listings of NSW wines in restaurants and bottle shops across Greater Sydney, boost tourism to Cellar Doors in regional NSW and ultimately increase employment in regional NSW,” Bourne added.

The 15 scholarships (ten for the WSET Level 2 Awards in Wines course and five for the WSET Level 3 Awards in Wines course) are open to anyone working within the on and off premise drinks trades, who can travel to TAFE NSW Ryde or TAFE NSW Ultimo during early 2022 for the courses.

Successful applicants will be selected via criteria available on the NSW Wine website.

Scholarships applications are open now until 16 December 2021 and applications can be submitted via the NSW Wine website here.

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