Students have completed a gruelling course over the past few years to attain their Level 4 Diploma, joining an elite group of less than 20 graduates in South Africa including Richard Kershaw MW, top sommeliers Joakim Blackadder and Gosia Zielinska and two of IInternational Wine Education Centre (IWEC)’s top lecturers, Cathy Marston and Elizma Myburgh Venter.
The new graduates who are now entitled to use the post-nominal DipWSET after their name are:
Fiona Bergmann started her WSET Level 4 Diploma studies whilst running her own small wine import business in Tanzania. Recently-moved to Franschhoek, she believes the qualification will make it easier for her to join the South African wine industry and contribute to it at a higher level. “The IWEC has provided fantastic support throughout my studies and Cathy and Elizma are inspirational trainers.”
Andrew Shelly runs a hospitality events business but since starting his WSET journey with Level 2 has become increasingly fascinated with wine. He lectures for the IWEC and is currently training to be a Certified Educator but his next major step will hopefully be to start his MW studies later this year. “Studying wine through WSET and the IWEC has been a game-changer and I look forward to continuing to grow and share my knowledge with others.”
Ronda Daniel is hospitality manageress at Rust enVrede Estate and chose to do WSET Level 4 Diploma to improve her international wine knowledge and understanding of the South African wine industry in a global context. Her advice for others starting this qualification? “Be prepared for many of hours of self-study but the IWEC offers great learning opportunities especially tutored tastings of international wines in the exam format.”
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is the world’s leading wine and spirit education authority operating in over 70 countries and in 19 different languages. More than 100,000 students sat a WSET exam in the last 12 months alone and the Level 4 Diploma is universally regarded as the stepping stone for Master of Wine.
The IWEC is the biggest provider of WSET courses on the African continent and offers all WSET courses from Level 1 to Level 4. The next intake of Level 4 will be in September 2019 and is only open to WSET Level 3 graduates.
For more information about the graduates, WSET or the IWEC, contact Cathy Marston cathy@thewinecentre.co.za or on 072 390 9166.