 A batch of 18 young wine professionals from different ITC luxury hotels in India were selected and first given 5-day training by Tulleeho which also conducted the Level 3 certification course for the group.
Spearheading the programme for ITC Hotels was Niladri Dhar, a Certified Sommelier who returned from New Zealand and joined the company in June this year as Beverage Manager with the objective of raising the bar of the group wine programme, education and professionalism. He took the group through a 45-day grind that included numerous wine tastings to prepare them for the exam which involves blind tastings as well. He finished his WSET Diploma-Level 4 last year and hopes to register for MW. Interestingly, according to the regulations of the Wine and Spirits Educations Trust which offers 4 levels of certification culminating in a Diploma, each level may be instructed by an individual holding at least one level of higher certification. Level 4 may be undertaken under the supervision of an MW or an experienced level 4 Diploma holder duly accredited by the Trust.
On receiving the Press Release by Tulleeho on the conclusion of the ‘first ever WSET Level 3 Advanced Certificate in Wines and Spirits in India,’ delWine made a few discreet enquiries on the authenticity of the claim. No one has yet come forward with a contradiction. A direct query to the organizers elicited a cautious response from Vikram Achanta. CEO of Tulleeho Academy who says, ‘as far as we know this is the first one done by a hotel chain.’
Crawfurd treaded carefully initially as it was his first time in the sub-continent. But by the end of the course, he seemed very pleased. Vikram Achanta, CEO of Tulleeho says, ‘we have already trained 150 wine professionals in WSET level 1 and 2 qualifications. Level 3 as a next step was long awaited and has finally happened.’ He plans to now organize an open Level 3 session in January 2012 at Mumbai where the wine consumption is the highest in the country. “Wine costs are one of the major concerns while organizing a course of this level. We are trying to beat such odds and will surely bring the Level 3 for those interested,” he adds. |