Nov 23: Delhi based Tullee-Ho Portals has been shortlisted for the Riedel-sponsored WSET Educator of the Year 2018 Award to be announced in London on January 21, with another round of Presentation through video-conference to be organised on December 18, according to its Director, Vikram Achanta, writes Subhash Arora who feels it is a great feat just to be one of the seven Educators shortlisted out of 700 globally
An elite selection of WSET Approved Programme Providers (APPs) and individual WSET Certified Educators has been hand-picked by WSET to be shortlisted for the award which celebrates the work of exemplary educators offering WSET courses across the world.
The winner will be decided by a panel of judges led by WSET Chief Executive Ian Harris, including Richard Bampfield MW, Laura Jewell MW of Wine Australia and Matt Knight of Riedel UK. The judges will be looking for the educator that has demonstrated clear dedication and growth in delivering WSET’s courses as well as innovation in wine and spirits education. ‘We will be making a Presentation to the judges through video conferencing on December 18,’ says an elated Tullee-Ho’s Vikram Achanta. He could not confirm but felt it was the first time an Indian educator has been shortlisted.
The winner will be announced at the WSET Awards and Graduation ceremony at the Guildhall, City of London, UK on 21 January 2019.
Ian Harris, WSET Chief Executive, says, “We are proud to see our APPs and educators across the world developing new strategies to expand their business and encourage more professionals and consumers to reap the benefits that wine and spirits education can offer. The nominees for this award have stood out for their innovation and passion to share our mission and we look forward to celebrating the winner.”
An official announcement by WSET says, ‘Tulleeho Portals has been a key WSET education provider for India’s trade since 2009, both across the wine country and in bar schools and hospitality colleges throughout Mumbai, Delhi and Bangalore. As the first APP to offer the Level 2 Award in Spirits in India, it is amping up its spirits offering, partnering with global drinks brands, and has been a great support to WSET’s team for recent activity in the country.’
Here are some of the facts that might have gone in the favour of Tulleeho:
1. Tulleeho was the first APP to start WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits in India & successfully conducted 4 courses (3 open & 1 exclusive for Moet Hennessy ) in the last 7 months with 84 students from 4 courses .
2. Tulleeho has also been conducting Level 2 Award in Wines & Spirits course since last 3 years for the students and management trainees at The Oberoi Centre for Learning & Development (OCLD).
3. They were the education partner for WSET at Prowein India's first edition this year in Sept 2018 where they hosted a series of master classes & panel discussions.
4. They are the only APP (Approved Programme Provider) in India to cross 100 courses last year in 2017.
5. Total courses conducted as APP from 2010 till date have been 132 in India while 8 were conducted in Maldives where they provided only the tutor for the APP, De Vine cellars.
6. A total of 1790 students have passed the various levels (including a Level 1 that was conducted exclusively for the members of the Delhi Wine Club) in India and 120 in Maldives.
7. A respectable overall pass percentage of 78%-with 78%, 87% and 68% respectively for Level, 1, 2 and 3.
The other six short-listed are: Adam Chase DipWSET, Director of Grape Experience (USA), Caplan Corporation (Japan), Get Wine Smart (Australia), Republic National Distributing Company (USA), Truro College (UK) and West London Wine School (UK).
To learn more about WSET qualifications or find an Approved Programme Provider visit www.WSETglobal.com. It lists 3 providers in India-besides Tulle-Ho- Sula, Sonal Holland Wine Academy and Petite Indulgences. Incidentally, WSET courses were introduced in India by Sanjay Menon of Sonays, Mumbai through KBR School of wine education in 2007 and trained many of the current APP trainers as well but has not renewed the license and perhaps that’s why his name is not mentioned.
Indian Wine Academy and delWine congratulate Tullee- Ho for the recognition and wish Vikram well for the coveted Wine Educator Award on January 21, 2019.
For a couple of earlier related Articles, please visit:
Passing By: David Wrigley of Wine and Spirit Education Trust London
Sula enters Structured Wine Education with WSET
Subhash Arora
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