Applications open from 13 June to 15 July 2022
The Sommeliers Australia National Executive Committee (NEC) is delighted to announce the running of the 2022 Sommeliers Australia Education Scholarship from 28 to 31 August 2022 in Melbourne; an initiative that the association has successfully conducted for over a decade.
Offered to Sommeliers Australia Professional members nationally every 3 years, the 2022 Education Scholarship will be open to not only sommeliers, but also to wine buyers and wine professionals working in on-premise, wine retail or distribution settings to apply for, ensuring that the next generation of wine professionals receive the training and support required to successfully advance along their chosen wine path.
As in previous years, Sommeliers Australia will provide a high-quality tasting programme developed with a view to ‘raising the bar’ through benchmarking the knowledge of Australian sommeliers and wine professionals, in addition to giving them the practical foundation to use their skills in the workplace and the wine judging arena.
Twelve selected Scholars will have the incredible opportunity to develop their skills in tasting, assessment and articulation, using the best wines from around the world.
To date some 82 scholars have experienced the scholarship and have gone on to the highest echelons of the craft in this country and beyond.
In 2022, the Education Scholarship will be conducted in Melbourne for twelve sommeliers/wine professionals selected from across Australia:
- Three-day intensive tasting programme;
- Local and international benchmark wines;
- An impressive list of guest tutors will join Sommeliers Australia’s Education Sub-Committee members to deliver this programme.
With acknowledgment of existing bodies Court of Master Sommeliers, WSET and the Len Evans Tutorial, the Education Scholarship is an education experience developed to support anyone wishing to pursue a number of available accreditations.
The aim of the programme is to nurture and develop what it is to be a top-class sommelier and we strongly encourage those that are not currently in senior sommelier or wine roles (or those working in an environment where mentoring is not currently on offer) to apply for this Education Scholarship.
Scholars attending from interstate will have their accommodation costs covered by the Scholarship Fund, but will be responsible for their own travel and personal expenses.
The two top performing Scholars during the Scholarship programme will undergo a final tasting assessment during the Awards Ceremony to determine the National Dux. The National Dux will be selected and announced to those gathered at the Awards event.
The National Dux will receive a $2,000 contribution towards educational travel to the international wine destination of their choice, where they can then immerse themselves in their desired wine region(s.)
In 2022, the Education Scholarship will be fully funded by our Education Scholarship Partners, each of whom will directly fund one or more Scholars. Education Scholarship Partners and Scholars will be allocated at the time of the twelve selected Scholars being announced.
Applications for the 2022 Sommeliers Australia Education Scholarship is open to sommeliers and wine professionals not currently in senior service/sales positions or to those working in an environment where mentoring is not available, who can fulfil the application criteria.
APPLICATION CRITERIA
In order to apply, applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Must be a current Professional member of Sommeliers Australia at the time of application;
- Must be actively working in the hospitality industry as a sommelier, wine buyer, or wine professional in a wine retail or distribution setting;
- Must submit a current CV (Word or pdf only), highlighting relevant wine and service experience;
- Must have completed at least WSET Level 2 or have equivalent industry experience;
- Must be available to attend the intensive 3-day coursework/assessment program and Awards Ceremony, in Melbourne;
- Must complete a series of short answer wine related questions at the time of application;
- Must make themselves available at a mutually convenient time to visit their Partner’s winery or a chosen winery within their Partners portfolio when invited.
PLEASE NOTE: Professional Members from all states are encouraged to apply for the Education Scholarship programme, however all travel and personal expenses are the responsibility of the individual.
Accommodation will be provided to interstate Scholars for nights of 28, 29, 30 August. Additional nights can be arranged at Scholars’ own cost.
To apply
Applications are open from Monday 13 June, until 5pm Friday 15 July.
Please CLICK HERE to complete your application, answer the four assessment questions and ensure that you attach a copy of your current CV.
KEY DATES
| Monday 13 June | Applications open |
| Friday 15 July | Applications close, 5pm |
| Friday 29 July | Announcement of Scholars and Education Scholarship Partners |
| Sunday 28 to
Wednesday 31 August |
3-day coursework and examination (Melbourne) |
| Wednesday 31 August | Dux announced at Awards Ceremony attend by Scholarship Partners |
For further information regarding the 2022 Sommeliers Australia Education Scholarship, please email Executive Officer, Imbi Knappstein, at [email protected]
