New Wine and Sommelier school in Würzburg

To meet the continuously growing demand of the restaurant and hotel industry and the specialist trade, the IHK Würzburg- Schweinfurt has initiated a branch of the German Wineschool in cooperation with vintagers of the VDP- Franconia (member of the Association of German Prädikat Wine estates). The courses will start in January 2009.

The German Wine and Sommelier School, with headquarters located in Koblenz, is already conducting branch campuses in Berlin, Hamburg and Munich. " With the location Würzburg and the cooperation with Franconian vintagers, we anticipate an improvement of the Franconian wine marketing", says Jürgen Bode, deputy chief executive officer of the IHK Würzburg- Schweinfurt, on the occasion of the branch opening in Würzburg. "With the increasing wine tourism in Franconia and the 35,000 people employed in the region´s winemaking, who annually pull in sales of 3,5 billion Euros, the time has come for us to be active in Würzburg", stressed Hans- Jürgen Podzun, President of the German Sommelier Schooll.

First and foremost, the new Wineschool in Würzburg will consequentially offer advanced education programs for people working in the hotel and restaurant field, wine production, and trade. However, the seminars are also available for employees in the tourism industry and for everyone who is interested in wine.

For beginners, the program offers seminars lasting for one or two days ranging from sensory appreciation, matching of food and wine to Franconia´s terroir. In advanced courses or extra occupational, anyone who is interested can earn the degree "Wine Expert" in the three consecutive courses gold, silver, and bronze - with each module lasting 64 lessons. (Advanced course or extra occupational). In turn, this qualification allows to take the examination "Sommelier" (IHK) or "Wine Trade Specialist Adviser" (IHK). The IHK Würzburg- Schweinfurt further says that an international master degree can also be obtained. *Chamber of Commerce(aw.yoopress)