Hirst to Deliver Wine Message

By Andrew Starke

Fine Wine Partners (FWP) has announced that its chairman, Rob Hirst has accepted a role as president of the Wine Communicators of Australia (WCA).

The national wine distributor also reaffirmed its commitment to the wine industry in 2010 by continuing to facilitate international educational groups: the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) in Australia.

According to Hirst, it is vital to provide such world class training opportunities for industry gatekeepers.

“Our wines and regions are internationally acknowledged by wine savvy communicators and consumers,” he said.

“To promote the quality of Australian wines to a wider market we need to encourage the development of more highly skilled people at the front line; in sales, marketing and in bottle shops, hotels, clubs and restaurants.”

In 2010 Fine Wine Partners will again facilitate the CMS Australian Course and Exam Program in August and September in Sydney and Melbourne and this year also in Brisbane.

In addition, FWP will host, with the WSET, the launch of the WSET’s Australian Program and the WSET Approved Program Provider network across Australia.

Wine Communicators of Australia, is a not-for-profit organization that aims to continually improve the quality and relevance of communication on Australian wine and regular activities include tastings and key note lectures.

It is already known for its annual Wine Communicators Award, bi-annual Fellowship, New Writers Award, with Gourmet Traveller WINE, and with the Young Guns and Gurus program.