In Greece, at the initiative of the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe (CMS) and the WSPC, three different educational programs were held for the first time in the world, at the same time, in the same place, the CMS Intro & Certified, the CMS Advanced and the WSET Diploma – organized by the same educational institution, the WSPC.

Wines of Greece (National Interprofessional Organization of Vine and Wine) supported this initiative 100% and in collaboration with the WSPC hosted 70 professional Sommeliers and wholesale executives on the island of Santorini, in a particularly demanding week that had it all! Reading, exams and unique experiential experiences starring Greek Wine.

We thank Wines of Greece for contributing to the unprecedented coexistence of students working in leading companies, hotels and restaurants such as: Alchemist 2* Michelin (Copenhagen), Amazonico (Dubai), Belle Mare Plage Hotels & Resorts 5* (Mauritius), Da Terra Restaurant 2* Michelin (London), EHB 1* Michelin (Shanghai), Enrico Bartolini Restaurant 3* Michelin, Four Seasons Hotel 5* (Madrid), Four Seasons Resort and Residences 5* (Qatar), Kokomo Private Island Resort 5* (Fiji Islands), OD URLA 1* Michelin (Izmir, Turkey), Óx Restaurant 1* Michelin (Reykjavik), Palace La Réserve 5* (Paris), Pelagos Restaurant Four Seasons 1* Michelin (Athens), ROKA 1* Michelin (Istanbul), Sani Resort 5* (Halkidiki), Scorpios (Mykonos), Soil Restaurant 1* Michelin (Athens), Suvretta House 5* (St. Moritz), Tudor Hall Restaurant 1* Michelin (Athens), Tui Blue Elounda Village Resort & Spa by AQUILA 5* (Elounda), Villa Luisa Restaurant Port de Soller (Mallorca), Zuma (Mykonos), Aiolos S.A., Amvyx S.A.

In honor of the CMS and WSET Diploma students, WSPC in collaboration with Wines of Greece organized:

Three (3) dinners where a total of 35 labels of Greek Wine Producers were tasted.

Four (4) visits to the world-class wineries of Santorini: Estate Argyros, Boutari Winery, Santo Wines, Domaine Sigalas, with guided tours of the unique vineyards of Santorini. We warmly thank them for their hospitality!
Tour of the Museum of Prehistoric Thira and a look back at the ancient civilization of Santorini.
Cruise around Santorini and the volcano (Old & New Kameni), which ended with a visit to the Mikra Thira Winery located on the island of Thirasia, opposite Santorini.

We thank the Greek winemakers who contributed to this experience (in alphabetical order): Akriotou Microwinery, Alexakis Wines, Alpha Estate, Artemis Karamolegos Winery, Boutari Winery, Domaine Costa Lazaridi, Domaine Sigalas, Domaine Skouras, Domaine Zafeirakis, E.A.S Parou, Estate Argyros, Estate Manolesakis, Foivos Papastratis, Gaia Wines, Gavalas Winery, Hatzidakis Winery, Kechris Winery,
Kir·Yianni Estate, Ktima Biblia Chora, Ktima Diamantakos, Ktima Gerovassiliou, Ktima Pavlidis, Mega Spileo Estate, Mikra Thira Winery, Nico Lazaridi Wines, Santo Wines, Tselepos Wines, Vriniotis Winery.

CMS CEO, Ronan Sayburn MS, said of this unprecedented collaboration: “We completed 3 programs in 5 days and as always it was a difficult time for the students. Some succeeded, some didn’t, but even if someone fails, they do it in a place like Santorini. It’s a dream come true. Thank you very much to the candidates, WSPC and Wines of Greece!”

WSPC President, Konstantinos Lazarakis Master of Wine (MW) in turn said: “A fantastic week is coming to an end. For the first time in Santorini, we had WSET Diploma and Court of Master Sommeliers students attending their training programs simultaneously. Education should also be experiential. We know that everything is in the glass when you taste a wine, but it is also about unique places, unique methods and unique people and cultures. That is why, above all, WSPC with Wines of Greece wanted to offer an authentic experiential education and experience to the students.”

Through this synergy of WSPC with the wine industry of Greece, the recognition of the Greek Branded Wine is further enhanced among a targeted audience, potentially its ambassadors, who co-shape trends and drive a significant part of the global wine market and consumption. Over 14 Michelin Stars and over 40 Hotel Stars “talk” about Greek wine and Greek hospitality!

A few words about WSPC:

The WSPC, based in Athens, is awarded the Riedel trophy Award as the best branch in the world, and one of the 15 largest branches of WSET worldwide. It ensures candidates excellent training in all areas of the trade of Alcoholic and Non-Alcoholic beverages as well as Oenology. WSPC collaborates with leading international organizations, providing Certifications with Global Prestige and Power in its programs. It is an Approved Programme Provider of:

Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET),
Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS Europe),
Beverage Standards Association (BSA UK) and
Wine Scholar Guild (WSG USA)

A few words about EDOAO:

The National Interprofessional Organization of Vine and Wine (EDOAO) is the leading body in Greece for the vine and wine. It was formed and is composed of representatives of the production, processing and marketing of grape and wine products. The objectives of EDOAO are varied. They start from the close monitoring of the wine market and reach the effort to maintain and develop economic activities of the wine sector, in order to improve its knowledge and organization at every level: from primary production (vineyard) and processing (winemaking), to marketing. EDOAO also aims to raise awareness of public opinion and institutions regarding the economic, social, environmental and cultural importance of wine products.