British Columbia Wine Institute Partners with Okanagan College on Comprehensive BC Wine Education Program
April 23, 2012 (Kelowna, BC) – The British Columbia Wine Institute (BCWI) and Okanagan College have partnered to offer the most comprehensive BC wine education program in the market, the Wine Server program.
Initially developed in partnership with several industry partners, the Wine Server program has been taught at Okanagan College for more than a decade. The updated course has been completely revised by the British Columbia Wine Institute, with the assistance of Master of Wine Rhys Pender, to provide students and those interested in the BC wine industry with the most up-to-date information and give them the tools to appreciate and effectively promote the Wines of British Columbia.
“The new Wine Server program will provide students with a solid foundation for work in the BC wine and hospitality industry,” notes BC Wine Institute Executive Director Miles Prodan. “Most wine courses at best acknowledge and at worst completely neglect our local industry, which is why we felt it was crucial to partner with a reputable educational institution like Okanagan College to administer the definitive BC wine education program and shape the future ambassadors for the Wines of British Columbia.”
The Wine Server course is a 12-hour program (divided into two 6-hour sessions) that covers information on BC wineries’ history, geography and viticulture, as well as practical, hands-on sessions on tasting, serving and selling the Wines of British Columbia. After successful completion of this course, students will receive a certificate from Okanagan College and the BC Wine Institute.
The Wine Server course will be offered in Penticton on the following dates:
- June 2 and 3
- July 21 and 22
- August 18 and 19
- September 15 and 16
For more information about the Wine Server course and to find out about future dates and locations, visit www.okanagan.bc.ca/csreg. To learn more about the Wines of British Columbia, visit www.winebc.org.
For further information:
Lindsay Kelm
Communications Manager
tel. 250-762-9744 ext. 103
cell. 250-317-8688
British Columbia Wine Institute
Suite 107 – 1726 Dolphin Avenue
Kelowna, B.C. V1Y 9R9
phone. 250-762-9744
toll free. 1-800-661-2294
fax. 250-762-9788
About the BC Wine Institute (BCWI)
Since 1990, the BCWI has played a pivotal role in taking BC’s wine industry from a vision to an internationally recognized niche region producing premium wines and providing quality wine tourism experiences.
Representing 127 member wineries throughout the province, the BCWI supports and markets the Wines of British Columbia (BC VQA), which gives consumers assurance they are buying a wine that is 100% from BC. The BCWI also markets the Wine Regions of BC; delivers quality trade, media and consumer tastings; and acts as the voice of BC’s wine industry by advocating to government on behalf of its members.
