The Tasting Panel magazine

JUNE 2011

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INDUSTRY SPOTLIGhT Become a Certifi ed Wine Expert I n today’s competitive wine industry, certifi cation can mean a quicker path to success. The Certifi ed Wine Expert program, developed by Executive Director Erik Bowman and managed by Program Director Heidi Butzine, is a self-paced online course of wine study, exams, written assignments and fi eld work that is designed to prepare partici- pants for careers as sommeliers, wine buyers or other positions in this exciting, fast-paced industry. At the end of online study and certifi cation exam, successful partici- pants will be awarded a Certifi ed Wine Expert (CWX) credential. The course can be completed within three months by most students; those with prior wine knowledge may be able to complete the course within four to six weeks. Enrolled students also gain immediate access to job boards listing wine industry openings and will receive the program’s wine aroma evalu- ation kit, a full study curriculum as well as a copy of the book How to Launch Your Wine Career. According to Butzine, the program is also developing strategic partnerships with wineries. For more information or to enroll, go to www.certifi edwineexpert. com. Readers of THE TASTING PANEL can receive a $100 discount on tuition by using the discount code tastingpanel. IN pASSING BAcARDI ALL-IN-ONE ShAKER The new Bacardi All-In-One Shaker allows you to muddle, shake and pour in one quick, simple step. This is the fi rst product of its kind, simplifying the bartender’s job without sacrifi cing the quality of the cocktail. Available through your Bacardi rep. Fred Cooper, Vice Chairman of Wirtz Beverage Illinois, passed away Saturday, April 23, 2011 at the age of 74. Mr. Cooper worked in the beverage alcohol industry for more than 50 years. Extremely active in the industry, Mr. Cooper was well-known Fred Cooper. throughout the Chicago and Illinois markets in addition to the national supplier network due to Board of Director roles for the Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of America and National Association of Beverage Importers. Before joining Wirtz Beverage Illinois in 1996, Mr. Cooper was President of Continental Distributing Company for 17 years. 10 / the tasting panel / june 201 1 U.S. Drinks Conference at WSWA T he U.S. Drinks Conference (USDC) played to a packed house at this year’s Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America (WSWA) convention in Orlando. In this fi rst year of partnership between the two events, USDC produced the educational ses- sions. Plans are to co-locate the two conferences in full next April in Las Vegas. “Attendance far exceeded our expectations, so much so that we had to fi nd extra seats as people poured into the sessions,” commented Steve Raye of Brand Action Team, one of the USDC’s organizing companies along with MHW Ltd. and Next Level Marketing. Copies of some of the presentations as well as audio fi les of the sessions will be made available at www. USDrinksConference.com and www.wswa.org.

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