The Ian D’Agata Wine Academy (IDWA) currently runs three different courses on Italian wines, the Connoisseur (or Introductory level), the Advanced (an intermediate level) and the Educator (the top level). On Saturday July 26, the school ran another Connoisseur course in Shanghai following the one also held in Shanghai on May 22 this year, with fifteen wine professionals in attendance. The students sat through seven hours of lectures, then took a thirty-minute multiple-choice exam. The IDWA certificates and Connoisseur level pins will be handed out during our pinning ceremony to all passing students at a celebration dinner to be held in mid-August.
Wines by Allegrini (the esteemed estate in Veneto), Bocale, Canalicchio di Sopra, Cantina Bozen, Castiglion del Bosco, Casali, Cave Mont Blanc de Morgex et La Salle, Col d’Orcia, Colle Massari, Conti Zecca, Dirupi, Elena Fucci, Falezze/Luca Anselmi, Gemin, IDDA/Gaja, Luigi Baudana, Maeli, Marchesi di Barolo, Mocali, Marco Felluga, Monfort, Planeta, Santadi, Sella&Mosca, Sordo, Tenuta di Trinoro, Tornatore, GD Vajra, Valle Reale, Vaona Odino, Viberti, and Villa Spinosa were served as course wines for this session. The majority but not all the wines chosen by Ian D’Agata were picked from wineries that attended the recent VINO100 wine show and Italian Wine Week organized by the Ian D’Agata Wine Culture company. “Using the wines of wineries that participated in the recent Shanghai wine show is a way by which to further broadcast the quality of these wines to the wine-buying public out there; clearly, the IDWA wants to increase awareness about these wineries and their wines, and so pouring such wines in the course is yet another way we help these Italian wineries become better known. Hopefully, this will lead to increased sales of their wines, or why not, finding importers. It is also a means by which we thank those wineries that have faith in us and support the work we do on their behalf, and frankly, all Italian wine. Clearly, the course also features a small number of wines of wineries that do not attend the show, so as to paint an even more complete picture of Italy’s wine production today” said D’Agata. Yumi Liu, the company CEO/CFO, and Zihong Zhang, Associate Director of the Ian D’Agata Wine Review and technical coordinator, were impressed by how remarkably attentive and serious all the attendees were through the admittedly long seven hours of lectures (with only four breaks, 30 minutes in total). Many of the attendees went on record as saying that they were very impressed by the quality of the wines chosen for the course, which they found to be far superior to those served at other wine courses they have attended in the past. Interestingly, at least in this specific course, it was the southern Italian wines that were most admired, possibly because the students did not have too much experience with wines made with the likes of Frappato and Monica, while the Etna wines were also amongst the most popular wines served.
“But most importantly, it never ceases to amaze me how quality individuals are always willing to give up their time, and in this specific case it was basically one whole Saturday that they could have spent resting or with their families, just so that they might learn and improve” concluded D’Agata. “These relatively young people working for wine importing firms, sommeliers, and restaurant/bistro owners were remarkably interested in all the various grape varieties that call Italy home and how they express themselves in different territories. It’s always so fascinating to see their fascination, if you allow me”.
The IDWA’s next two courses are: another Connoisseur level will be held in Shanghai this October 16, while an Advanced level in Montalcino at the Castiglione del Bosco Wine Resort on November 17-20. For more information on these courses, contact Giulia Corino at: giulia.corino@iandagatawine.com
