9/20/2013 - St. Helena, CA – Thirty-five Master of Wine and Master Sommelier students will convene in Napa Valley on Sunday, September 22 for Master Napa Valley, a multi-day education immersion program about the wine region, hosted by the Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) nonprofit trade association.
The students, traveling from around the U.S. and seven other countries, have all passed at least the second level of examination for their respective professional certification programs. During Master Napa Valley, they will personally meet and interact with nearly 100 of the NVV’s winery members, taste and discuss more than 250 different Napa Valley wines, and participate in a dozen seminars and intimate vineyard and winery experiences designed specifically to enhance their understanding of what makes Napa Valley unique in the world of wine.
NVV hosts the program in collaboration with the Institute of Masters of Wine and the Guild of Sommeliers, who recommend the attendees from their respective memberships. “The Guild of Sommeliers is thrilled to partner with the Master Napa Valley program,” commented Geoff Kruth, MS, director of operations for the Guild of Sommeliers. “It is critical that top wine professionals have an in-depth understanding of premier wine regions like Napa Valley and there is no substitute for personally visiting the region.”
This is the eighth convening of the NVV’s Master Napa Valley program, first hosted in 2002. “We’ve been delighted to partner with the NVV on Master Napa Valley since its inception,” said Penny Richards, executive director of the Institute of Masters of Wine in London. “The program brings tremendous education value to our Master of Wine students and their exploration of the great wines and wine regions of the world.”
Several Bay Area Masters of Wine and Master Sommeliers will also participate as panel moderators and mentors during the immersion program, which concludes with a written exam, blind tasting challenge and farewell dinner on Wednesday.
About the Napa Valley Vintners
The Napa Valley Vintners (NVV) is the non-profit trade association responsible for promoting and protecting the Napa Valley appellation as the premier winegrowing region. From seven founding members in 1944, today the association represents nearly 500 Napa Valley wineries and is a leader in the worldwide wine industry. To learn more about our region and its legendary American wines, visit napavintners.com.
Contact: Patsy McGaughy, Communications Director 707.968.4207 pmcgaughy@napavintners.com
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