2009 marks an exciting year for Sommeliers Australia, with a series of national and international initiatives - the launch of State Chapters, the first ASI Asia-Oceanic Sommeliers competition, an internationally benchmarked education program and ongoing tastings and events - which will leave the hard-working volunteer committee little time for their night jobs.

These activities realise a vision that has taken years of effort by a group of Australia’s leading sommeliers, who are passionate about delivering representation, knowledge, education, skills and qualifications to the Australian hospitality industry and beyond.

Sommeliers Australia is a not-for-profit organisation that has a growing paid membership, attracting hospitality, wine and beverage professionals, wine journalists and industry suppliers to general wine enthusiasts who are eager to learn the same wine insights that the professionals do.

WHAT'S HAPPENING NATIONALLY?

Whilst the NSW and Victorian Chapters of the association agreed to form a national body in 2007, Co-Presidents Ben Edwards, Ben Moechtar and committees have now formalised a Constitution, which solidifies the association’s principles. Sommeliers ply their trade across the country, and the Constitution will guide the path for the establishment of State-based Chapters in 2009, commencing with Queensland and Western Australia.

In Brisbane & Perth:

Matt Brooke (Sommelier, ISIS) and Peter Marchant (Sommelier, Restaurant Two) will host a lunch event at Brisbane’s Restaurant Two on Tuesday 10th February that will showcase three of Brisbane’s most acclaimed chefs – David Pugh (Restaurant Two), Jason Peppler (formerly of ISIS) and Paul McGivern (Manx) - with dishes matched to local and imported wines.

Emma Sputore (Sommelier, Must Wine Bar) will host a lunch event on Tuesday 17th February at Perth’s Must Wine Bar featuring the local chef talents of Russell Blaikie (Must Wine Bar), Jason Jujnovich (Divido) and Clint Nolan (Harvest), with matched wines from local producers and beyond.

At both events, Sommeliers Australia Co-President Ben Edwards will introduce guests to the association and it’s plans for 2009, including specific, ongoing initiatives in each State. Attendees can also pledge their support for the association by signing up as members at each event.

In Melbourne:

Monthly member wine tastings: education remains a key focus for the association, and monthly wine tastings will continue throughout 2009, with the first, a sold-out Chianti Masterclass hosted by Piero Lanza from acclaimed Tuscan winery Poggerino, held last week.

Melbourne Food & Wine Festival: Sommeliers Australia is hosting a series of events as part of the Festival. From March 5th to 18th, members can explore anything from biodynamic winemaking, to the best of Italy, Argentina, our local and international Rhone ‘Rangers’ and the much-anticipated annual Sommeliers Long Lunch – an array of topics that aim to engage all wine devotees, from novices and enthusiasts to professionals.

In Sydney:

Monthly member wine tastings: continue throughout 2009 with a Chianti Masterclass tasting already completed and more dynamic topics scheduled.

For bookings and information on all Sommeliers Australia events, visit www.sommeliers.com.au.

And also:

Sommeliers Australia Education Program:

The inaugural program was launched in 2008 and featured an intensive six-week course that gave a select group of just 12 up-and-coming sommeliers from some of Melbourne's top venues an incredible opportunity to further develop their skills, with a view to 'raising the bar' and streamlining the accreditation of Australian sommeliers. Drawing on elements of the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the Court of Master Sommeliers and The Len Evans Tutorial, it is a unique and distinctly international benchmarking program that is also very understanding of the Australian market. In 2009, application to the Sommeliers Australia Education Program will be available to aspiring sommeliers nationally, with the top two scholars given the opportunity to compete for Australia at the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale contest for the Best Sommelier of Asia-Oceania, to be held in November 2009 in Osaka, Japan. Application details will be released in May 2009.

Other State Chapters:

South Australia, the ACT and Tasmania will also become a part of the Association in the coming months.

Partnerships:

As a not-for-profit association, Sommeliers Australia relies on industry supporters through funding partnerships to implement the initiatives of the association. Sommeliers Australia continues to seek businesses that are keen to learn more about mutually beneficial partnerships.

Much, much more:

As if that wasn’t enough, other exciting initiatives are also afoot – we’ll keep you posted!

WHAT'S HAPPENING INTERNATIONALLY?

Sommeliers Australia has been accepted as a member of the prestigious ‘Association de la Sommellerie Internationale’ (ASI). David Lawler, Vice-President of Sommeliers Australia and Head Sommelier at Rockpool Bar & Grill, Melbourne, recently spent time at the Second World Sommelier Conference in Russia, meeting with the worlds leading sommeliers, including ASI President Kazuyoshi Kogai. David was given the opportunity to present to the Presidents of all attending countries a view of the dynamic nature of Sommeliers Australia and why Sommeliers Australia would like to become involved internationally. This was considered and voted upon by attendees, and Australia is now a part of this important international association.

The ASI was founded in June 1969 in France with the aim of developing and promoting the Sommelier profession, and now has some 41 member countries. The ASI helps organise major international Sommelier competitions - Best Sommelier of Europe, Best Sommelier of the Americas, and this year for the first time there will be a contest for the Best Sommelier of Asia-Oceania. These three competitions help to provide candidates for the contest of the Best Sommelier of the World that takes place every three years in a different member country. As members, Australian Sommeliers are now able to compete in these competitions, with Sommeliers Australia facilitating a national competition process. The next International Competition for the Best Sommelier of the World will be held in Chile during 2010.