The Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (ASI), the Paris-based non-profit that brings together sommelier unions worldwide, has announced a 3-year partnership with Wine Institute’s California Wines, based in San Francisco. California Wines is a public policy advocacy group which advocates both in the US and internationally to benefit the wine industry in California.
In what seems to be a mutually beneficial move, the partnership will help expose ASI’s global network to wines from California while allowing California Wines to build relationships with leaders in the global sommelier community, according to ASI president William Wouters and California Wines VP of international marketing Honore Comfort. Wouters also emphasises a shift in ASI’s focus from being a “historically contest-focused entity” to providing educational opportunities and celebrating diversity, and he thinks that California Wines can help them achieve this since its strategies are in alignment.
ASI’s new goal to provide educational opportunities for sommeliers is evidenced by the launch of its ASI BOOTCAMP, the first edition of which will be held in Warsaw from 19-22 September. The bootcamp will provide sommeliers practical opportunities to learn through tastings and workshops. California Wines will be present at the first bootcamp to support the professional development of sommeliers wishing to learn more about wines from California. kw
