01.08.2019 – Miami, FL. Today the Florida Wine Academy announced VinoSummit, the first conference dedicated to wine professionals in the south eastern United States.  This one-day conference, which will take place in Miami on March 18th, 2019, aims to investigate trends in the wine industry and explore important regions and grapes.  

The presenters for the event include Eric Hemer MW MS, Senior Vice President and Director of Wine Education at Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits of America; Philippe André, US Ambassador for Champagne Charles Heidsieck;
Kristina Sazama DipWSET, Wine Educator for Santa Margherita USA; Raffaelle Benassi, Director of European Business Development for Breakthru Beverage FL; and Lisa Airey CWE FWS, Wine Scholar Guild Education Director

The day’s agenda will offer two educational seminars: “Passport to Reims: Tasting the Wines of Charles Heidsieck”, “Discovering Biodynamic Winemaking in the Languedoc, featuring the Wines of Gérard Bertrand”, and the panel discussion “Trends in the Wine Industry”. Also included: a coffee-break sponsored by Cantina Mesa of Sardinia and Cà Maiol of Lugana and Valtènesi, and a full lunch sponsored by Folio Fine Wine Partners, featuring wines from Bibi Graetz and Ricasoli. We finish the day with a walk around tasting that will feature more than 80 different wines, including a 1999 Chateau Musar from Lebanon.

Alessandra Esteves

Alessandra Esteves DipWSET, MAES, FWS, Director of Wine Education for Florida Wine Academy.

“We are excited to launch VinoSummit and be the pioneers in organizing the first conference for wine professionals and serious enthusiasts in Florida.  Our mission, from the very beginning, was to promote wine education in the south eastern United States. VinoSummit confirms this, along with Miami Champagne Week and the Masterclasses, Labs and Seminars we host on a weekly basis” says Alessandra Esteves, co-founder and Director of Wine Education for Florida Wine Academy.

Lisa Airey, Education Director for the Wine Scholar Guild also greets the opportunities VinoSummit provide the local industry:  “Wine Scholar Guild is delighted to participate in VinoSummit 2019.  It’s a fabulous opportunity to connect with trade, network, share ideas, round-table trends and return to work enriched and fortified by the intellectual ferment!”
Tickets to the full-day event are $355 and include all educational seminars, a coffee break, lunch, materials, and participation in the walk around tasting, during which cheese and charcuterie will be served.  All tickets will need to be purchased in advance through the website (click here) or by calling the school directly.  There will be no same-day registration.
About Florida Wine Academy:
Florida Wine Academy is the leading provider of wine, spirits and sake education in Florida. We are an approved program provider for WSET (Wine Spirits & Education Trust), the Wine Scholar Guild and the Sake Sommelier Association. In addition to certification courses, we offer topic-focused Labs, Masterclasses, Seminars, tutoring services as well as corporate events, and consultation services to hotels, restaurants, and bars.