Vitis House selected as an inaugural course provider for WSET beer certification.
RALEIGH, N.C., February 27, 2024 – Vitis House has been named an inaugural course provider for the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 1 and Level 2 Awards in Beer in North America.
Starting this month, Vitis House will be one of the first 12 schools to offer beer courses in the U.S. and Canada. The certifications are ideal for trade professionals and beer lovers interested in expanding their knowledge.
“We are honored to be selected as an inaugural course provider for the WSET’s beer qualification and currently the only provider in the Carolinas,” said Doreen Colondres, Vitis House founder. “This new addition to our offerings underscores the Vitis House mission to bring the best wine and spirits education to N.C.”
In collaboration with industry experts, the courses have been created by WSET’s Sara Hobday, head of beer research and curriculum and Mirella Amato, master cicerone and WSET senior business development manager for beer.
The classes will be available in-person and online.
With more than 400 breweries in N.C., this beer course aligns with North Carolinians’ appreciation for beer.
Vitis House will be offering WSET Level 1 and 2 Awards courses online, in-person and through a hybrid format. The programs will explore the main types and styles of beer, key methods of production, tasting technique and food pairings. Using WSET’s trademarked Systematic Approach to Tasting, students will be equipped with a universal language to describe what they are tasting and a framework for assessing quality.
John Szymankie
wicz, WSET certified beer educator, will lead the classes. John is the owner of the Beer Law Center in Raleigh where he works almost exclusively with breweries, wineries and distilleries. He holds a WSET L2 Award in beer and L2 Award in wines from Vitis House. He is a Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) certified beer judg
e, certified cicerone, licensed professional engineer, certified mediator and attorney practicing in N.C, WV, VA and Washington D.C.
“I am thrilled to bring John’s passion and expertise to our team,” said Colondres.
To learn more about Vitis House and our new course offerings, visit vitishouse.com
About Vitis House & Doreen Colondres
Founded in 2020, Vitis House is a wine school based in Raleigh, N.C. offering both leisure classes and certification classes. Led by Doreen Colondres, chef, WSET certified wine educator and tireless world traveler, she offers a wealth of food, wine and cultural knowledge. Colondres also offers food- and wine-focused trips to several international destinations. Additionally, she enjoys collaborating with the N.C. Museum of Art on special art and wine programs.
Colondres launched the blog, The Kitchen Doesn’t Bite, almost two decades ago and has appeared on numerous cooking shows in multiple countries. She published a book with Random Penguin House and has a syndicated column that appears in more than eight countries. She works around the world as a food and wine ambassador representing international brands.
About the WSET
WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) is the global leader in drinks education. Founded in 1969, and recognized by the awarding body Ofqual, WSET has awarded nearly one million people with a qualification since the inception. The courses are open to both industry professionals and interested enthusiasts who can take them across four levels, from one-day beginner to expert level diploma. Available in more than 15 languages and in over 70 countries, WSET qualifications have a strong reputation worldwide as the industry standard for knowledge. In the last academic year (2022/23), 143,000 candidates sat for a WSET qualification.
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