2011 Yalumba Scholarship Winner Announced
The Institute of Masters of Wine and Yalumba, Australia’s oldest family-owned winery, are delighted to announce that Louise Wilson is the recipient of the 2011 Yalumba Scholarship.
This generous scholarship is awarded annually to one second-year student in the Institute’s study programme, who is based outside Australia or New Zealand. It enables the recipient to attend the Institute’s annual Australasian residential seminar in Adelaide and to spend a week visiting the Yalumba vineyards, nursery and winery in Angaston.
Louise Wilson is an accredited sommelier with the International Sommelier Guild and holds the WSET Diploma. She currently lives in Niagara on the Lake, Canada, and works for Andrew Peller, managing the International Sales department.
Applicants for this year’s scholarship had to write an essay from the perspective of a small or medium sized winemaker in Australia, making innovative wines from ‘new and alternative’ varieties, or crafting ‘new wave’ Australian Chardonnay. In 1,000 words they had to discuss the philosophy behind the wines and the marketing strategy for taking these wines to a global market.
Fifth generation Yalumba proprietor, Robert Hill Smith said: “On-ground vineyard and winery experience remains an integral factor in wine education. Louise will have the rare and exciting opportunity to immerse herself alongside our experienced viti and vini teams and absorb and question our philosophies and techniques. Our team, their knowledge and resources will be at Louise’s disposal for the duration of her visit.”
Lynne Sherriff MW, Chairman of the Institute, said: “Congratulations to Louise on her success and thanks again to the team at Yalumba for providing this wonderful learning opportunity to one of our students. Bringing wine communities together and facilitating the exchange of knowledge is at the heart of what the Institute does. This scholarship embodies that ethos.”
Louise Wilson said: “I would like to thank Yalumba and the Institute for this incredible opportunity. It is a dream come true to visit Barossa and to learn from such a well regarded winery. I am equally looking forward to meeting the students and MWs during the seminar.”