Aussie winemakers host heavy-hitters from North America

Ten of North America's top sommeliers and wine writers will get a crash course on Australian wine over the next two weeks, as part of Wine Australia’s Sommelier Immersion Program.

The program aims to build a network of educated wine trade professionals across the USA and Canada and will include winery visits, dinners, and region-specific masterclasses and themed tastings.

The Hunter Valley, Rutherglen, Yarra Valley, McLaren Vale, Adelaide Hills, Barossa Valley, Eden Valley, Riverland, Margaret River and Great Southern are among the regions the ten sommeliers and wine writers will visit.

Wine Australia’s global education director, Mark Davidson, said the trip would give the visitors the opportunity to experience the regionality and quality of Australian wines.

“This is a really strong group that includes three Master Sommeliers, so they all have a solid knowledge about Australian wine,” he said.

“This trip is about crystallising that knowledge and creating more intimate connections to our regions and personalities, to give our sommeliers and media an opportunity to experience first-hand the tremendous diversity of our cuisine and wine styles.

This is the fourth annual Sommelier Immersion Program trip of this type and, according to Davidson, the program has already built a network of educated wine trade professionals across North America, creating selling opportunities and over 500 new listings in the past few years.