Le Cordon Bleu toasts Jane Skilton MW as Wine Director

Media Release 15 May 2012

Le Cordon Bleu toasts Jane Skilton MW as Wine Director

British born Master of Wine, Jane Skilton, has been announced as Wine Education Director for Le Cordon Bleu New Zealand, the latest addition to the renowned culinary institute’s global network of schools.

From September 2012, Skilton, an internationally respected wine writer, lecturer and judge, will be teaching a number of Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses including the WSET Level one, two and three Wine Awards, and the Level four Diploma. The Level four Diploma is the WSET’s highest qualification and Skilton is the only approved provider in New Zealand.

The courses, which will be taught at Le Cordon Bleu’s new building in central Wellington, are targeted at wine enthusiasts and industry professionals wanting to further develop their wine knowledge.

Skilton says WSET qualifications are highly respected in the food and wine industry worldwide, complementing Le Cordon Bleu’s highly regarded reputation.

“The WSET courses award a top international qualification, helping students enter or advance their career in the wine industry, whether in New Zealand or overseas. Le Cordon Bleu will be the only Institute in New Zealand through which the WSET Level four Diploma will be offered, and all the students who study here will benefit from the Le Cordon Bleu approach, which is about uncompromising excellence,” she says.

For dinner table enthusiasts wanting to take their passion for wine to the next level, Le Cordon Bleu will offer a range of master classes and a comprehensive introduction to New Zealand wine and wines of the world.

Le Cordon Bleu students will also benefit from wine education as part of their Bachelor degrees, developed with the help of Skilton’s expertise.

Institute director, Cath Hopkin, says Le Cordon Bleu is the perfect location to offer a wine education of this standard.

“Holding these courses at Le Cordon Bleu is ideal. As well as its pedigree as a first class training institute, the school has a long history of training sommeliers and the art of wine and food matching. The school is close to New Zealand’s top wine regions, which means students will get the added benefit of classes with local winemakers,” she says.

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