A pioneering initiative certified by the WSET and in partnership with the Gérard Basset Foundation aims to develop the skills of Angolan professionals in the wine sector
The Sogrape Wine Academy, in partnership with the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) and the Gérard Basset Foundation, has successfully completed its first Scholarship Program in Angola. This program, a first of its kind in Angola, reflects the three institutions’ shared vision regarding the importance of wine knowledge and professional development in the wine sector as essential tools for the career development and advancement of local professionals in this field.
In Luanda, over the course of three days, 14 Angolan scholarship recipients—professionals from the hospitality, tourism, and wine trade sectors—participated in Angola’s first WSET-certified wine training program, offered by the most internationally recognized training institute in this field. This program included two days of preparatory training through the Sogrape Wine Academy course, featuring a pedagogical approach that helped participants better consolidate their knowledge and facilitated their understanding of the WSET methodology. The third day was dedicated to the WSET Level 1 Wine Course, marking a historic moment as the first group in Angola to participate in this globally recognized certification.
“This program is a step that greatly honors us and embodies the Sogrape Wine Academy’s commitment to promoting wine knowledge and culture as a catalyst for transformation and growth in the sector. This partnership with the WSET and the Gérard Basset Foundation is a concrete example of how we can contribute to training professionals, creating a positive impact in the communities where we operate, and driving the sustainable development of wine culture in Angola. We are very proud of the work we have done and look forward to exploring new opportunities for the benefit of all local professionals in the sector,” says Filipe Gonçalves, Executive Director of Sogrape.
Luanda was chosen as the location for this pioneering Sogrape Wine Academy project in Angola, with scholarship recipients selected based on their experience in the sector and their motivation to deepen their knowledge of wine. This focus reinforces the project’s social and sustainable aspects, benefiting the trainees, the companies where they work, and the tourism sector, enabling Sogrape to contribute to the development of the communities and regions where it operates.
“We are very proud of this partnership with the Sogrape Wine Academy and the Gérard Basset Foundation to offer our Level 1 Award in Wines course to hospitality professionals in Luanda, Angola. It is central to WSET’s values to empower people around the world through training and education, providing them with a platform to develop their careers in the beverage industry. We look forward to seeing how each of the participants will progress from here,” says Michelle Brampton, CEO of WSET.
“We are delighted to have partnered with Sogrape Wine Academy and WSET to create opportunities for Angolan professionals in the wine sector to earn internationally recognized certifications. This program has enabled them to acquire new knowledge and develop essential skills that will enrich their careers and facilitate their advancement in the wine and hospitality sectors. We are excited to see all that the 14 participants in this course will achieve in the future. “Congratulations to everyone for completing the course and for demonstrating such dedication and passion throughout this journey,” says Romané Basset, Co-Founding Trustee of the Gérard Basset Foundation.
It is with great satisfaction and pride that the Sogrape Wine Academy, the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and the Gérard Basset Foundation are contributing to the professional development of 14 professionals, at a time when Angola’s hospitality, tourism, and wine sectors are demonstrating increasing potential for growth.
About the Sogrape Wine Academy
Certified as a WSET Approved Program Provider (APP), the Sogrape Wine Academy, launched in 2022, is now recognized as a WSET training center for Portugal and Angola—and is the only one in Angola. This certification reinforces the academy’s ambition to be a center of excellence in wine knowledge at the international level, offering training programs that elevate wine culture among Sogrape’s key stakeholders and partners.