In this episode of the No Sediment Wine Podcast, I sit down with Pauline Vicard, CEO and Co-Founder of ARENI Global, to explore the future of wine education and the skills the industry truly needs. We talk about what inspired Pauline to write a white paper on wine education, the balance between knowledge and practical skills, and why some areas of the wine world struggle to adapt. Pauline also shares her thoughts on how curriculums could evolve, what skills will matter most in the coming years, and whether professionals are giving consumers the information they actually want.
Be sure to check out the great work Pauline Vicard and @areniglobal868 are doing by visiting their website https://areni.global.
Thank you @67pallmall1 for providing their amazing premises at London for filming this video!
You can also listen to the No Sediment Wine Podcast episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcast, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts and Castbox.
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*CONTENTS OF THIS VIDEO
00:00 Introduction
1:34 Pauline Vicard’s wine journey
4:04 What inspired Pauline to write a white paper on wine education?
6:38 What is wine education?
7:53 Knowledge vs. skills in the wine industry
9:24 Which skills are most lacking among wine professionals?
13:34 Do different professions lack different skills?
15:53 Why do we lack these skills?
20:38 Should wine education bodies diversify their skill requirements?
24:00 What would Pauline change in wine curriculums?
33:34 How would the wine industry benefit from these changes?
36:42 What skills will we need in the future of the wine industry?
39:19 Do wine professionals provide the information consumers actually need?
49:48 Debunking a wine myth
53:07 This or That
56:08 Answering the previous guest’s question
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13 Comments
Fantastic video. So many great points. Thank you.
people drinking less, but better. well said? 🥂
As an Amateur winemaker/wine fan I found the WSET (1 and 2) disappointing. They were a geography/memorization game. Almost no knowledge of wine making and what makes a wine taste the way it does. I don't want to be a sommelier or wine expert. The tasting exercises were good but always the same wines. Nothing on Vitis Raparia, Hybrids, faults and the factors that cause them. 80% of the test was learning a map. The wine pairing stuff was good. But these courses were apparently created more for the somm than the general public who just wants to learn more and taste wines they have never even heard of. Wine sales could be higher if people werent afraid of wine. It isnt that there isnt enough wine professionals – there is too little knowledge of wine and how to appreciate it. Going into a wine store with thousands of bottles split up by 20 countries is too overwhelming. Wineries get it right with wine tastings. The only way to know what to buy is to try it first – and much of the wine culture is still too snobby so people are afraid to admit they dont like a California Cab so they keep buying the big brands.
I taught sales and leadership skills for most of my career, so I found this interview interesting. Wine sales and consumption continue to decline internationally, so people drinking better will be a necessity for the wine industry. For this to happent there needs to be comprehensive training at each step of the wine chain that Pauline speaks of.
As a wine enthusiast/person pondering entering the wine trade, I’m debating about starting the WSET diploma in January. This podcast was amazingly well-timed, and it covered many areas that I need to think about. Thanks so much!
The best interview ever on this channel. Moderation is what makes wine enjoyable, which should most of the times be a social activity. One can taste 50 wines in a year and yet only consume 5 bottles total. Just drink it with friends and family around and make it an occasion.
Loved hearing the different angle on the industry with this interview! I really liked her responses to the last 3 questions (Debunking Myth, response to previous interviewee's question, and regarding the need to keep the mid-priced wines great).
FYI, Ms. Vicard resembles Mixed Martial Arts champion competitor-turned-actress Gina Carano.😳🤯
Best vidéo I ever seen about wine knowledge and Industry really wow 😮
refreshing interview – not just about the tasting of the wines….there is so much more!
Agneses, this was a very interesting interview. Thank you
I need to know : where did Pauline learn to speak that well in English?
It’s a great video agnese! I learnt a lot! The cap looks cool too, is it available for sale?
I have recently passed my WSET level 3 after finishing level 1 and 2 earlier this year. I definitely enjoyed the studying process and would be interested to do my level 4. However, currently the price of course is sooooo high ( 15000 in Canada). And there is no guarantee that you can find a job that will cover it's cost. I am working in hospitality for past 7 years, and even after passing WSET level 3 can't find a job in wine sales, because companies look for EXPERIENCE. If WSET would provide internship after taking their courses, that will help students to step in wine world, it would be great.