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| Maurice, on stage and on screen! |
Wine Ace Maurice is Highest Achiever in Europe
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| Relaxing in the Guildhall (l to r): Tony Ambrosini, David Bird MW and Maurice. |
Those of us who have been watching the rise of wine importers
Wine Alliance in recent years know that founder and director Maurice O’Mahony
knows his wines.
And that was confirmed
when the Corkman successfully came through his examination for the WSET Diploma in Wines
and Spirits. Maurice emerged as the highest achieving student in Europe
and he was awarded the body’s prestigious Wine Australia Scholarship in a grand
ceremony in London’s Guildhall this week.
The WSET is the only wine and spirit education organisation approved by the UK government as a national
awarding body of vocational qualifications.
WSET Awards also co-ordinate the
annual selection of outstanding candidates to be presented with industry
sponsored Scholarships.
And some 600 were in the attendance as Maurice received his diploma from WSET
President Jancis Robinson and his scholarship from Yvonne May of Wine
Australia.
“It is a very prestigious award and I am very proud. The
ninety minute ceremony was fantastic. Jancis was charming and the location was
stunning,” said a delighted Maurice.
The scholarship is a two week trip to Australia, beginning in
Sydney. While details for Maurice’s tour are yet to be finalised he will visit
most if not all of the country's wine regions. It will be quite an experience
as iconic wineries will be visited, the key personalities behind the vineyards
will be on hand to talk with Maurice and he’ll get to taste their very best wines.
But is has been a tough road to get this far, to the top of the
European tree, studying hard while also building his company. Minimum of 600
hours study is required and Maurice reckons he well exceeded that in the two
years leading up to the Diploma exam.
They started off with a Commercial Unit and that was followed
by a Viticulture and Vinification Unit. Unit 3 was on the Still Wines of the
World and then followed units on Fortified, Sparkling and Spirits, all involving
theory and blind tastings.
He reckons Unit 3 was the toughest. In one particular day, he
had to blind taste 12 wines and then do a three hour exam on wine theory! “Five
hours in all,” he recalls. “That was a killer!” But the Glanmire resident came through
that and all hurdles with flying colours and deserves all the congratulations
coming his way.
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| Guildhall, built between 1411 and 1440 |
You may read Maurice’s own take on the Guildhall event here and below we reprint a few questions and his answers for
scholarship sponsors Wine Australia.
1. What
does this scholarship mean to you?
Winning the Wine Australia Scholarship is a dream come true.
I can clearly remember one of our lecturers speaking of it in our first class a
couple of years ago. The prize seemed so far away and out of reach. When I was
notified that I'd won I was thrilled and when I walked on stage with Yvonne May
to be presented with my prize by Jancis Robinson MW in the Guildhall at the
WSET Awards Ceremony, it was a surreal moment.
2. What
do you love about Australian wine?
There’s lots to love about Australian wine and I have been a
fan for many years. Australia was one of the first countries that got me
interested in wine. I love the variety of Australian wines and the way that
there are wines of every style, grape variety and price level. Everything is
covered from entry level well made value wines to iconic wines that compete
with the world’s best.
3. What
are you most excited about your visit to Australia?
I have never been to Australia so that alone will be a
thrill. I am a wine obsessive so the opportunity to visit some of the world
famous wine regions that I have read about and studied for many years is
incredibly exciting. I always find that when I visit vineyards, it enhances my
relationship with the wines and the winery.
