NOCHI Ventures into Vino with Wine Certification Course for Hospitality Professionals & Enthusiasts Alike

The New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) has been at the intersection of cooking, eating, learning, and celebrating since early 2019. In May, NOCHI will expand its certification programs beyond Culinary Arts and Baking & Pastry Arts with the six-week NOCHI Wine Professional (NWP) certification course.

New Orleans native and Master Sommelier Michelle Gueydan will lead the inaugural wine certification course, which was designed for hospitality industry professionals such as servers, bartenders, wine directors, or bar managers. However, dedicated wine enthusiasts looking to expand their knowledge base may also apply.

Gueydan stated “the study of wine is a lifelong endeavor. Many existing wine courses fail to convey the value of how a broader knowledge base can help one to understand many different types of palates, instead of dictating one’s own palate preferences onto others.” She added, “I’m excited to partner with NOCHI to create this new kind of offering.”

In this rigorous and immersive learning course, participants will cover a variety of topics including the production process, elements included in a wine label, and professional tableside service. Through class presentations, weekly wine labs/tastings, interactive hospitality exercises, and wine pairing workshops, this unique curriculum aim to empower participants to be more effective wine stewards.

Executive Director Leah Sarris explains the NWP course furthers NOCHI’s “commitment to providing innovative training opportunities for industry professionals.” The goal is to “equip its students with a multifaceted and modern knowledge base that will prepare them for a multitude of careers and specialties,” in turn fortifying the local hospitality industry. 

Upon completion of the course, NWP certificate holders will have gained an understanding of how to apply their wine knowledge in ways that will encourage more confidence and adventure in future wine experiences for guests.

The deadline to register for the inaugural NWP cohort is Thursday, May 5, 2022. Registration is open now and further details can be found at https://www.nochi.org/nwp.