Vendange Institute is the first and only Wine School in Ottawa providing WSET courses leading to internationally recognized qualifications.

Vendange Institute exists to promote, provide and develop high quality education and sought-after qualifications in wines and spirits. Course participants will take part in Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) courses long recognized as the best wine school in the world. The WSET diploma program is the preferred pre-requisite for the Master of Wine designation – wine academia’s Holy Grail.

Vendange Institute will provide a greater awareness and appreciation of wine through a range of courses to suit all levels of knowledge. There is clearly a demand for globally-recognised WSET wine qualification courses, as more and more Canadians are looking to play a part in the global wine industry.

All programs hosted by Vendange Institute are held in facilities architecturally designed to fuse Old World traditions and modern passions with absolute attention to detail and elegance. The surroundings are intended to enhance the senses and foster a unique learning experience.

If you are looking to learn more about wines and spirits, but can’t face the idea of an exam, no need to worry! Vendange Institute also offers consumer-friendly courses for leisure, including food and wine matching seminars.

 

 

Vendange Institute Bios

Norman McEvoy, Norman is a results entrepreneur who draws on numerous years of sales and service experience. He is skilled in identifying needs in the local economy and developing a product to service the need. Norman is responsible for the sales and marketing end of the company.

Louise Smith, Louise is the chief administrator and owner of the company, she oversees the operational, financial and personnel activities.

Allyson Bycraft, AIWS, WSET Recommended Tutor
Wine Consultant, Allyson Bycraft, began her career in wine in 1992, working in a wine shop on Vancouver’s Granville Island. While in Vancouver, she took the WSET courses, completing the Diploma, with Honours, in 2000. Before moving to Ottawa in 1999, Allyson successfully launched “Vittles & Vines”, offering tutored wine and food matching events in people’s homes. She has been teaching and writing about wine for over 10 years, and has written for various publications, including Wine Access Magazine. As well as teaching the Intermediate and Advanced Certificate Courses at Vendange Institute, Allyson is also a mentor/marker in the WSET Diploma Assessment Preparation Programme. *Associate of the Institute of Wine and Spirits

Rob Nellis, WSET Approved Tutor
Rob Nellis holds the Professional Certificate in Spirits, the Level 3 Advanced Certificate of the WSET, is a Certified Internal Assessor of the Advanced tasting exam, and is a graduate of the Algonquin Sommelier Program. Rob was the company sommelier, wine educator, and multiple store manager for Wine Rack (a division of Vincor International) for 8 years. Rob instructs the Level 2 Intermediate Certification and the Professional Spirits Certificate for the Vendange Institute.

Janet Dorozynski, WSET Approved Tutor
In addition to working in the wine industry, Janet has successfully completed sommelier courses in Belgium and wine education coursed from the UK-based Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and the Cape Wine Academy in South Africia. Janet has recently completed the WSET’s highest certification for wine trade, the Diploma in Wine and Spirits, for which she received the National Capital Sommelier Guild Scholarship in 2002.