Local wine expert Gary Hewitt (third from left), with (from left) Graham Thompson, Dean of Business and Applied Arts at RRC; RRC President Stephanie Forsyth; Banville & Jones President Tina Jones, and RRC Hospitality Chair John Reimers.

Local wine expert Gary Hewitt will soon be heading Down Under to learn more about the Australian wine industry, having won a prestigious scholarship rewarding achievement in wine studies throughout the world.

Hewitt, the senior buyer and educator at Banville & Jones Wine Co., graduated last month with the prestigious Diploma in Wines and Spirits from the London, England-based Wine and Spirit Education Trust© (WSET©). Even more impressive, Hewitt is the Canadian recipient of the Wines of Australia Scholarship, an expenses-paid study trip to Australia for the five highest-performing international graduates from mainland Europe, Canada, U.S.A., Ireland and Asia Pacific.

“Wine knowledge is extremely valuable in today’s market,” says Tina Jones, president of Banville & Jones. “We are fortunate in Manitoba, and in Canada, to have someone of Gary’s calibre leading our wine education programs.”

In addition to his roles with Banville & Jones, Hewitt has also been instrumental in developing RRC’s new Wine and Spirits Education Trust© workshops, delivered through RRC’s School of Continuing and Distance Education, in conjunction with its School of Hospitality and Culinary Arts.

“We are very proud to congratulate Gary Hewitt on his recent international accomplishments,” says Susan Andree, Program Manager of Applied Arts and Communication for  RRC’s School of Continuing and Distance Education. “Gary’s expertise in wine knowledge and service will be greatly valued as the College and Banville & Jones present upcoming wine workshops and WSET© sommelier courses. These ‘hands-on’ training sessions will allow Winnipeggers to explore the world of wine under the guidance of a world-class expert.”

For more information on the WSET© workshops at RRC, see rrc.ca/cua.

Gary Hewitt (centre), with international wine experts Yvonne May (left) and Jancis Robinson (right).