Cork – a natural for sommeliers

The Court of Master Sommeliers Europe and Corticeira Amorim – the world’s largest supplier of wine stoppers – have agreed a unique sponsorship agreement taking effect from this month, March 2015.

This will offer master sommeliers and student members access to education on wine faults, and the benefits of cork closures – as well as the opportunity for candidates to be considered for the Amorim Taster of the Year Trophy at the annual MS examinations in London.

Corticeira Amorim joins Riedel glass, The Dorchester Hotel and Laurent Perrier Champagne amongst others, as Court of Master Sommelier Europe supporters.

Speaking on behalf of the Court of Master Sommeliers Europe, COO Ronan Sayburn MS said:  “We are delighted to welcome Amorim to our small, exclusive group of sponsors. We have been the premier examining body for Sommeliers worldwide for almost 40 years, and regularly run examinations for students not only in the UK, but also globally. The Master Sommelier qualification is much coveted – at the moment we have 220 who are entitled to use the initials MS after their names. 

“The opening and serving a bottle of wine is a key skill for our master sommeliers – now we can work with Amorim to develop an in depth understanding of cork stoppers.”

Commenting on the partnership, Carlos de Jesus, Amorim’s director of marketing and

communication, said:  “It is particularly apt, as these master sommeliers are key ambassadors for us.  They are the point of contact with the consumer, as a bottle of wine is selected, opened and poured. And with fine wines, such as the ones on top restaurant lists, the majority of bottles are naturally cork-closed.”

11 March 2015 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor