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Recognising and understanding that sometimes even mid – term planning for Yacht Crew training can be fraught and often rather frustrating for both trainers and crew members, FineWineWorks have set out to offer a more flexible approach to fitting in Wine training for interior crew. Having gained a sort of “roving ambassador” approval from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust to offer their Internationally recognised accredited Wine Qualifications wherever Yacht crew want and need them, FWW are not being tied to an audited land-based classroom. Although based on the French Riviera, they presented the WSET in London with the dilemma that some training could be needed in the shipyards of Europe on superyachts BEFORE they launch (or post re-fit) and before they get sucked into a busy and demanding charter season in the Mediterranean. Having got the “all clear” to travel far and wide, the new, small (but perfectly formed!) company found that demand for both WSET and bespoke Wine training with the ultimate flexibility on the Cote d’Azur was proving irresistible to crew who were suddenly finding themselves with a delayed start to the season, cancelled charters or just time on their hands. Without the ties of a Wine Supply business, when May to September means concentrating on sales, FWW can react to last minute requests for on-board training. The nature of the WSET courses (and the way FWW have adapted and modified them to be particularly appropriate to yachts, covering the issues of storage and service and food & wine matching in more detail), can appeal to the wider crew and has often been used as a “fun team building” exercise for non Interior or Galley crew as well.
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Logistically, lugging 50 plus different wines and spirits around, including many “non – French” wines difficult to source in France to run the Intensive 3 Day WSET Intermediate course on board can be a headache. But with just 10 days notice, Helen & Nigel have loaded the car with assorted wines, tasting glasses & spitoons, booked the exam papers and, remembering the corkscrew, set off to run courses from La Ciotat to Livorno.
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One Purser said of Fine Wine Works that they “offer wonderful courses with the added service of having the course taking place onboard the vessel. This not only adds a personal touch, but the stewardesses/stewards can feel free to ask open questions about the wines that the vessel stocks onboard.” The importance of knowing your Pouilly Fuissé from your Pouilly Fumé cannot be underestimated and as a lot of young and inexperienced Crew are perhaps more “practical” than “theoretical” in their approach to learning, so rather than read a stodgy wine book, having what’s in the glass in your hand discussed and explained whilst you taste can be invaluable – and b****y good fun too!
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