Going back to school - Currents

Cheers, July-August, 2002

Higher education in wine, beer and spirits benefits everyone in the business so we take our hats off to the first ten graduates of the Wine and Spirits Management Institute of the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management (a college of the University of Houston). The first ten, four of whom were already spirits industry professionals, received a Commercial Beverage Management certification. Course work included classes in sensory evaluation, business practices in the three-tier environment, consumer target marketing, bar and beverage management, sales and sales management, legal and regulatory issues, supply chain management, and category management.

The school faculty was drawn from such companies as E&J Gallo, Glazer's Distributors and Guinness UDV for instructors, as well as Dr. Glenn Cordua founder and director of the institute and former operator with brother Michael of restaurants Americas and Churrascos Grill. Robert Mondavi, Beringer Blass Wine Estates, Brown-Forman, Future Brands, Allied Domecq and Spec's Liquor Stores are part of the collaboration as well. The program is endorsed by the Wine and Spirits Guild of America, the Wine Institute, the Wine and Spirits Wholesalers Association and the Distilled Spirits Council of the US.