WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust), the global leader in drinks education, is delighted to announce that Constellation Brands has become a Gold Partner.
WSET’s Partnership programme offers companies the opportunity to create positive social impact by helping to make drinks education globally accessible and affordable.
A leading international producer and marketer of beer, wine and spirits, Constellation Brands is renowned for brands such as Robert Mondavi Winery, Schrader Cellars, Lingua Franca, Booker Vineyard, Ruffino, The Prisoner Wine Company, Kim Crawford, High West Whiskey, Casa Noble Tequila, Corona, Modelo, and more.
Through its Partnership programme, WSET collaborates with nearly 50 different organisations on a range of projects and bursaries which support individuals and under-represented communities facing challenges and financial hardship around the world.
Two key areas of focus for Constellation Brands as a Gold Partner will be promoting sustainability and responsible stewardship of our environment and natural resources, and working to attract a broader, diverse group of consumers and talent across the wine and spirits industry.
Over the past academic year WSET has supported 17 projects to improve access to drinks education for around 500 people in 11 countries. They included Develop, an initiative led by The Drinks Trust, which aims to lift people working in the drinks trade out of long-term financial hardship and grow and upskill the industry’s workforce.
In addition, WSET is collaborating with organisations to drive increased diversity across the drinks industry. For example, by working with the US non-profit The Roots Fund to make drinks education more accessible. This collaboration with WSET offers a scholarship programme which aims to support education and career opportunities in the spirits industry for people from ethnic minority groups.
Michelle Brampton, WSET’s CEO, said: “I’m delighted that Constellation Brands has joined us as a Gold Partner. Renowned for their impressive drinks portfolio and purpose-driven approach, they share our aspirations to create positive social impact, especially given their strong commitment to stewardship of the environment and the communities where they operate.”
“Our Partnership programme has benefitted many people from under-represented communities and those facing financial hardship over the past year. We’re really looking forward to working with Constellation Brands to grow our impact with our Partnership programme.”
Brie Guist, Constellation Brands’ director of brand excellence and education, said: “We have long valued our relationship with WSET as our primary education partner for more than a decade. We are proud to deepen our connection by becoming a Gold Partner and look forward to expanding our impact on our shared goals.”
