— By Carey Secrett “Riviera Yacht Support in Antibes, are the leading providers on the Côte d’Azur of the WSET wine tasting qualification, an invaluable course for anyone working in the field of luxury yachting, or wishing to learn more about the world of wine.A few weeks ago I enrolled in the WSET level 2 wine course, an official qualification for wine tasting from the leading body in wine training, the Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Having always been interested in wine, I wanted to deepen my knowledge and really get to grips with the complexities of tasting, and this qualification teaches you exactly that.The course was run by Riviera Yacht Support, who were the first company to be approved to provide this internationally-recognised wine tasting course on the French Riviera. Riviera Yacht Support are known as being one the leading yacht agents on the Côte d’Azur, providing superyachts in Antibes and the rest of the South of France with a full range of shore support services. However, they have also made their mark as one of the top wine provisioning companies for yachts and villas on the French Riviera. Headed up by Louise Sydbeck, an extremely knowledgeable oenophile, the wine department can source a comprehensive selection of the best wines from around the world, and deliver them to superyachts and luxury properties throughout the French Riviera.Louise was the teacher for the three-day intensive WSET course that I completed near Antibes. To say she knows her stuff is an understatement. She expertly guided the class through tasting techniques, label terminology, key wine-producing areas, grape varieties and food and wine matching. There was a lot to absorb (both in terms of the amount of information and the quantity of wine tasted!), but it was really interesting to learn so much about wine that I hadn’t been aware of before. Louise is an excellent wine teacher and effortlessly provided answers to the hundreds of questions that our attentive group threw at her.Even though the course is aimed at anyone wanting to learn more about wine and how to taste it, Louise was able to apply the syllabus specifically to the yachting industry, making having this qualification a real advantage for those working on board superyachts. To be a top steward or stewardess in the yachting industry, Riviera Yacht Support’s WSET level 2 course is almost mandatory. Riviera Yacht Support teach the WSET Level 2 course, as well as the WSET Level 3 for the seriously dedicated wine aficionado.”

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