WDCM™ Instructors 

Gary Hewitt

Gary brings an impressive range of education and experience to his lifelong passion to wine and drinks education.  He has an MSc in industrial fermentations; he has professional experience in the beer industry; he has worked in winemaking at Lingenfelder estate in Pfalz, Germany; and he has almost 20 years in wine buying in the retail market and in advising restaurants in menu design and selection. Gary holds Sommelier credentials, the French Wine Scholar, and the Diploma in Wines and Spirits from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET)^® receiving the Wines of Australia Scholarship from WSET for top achievement. Gary also serves the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS/ACSP) Manitoba Chapter, as President and Education chair; and he serves the profession on the national board. He has traveled extensively in most wine regions of the world, and as a wine buyer has attended major international wine trade shows. Gary has also served on numerous occasions as wine judge in Gold Medal Plates competitions; he has also worked as part of the Manitoba team in other Gold Medal Plates competitions; and he has participated in numerous tasting panels. Gary teaches WSET programs, French Wine Scholar; and in the CAPS/ACSP Professional Sommelier program.

Sylvia Jansen

Sylvia brings to our team a solid academic background, and more than two decades of teaching, training and professional writing experience, as well as wine and spirits education and skill.  In addition to her Sommelier credentials, Sylvia holds the Diploma from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust^®  (WSET) and was awarded the Wines of Germany Scholarship for top achievement.  She is a Sommelier instructor with the Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS/ACSP), holds the Train the Trainer certificate from the Society of Wine Educators, and has extensive experience in adult education, course design and delivery.  She has 15 years of experience in wine retail, restaurant training, and wine education program design, as well as experience as a professional writer and wine writer.   She also serves on the Board of CAPS/ACSP (Manitoba) as past president.  Her extensive travel has included wine regions in North America, multiple regions in Europe and in South Africa.  With an engaging style and a love of the work, Sylvia teaches in WSET and professional Sommelier programs.