Jane Lopes (currently the Wine Director at Attica) has been awarded the highly prestigious Master Sommelier Diploma, at recent examinations held by The Court of Master Sommeliers Americas in St. Louis, Missouri (USA). Jane is the first female residing within the Oceania region to achieve the Master Sommelier Diploma and one of just 34 female Master Sommeliers worldwide!
The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in 1977 to promote excellence in hotel and restaurant beverage services. The intensive education and examination programme guides aspiring Master Sommeliers through four increasingly rigorous levels of coursework and examinations, culminating in the highly prestigious Master Sommelier Diploma Examination.
The first Court of Master Sommelier courses were held in Australia in 2008. Since then in Australia over 1000 students have participated in the examination, and only six who have attained the title of Master Sommelier: Franck Moreau MS (Merivale), Sebastian Crowther MS (Real Wines), Benjamin Hasko MS (Luxury Beverage Group), Adrian Filiuta (Merivale), Jonathan Ross (Rockpool Dining Group) and Jane Lopes (Attica). Currently there are just 274 Sommeliers who have gained the highly- coveted title of Master Sommelier and 34 female Master Sommeliers worldwide.
Jane Lopes MS says, “The Master Sommelier Diploma represents the highest commitment to hospitality and wine service and I’m thrilled and honoured to be awarded this distinction. Being the first female Master Sommelier in Australia and one of only 34 female Master Sommeliers worldwide, I welcome the opportunity to be able to support and encourage the next generation of Sommeliers, while continuing to better myself and our industry.”
Master Diploma requires enormous dedication, sacrifice and commitment and Jane’s achievement will no doubt inspire a new generation of Sommeliers as they work towards the highly prestigious Master Sommelier Diploma.
