Society Of Wine Educators Board Director Guy Stout Earns Master Sommelier

SOCIETY OF WINE EDUCATORS BOARD DIRECTOR GUY STOUT EARNS MASTER SOMMELIER DISTINCTION
STATE OF TEXAS' HAS NEW MASTER SOMMELIER

March 2005, Washington DC - With great pride, The Society of Wine Educators announces the achievement of the formidable Master Sommelier certification by Guy Noel Stout  member of the Board of Directors for 2005-2006. SWE is the leading international nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing wine education through professional development and certification. Its members continue to earn the highest academic distinction through ambitious self-study and passing of the top wine exams.

Guy Stout, Corporate Director of Wine Education for Glazer's Distributors, based out of Houston, Texas joined SWE in 1997 and helped craft the Society's Certified Specialist of Wine exam as part of the Education Committee. He was elected to the Board of Directors in 2002 and is running for re-election. Already both a Certified Wine Specialist and Wine Educator, his recent designation as Master Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers was the fruit of several years of study, as the program has three examination tiers: Introductory Sommelier Course, Advanced Sommelier Course and finally the Master Sommelier. They are both academically difficult and sensorally challenging due to the blind tastings which can include wines from any part of the world, any varietal or classification. A "M.S." distinction represents superior knowledge of beverage service and program management for a hotel or restaurant.

Says Stout, "I feel terrific. It is still sinking in. It has taken several years of study, even for a wine veteran like me, to accomplish this daunting task. I could never have achieved the goal of Master Sommelier with out the support of the Glazer family. Glazer's Family of Companies believes strongly in education."

The caliber of SWE Officers and Board of Directors represents the highest interdisciplinary degrees in the wine industry. In addition to the CSW and CWE certifications offered by the Society, members hold Master Sommelier (MS) and Diploma of Wine & Spirits (DWS) degrees offered by international organizations. With this knowledge, they are better equipped to teach and make governing decisions. Directors tend to be those members who have demonstrated particular interest and skills by representing the Society through volunteer service at national meetings, committee service and/or involvement in several aspects of wine education.

A complete list of the Board members may be found at: http://www.wine.gurus.com/contacts_lnk.html

"When I entered the wine trade in the late 1970's there were no educational opportunities available to us in the U.S.A," says Stout. "Now there are excellent programs out there for people interested in learning about wine. The Society of Wine Educator's, Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Programs are excellent."

As interest in learning about wine builds, organizations are crafting educational seminars and online or travel courses. SWE offers comprehensive study guides and exams for members wanting to advance their knowledge of wine. A full education catalog is available online at http://www.wine.gurus.com/certification_lnk.html

What's next for Guy? He promises to pass along the knowledge to his colleagues at Glazer's and SWE, and look at pursuing the Master of Wine degree next year. To this, the Society toasts!

About The Society of Wine Educators:
Established in 1977, SWE is the principal professional association of wine educators in the United States to offer certification programs. The CWE and CSW credentials are marks of distinction within the wine industry. They involve rigorous individual study of principal wine topics, including vinification and viticulture, and are geared toward wine professionals of different levels. In 2004, over 500