|
Byron P. Catéchis Director & Dean Byron teaches in: French, German, English and Italian* languages WSET® Educator for the following Wine and Spirit Education Trust Qualifications: Level 1 Award in Wine Level 2 Award in Wine Level 3 Award in Wine Level 1 Award in Spirits Level 2 Award in Spirits |
Member of the following judging panels:
Professional Experience: Over 20 years of experience in the 4 to 5 Star Deluxe hotel and Michelin Star segment. To date involved in 5 hotel and 1 restaurant opening which included the Dorchester in London, the Lous C. Jacob in Hamburg, a Hotel in East Africa (part of an international hotel chain) among others. |
| Wine knowledge courses – our lecturers | |
|
Johanna teaches in the French and English language |
Johanna has been interested in wine since passing her Swiss Matura diploma and continued in this path on her way to gaining her Bachelor degree with the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. She has completed the various levels of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust qualifications, including the WSET® Level 4 Diploma. Now having completed her exams on the Masters of Wine programme, she now has to complete her thesis. Johanna has managed to keep herself busy by also studying for a Masters in Digital Marketing and Communication in Geneva. Johanna is currently also involved in the production and marketing of Clos Tsampehro in Valais. Johanna also consults for a wine producer in Provence, France. Johanna teaches on the Level 2 and the Level 3 WSET® Award in Wine course as well as runs our courses in Valais. She is also our “Internal Assessor” for the Level 3 WSET® Award in Wines. |
|
Alann teaches in the French and English language |
Alann is currently the Sales Manager at Maison Mathieu Vins where he began nine years ago after spending fifteen years working in luxury hotels as Wine Director or Director of Food and Beverage. From New York to Geneva, by way of Antigua in the Caribbean, his passion for wine led him to receive the Wine Spectator Grand Award in 2002 at the St.Regis Hotel in New York. In 2006, the same magazine gave the Award of Excellence for his work on the wine list of the fine dining restaurant at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva. A certified Sommelier by the Sommelier Society of America and recipient of the WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wine & Spirits, Alann enjoys wines from across the world which are faithful to their terroir- from Burgundy to Piedmont, South Africa or California. Alann teaches on the Level 2 and the Level 3 Award in Wines courses. |
|
|
|
| Spirits & Bar knowledge (mixology – our lecturers | |
|
Victor teaches in the French and English language |
With more than 15 years of experience in the bar and cocktail industry, Victor has worked in Palace bars in France, Scotland and Switzerland as well as in various cocktail bars in Lausanne. He was also Bar Academy Trainer for Diageo before becoming the manager of the Crapule Club cocktail bar in Fribourg. Passionate about Mixology and spirits, he likes to share his knowledge with enthusiasm and energy. Victor teaches the Level 2 WSET® Award in Spirits as well the “mixology” practical aspect related to this course. |
|
Arthur teaches in the German and English language |
From absinthe to Zubrovka. And in between, past whisk(e)y and Williams, rum and raki, gin and grappa. Arthur Nägele is a recognised expert and sought-after trainer and lecturer for the spirits and liqueurs of this world. His expertise and services range from production to enjoyment. Arthur Nägele’s sensory judgement is reliable. The organisers of national and international wine and spirits awards are also convinced of this. In addition to many other competitions, Arthur is also in charge of the Vorarlberg State Distillate Awards and, as one of the youngest ‘Chair Judges’, he is in charge of the ‘Fine Spirits’, ‘Liqueurs’ and ‘Flavoured Vodka’ tasting groups at what is probably the most renowned spirits competition in the world, the International Wine- and Spirits Challenge in London. Arthur teaches our Level 2 and Level 3 WSET® Award in Spirits courses and is also our “Internal Assessor” for the Level 3 – WSET® Award in Spirits. |
| Beer & Brewing courses – our lecturers | |
| Our Resident Craft Brewer: | |
|
Thomas teaches in the French and English language |
Thomas is currently responsible for Quality Assurance for an Eastern Switzerland brewery, where he is responsible for the day-to-day quality assurance for the production of their varied range of beers, as well as the organisation of the quality assurance team. An award-wining brewer, he has a proven track record at both microbreweries and larger, regional breweries. As well as being an experienced teacher, he also serves regularly as a jury member of international beer competitions. Thomas in in charge of our theoretical and practical beer production courses. Watch our course dates page for details of the next courses and master classes! |
|
Nathan teaches in the French language |
Nathan changed profession a number of years ago and has, since 2015 been working for a Craft Brewery in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. His various positions of responsibility within the brewery have provided an opportunity for him to gain a professionally sound level of knowledge of the beer production process. He has also taken and passed several levels of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) qualifications to support his practical knowledge. Nathan is now embarking on a new challenge where he wishes to pass on his knowledge to other brewers. Nathan teaches on our practical brewing courses. |
|
Nathan Rüttner Nathan teaches in the German and French languages |
Nathan teaches on our practical brewing courses |
| Our team for distilling: | will be finalised and announced in the coming months |
|
Our canine teaching assistants |
you will probably meet either Merlin and Arthur in one of our classes. They are trained to reduce your stress levels. |
|
|
Since the 21st of September 2018 Merlin became an important member of our team while still a puppy (10 weeks old). Arthur joined the team on the 9th of March 2020 and is learning from his elder “brother” how to improve the class’ wellbeing. |
|
Byron P. Catéchis Director & Dean Byron teaches in: French, German, English and Italian* languages WSET® Educator for the following Wine and Spirit Education Trust Qualifications: Level 1 Award in Wine Level 2 Award in Wine Level 3 Award in Wine Level 1 Award in Spirits Level 2 Award in Spirits |
Member of the following judging panels:
Professional Experience: Over 20 years of experience in the 4 to 5 Star Deluxe hotel and Michelin Star segment. To date involved in 5 hotel and 1 restaurant opening which included the Dorchester in London, the Lous C. Jacob in Hamburg, a Hotel in East Africa (part of an international hotel chain) among others. |
| Wine knowledge courses – our lecturers | |
|
Johanna teaches in the French and English language |
Johanna has been interested in wine since passing her Swiss Matura diploma and continued in this path on her way to gaining her Bachelor degree with the Ecole Hôtelière de Lausanne. She has completed the various levels of the Wine and Spirit Education Trust qualifications, including the WSET® Level 4 Diploma. Now having completed her exams on the Masters of Wine programme, she now has to complete her thesis. Johanna has managed to keep herself busy by also studying for a Masters in Digital Marketing and Communication in Geneva. Johanna is currently also involved in the production and marketing of Clos Tsampehro in Valais. Johanna also consults for a wine producer in Provence, France. Johanna teaches on the Level 2 and the Level 3 WSET® Award in Wine course as well as runs our courses in Valais. She is also our “Internal Assessor” for the Level 3 WSET® Award in Wines. |
|
Alann teaches in the French and English language |
Alann is currently the Sales Manager at Maison Mathieu Vins where he began nine years ago after spending fifteen years working in luxury hotels as Wine Director or Director of Food and Beverage. From New York to Geneva, by way of Antigua in the Caribbean, his passion for wine led him to receive the Wine Spectator Grand Award in 2002 at the St.Regis Hotel in New York. In 2006, the same magazine gave the Award of Excellence for his work on the wine list of the fine dining restaurant at the President Wilson Hotel in Geneva. A certified Sommelier by the Sommelier Society of America and recipient of the WSET® Level 4 Diploma in Wine & Spirits, Alann enjoys wines from across the world which are faithful to their terroir- from Burgundy to Piedmont, South Africa or California. Alann teaches on the Level 2 and the Level 3 Award in Wines courses. |
|
Katharina Jans Katharina teaches in the German language |
|
| Spirits & Bar knowledge (mixology – our lecturers | |
|
Victor teaches in the French and English language |
With more than 15 years of experience in the bar and cocktail industry, Victor has worked in Palace bars in France, Scotland and Switzerland as well as in various cocktail bars in Lausanne. He was also Bar Academy Trainer for Diageo before becoming the manager of the Crapule Club cocktail bar in Fribourg. Passionate about Mixology and spirits, he likes to share his knowledge with enthusiasm and energy. Victor teaches the Level 2 WSET® Award in Spirits as well the “mixology” practical aspect related to this course. |
|
Arthur teaches in the German and English language |
From absinthe to Zubrovka. And in between, past whisk(e)y and Williams, rum and raki, gin and grappa. Arthur Nägele is a recognised expert and sought-after trainer and lecturer for the spirits and liqueurs of this world. His expertise and services range from production to enjoyment. Arthur Nägele’s sensory judgement is reliable. The organisers of national and international wine and spirits awards are also convinced of this. In addition to many other competitions, Arthur is also in charge of the Vorarlberg State Distillate Awards and, as one of the youngest ‘Chair Judges’, he is in charge of the ‘Fine Spirits’, ‘Liqueurs’ and ‘Flavoured Vodka’ tasting groups at what is probably the most renowned spirits competition in the world, the International Wine- and Spirits Challenge in London. Arthur teaches our Level 2 and Level 3 WSET® Award in Spirits courses and is also our “Internal Assessor” for the Level 3 – WSET® Award in Spirits. |
| Beer & Brewing courses – our lecturers | |
| Our Resident Craft Brewer: | |
|
Thomas teaches in the French and English language |
Thomas is currently responsible for Quality Assurance for an Eastern Switzerland brewery, where he is responsible for the day-to-day quality assurance for the production of their varied range of beers, as well as the organisation of the quality assurance team. An award-wining brewer, he has a proven track record at both microbreweries and larger, regional breweries. As well as being an experienced teacher, he also serves regularly as a jury member of international beer competitions. Thomas in in charge of our theoretical and practical beer production courses. Watch our course dates page for details of the next courses and master classes! |
|
Nathan teaches in the French language |
Nathan changed profession a number of years ago and has, since 2015 been working for a Craft Brewery in the French-speaking part of Switzerland. His various positions of responsibility within the brewery have provided an opportunity for him to gain a professionally sound level of knowledge of the beer production process. He has also taken and passed several levels of the Institute of Brewing and Distilling (IBD) qualifications to support his practical knowledge. Nathan is now embarking on a new challenge where he wishes to pass on his knowledge to other brewers. Nathan teaches on our practical brewing courses. |
|
Nathan Rüttner Nathan teaches in the German and French languages |
Nathan teaches on our practical brewing courses |
| Our team for distilling: | will be finalised and announced in the coming months |
|
Our canine teaching assistants |
you will probably meet either Merlin and Arthur in one of our classes. They are trained to reduce your stress levels. |
|
|
Since the 21st of September 2018 Merlin became an important member of our team while still a puppy (10 weeks old). Arthur joined the team on the 9th of March 2020 and is learning from his elder “brother” how to improve the class’ wellbeing. |