Canadian Sommelier Builds Wine School for Vallarta Locals Leigh Thelmadatter - MexicoNewsDaily.com
go to original April 25, 2022

Sommelier Juan Carlos Alcántara Ruiz earned internationally-known certification from the Wine and Spirit Education Trust through Vino Vallarta (Vino Vallarta)

Mexico’s interest in finding good wines is driven by three factors: the first is pride in Mexico’s native wines. The second is the tourism and entertainment industry, especially those businesses catering to upscale clientele. The last is that there is a growing segment of Mexicans who can afford the still relatively expensive passion.

Kami Lee Robb worked in the Canadian wine industry for decades and decided to up and leave Canada with her daughter in 2018 after losing a job. Her experiences working as a sommelier in Mexican cities made her realize that wine appreciation classes, common in Canada, are almost unheard of in Mexico. Wine knowledge in Mexico is better than in the past, but there is still much to do, Robb said.



Since opening in 2018, Robb has expanded her offerings to both English and Spanish classes, has a second campus and teaches throughout Mexico. (Vino Vallarta)

She came to Puerto Vallarta with some inkling that certain Mexican businesses would benefit from wine training, but she assumed that, at least initially, her main clientele would be snowbirds and other foreigners there. It turned out this community was more than happy with margaritas and beer, so the city’s hotels and restaurants quickly became her base.

In Canada, she worked for many years with an English institution called the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), which has a presence in 70 countries but not in Mexico. Robb navigated the organization’s strict standards and the Mexican legal hoops to officially found Vino Vallarta and offer students internationally recognized certifications.

In Vallarta, many of her students are upscale restaurant, hotel and resort employees who need to be able to recommend wines for guests. Many companies pay for the classes as good wine has a better profit margin and more prestige than either tequila or beer. Robb feels she is helping students with their careers, teaching them a valuable and still-rare skill.

For more info visit the Vino Vallarta website.

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Leigh Thelmadatter arrived in Mexico 18 years ago and fell in love with the land and the culture in particular its handcrafts and art. She is the author of Mexican Cartonería: Paper, Paste and Fiesta (Schiffer 2019).

Related: Baja California Winemaker Was Industry Pioneer (Mexico News Daily)