Sogrape Wine Academy Scholarship Program in Angola achieves 100% pass rate at WSET
The Sogrape Wine Academy (SWA) has concluded the second edition of its Scholarship Program in Angola, reaffirming its commitment to the development of the sector and to the professional qualification of local talent. Developed in partnership with the Gérard Basset Foundation and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the program builds on an initiative launched in 2025, with a strong focus on technical training and access to certified education in the Angolan market.
The training took place between February 25 and 27 and involved 11 Angolan professionals selected under the program, with the aim of supporting technical qualification and professional development within the wine sector. All participants successfully passed the exams and were awarded the WSET Level 1 Award in Wines international certification.
Developed in collaboration with VINUS, Sogrape’s distributor in Angola—which this year marks 20 years of presence in the Angolan market—the program is part of Sogrape’s broader commitment to contributing to the development of the wine sector in the country. The initiative promotes technical training and skills development among local professionals connected to hospitality, tourism, and wine trade. “The consolidation of this program in Angola reflects the commitment of Sogrape and Vinus to the value of knowledge as a driver for sector development,” says Edgar Sousa, General Manager of VINUS. “The full certification of all participants demonstrates the tangible impact of this training on professional qualification and on the improvement of consumer service in a market with strong growth potential.”
“The continuation of this project in Angola, in partnership with the Gérard Basset Foundation and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), reflects the vision of the Sogrape Wine Academy to invest consistently in excellence in wine education as a structural factor for sector development,” states Joana Bahia, Head of Sogrape Wine Academy. “The fact that all participants obtained the WSET Level 1 certification confirms the relevance of this commitment and the concrete impact of the training on professional qualification.”
Certified as an Approved Programme Provider (APP) of WSET, the Sogrape Wine Academy, launched in 2022, is an official WSET education provider in Portugal, Spain, and Angola, and the only one operating in the Angolan market. This recognition reinforces its positioning as a hub for wine education, supporting the dissemination of wine culture among Sogrape professionals, partners, and stakeholders.
