AIS Veneto: 40% of those enrolled in training courses are under 35

Sommellerie is conquering more and more young people. This is confirmed by the numbers of the Italian Sommelier Association - AIS Veneto , which recorded a share of 40% of members under 35 in the first half of 2025, up compared to the last two years . A significant figure that confirms a renewed interest of the new generations for the world of wine not only as a passion, but as a concrete possibility of employment. The figure of the Sommelier, in fact, today is no longer just synonymous with service in the dining room, but rather has a central role in the wine sector . Cellars, consortia, events, tourism, export: wherever technical skills, narrative ability and wine culture are needed, there is an opportunity for those with a solid education.

“Today, the Sommelier is a transversal figure, capable of enhancing wine not only in service, but also in communication and training – says Gianpaolo Breda , President of AIS Veneto –. If we think about the importance of our region in the Italian and international wine scene, choosing a profession in this field is undoubtedly a far-sighted choice. For sixty years, therefore, our Association has been committed to proposing solid, highly qualifying and structured training courses to meet these needs”.

Starting in September, 27 new courses will be active, divided into 3 progressive levels, each consisting of 15 lessons, distributed in 17 locations throughout the region . Of these, 12 will be first-level courses: “In recent years we have seen a growing interest in wine as a professional field among young people,” Breda emphasizes. “This is why we have chosen to renew the way we talk about our training proposal, investing in digital communication to promote the courses that are about to start. The goal is to make the dialogue on social media more effective and update our tools to speak in a more direct, authentic and engaging way to those who today approach this sector with curiosity and passion. Furthermore, precisely to encourage the training of new generations, a 10% discount is provided upon registration for those under 25 to support their professional preparation.”

For those who purchase an AIS Veneto course by August 30, AISpeak is included as a gift, a lesson dedicated to wine communication in English, focused on technical vocabulary. Together, there is also Il Carnet di Viaggio , a precious collector's book with contributions from leading authors in the publishing and cultural panorama relating to seven different production areas, constituting a real tourist itinerary.

The first level of the AIS courses introduces the profession of Sommelier and provides the basics of viticulture, oenology and service. The second level , instead, delves into the connection between wine and territory by analyzing the main Italian and foreign wine-growing areas. In the third level, attention is focused on pairing wine with dishes. During the course, there is no shortage of technical tests in food and wine pairing, with the aim of learning to pair each course with a glass capable of enhancing its characteristics. At the end of the training course, participants will be able to take the exam to obtain the title of AIS Sommelier.

At every stage of the course, AIS teaching offers visits to the cellar and guided tastings and offers the possibility of recovering any lessons missed in one of the other regional locations.

To register or for more information visit the AIS Veneto website www.aisveneto.it/corsi.html