Argentina

Flavia Rizzuto

Flavia’s wine journey has spanned three decades, and began in the on-trade, working as a sommelier in hotels and restaurants. In 2002, she made history by winning the inaugural Best Sommelier of Argentina Competition, and then in 2004 she represented Argentina at the ASI World’s Best Sommelier Competition in Athens, Greece. Following this, after 17 years working on the restaurant floor, Flavia decided to pivot her career path and devote herself to teaching and education in the wine and sommelier fields. She loves imparting knowledge and enabling others to learn, but found that often it is challenging to access international certifications from Argentina. Not one to be easily deterred, Flavia set herself the task of rectifying this, and in 2008 she succeeded in getting her school, CAVE (Centro Argentino de Vinos y Espirituosas), registered as an official Approved Programme Provider of the WSET, a phenomenal achievement. Since then, Flavia and CAVE have offered students a 3-year Sommelier Degree course, as well as Levels 2 & 3 of the WSET, with the view of eventually offering the Diploma as well. As well as loving to teach, Flavia also adores learning, and she is currently at Stage 2 of the MW programme, and she hopes by gaining the MW to “start a movement in Latin America that can network and contribute” to enhancing the wine industry, both “locally and globally”.