【6月～9月実施】WSET®Level 1 Award in Wines (English）

Rowan Gillespie is an ardent wine educator, management consultant, and wine lover based in Tokyo. He teaches WSET Levels 1, 2, and 3 and is a judge for the annual Japan Wine Challenge competition. Born in New Zealand, Rowan has lived in Japan for the past twenty years. He holds a WSET Diploma in Wines.「What led you to become a wine educator?」My wine education journey began after I moved to Japan in the early 2000s. I was already an avid wine drinker, but Japanese wine shops were my first exposure to the classic wines of Europe. Being confronted by the initially intimidating labels of Old World wines, I began to read obsessively, learning to decipher wine labels and confidently order in my favourite restaurants.The more I read, the more I became fascinated by the different aspects of wine. Mastering wine requires understanding a blend of influences, including history, climate, geology, geography, legal and commercial requirements, and the art of science of viticulture and viniculture.Above all, I developed many new friendships through wine. Travelling to wine regions also gave our family vacations a greater sense of purpose.This hunger for developing my wine knowledge and skills ultimately led me to study for the WSET Diploma and become an educator to share my passion with others.「What is your approach to teaching about wine?」I want my students to not only be well prepared to ace their WSET exams but to be equipped with the tasting skills and wine knowledge to:• Gain a deeper appreciation of the different elements of wine and how they fit together.• Discover new and exciting wine styles.• Confidentially select delicious great-value wines, whether in an izakaya, wine shop, or a Michelin-starred restaurant.• Get deeper enjoyment out of travel to wine regions by understanding the connection between the people, place, history, and winemaking tradition.

WSET® Certified Educator (Level1、2、3 公認認定講師）WSET® Internal AssessorWSET® level 4 Award in Wines（スパークリングワイン部門John Avery Vintners’ Bursary受賞）J.S.A. 認定ソムリエWine Scholar Guild “Champagne Master”IWC Judge（インターナショナル・ワイン・チャレンジ 審査員）WSET Technical Editor (Wine) / WSET ワイン教材テクニカルエディターMaster of Wine (MW) Student 【経歴】英語とワインに惹かれ、2015年にカリフォルニアへ留学。勉強の合間をぬってワイン産地を訪問し、ワイン業界での就業を決意する。インポーター勤務の傍ら、2021年6月にWSET Diplomaコースを開始し、2022年9月の最終科目まで最短の16カ月でストレート合格。酒精強化ワイン部門（D5）、スパークリングワイン部門（D4）でトップレベル (distinction) の成績を収める。特にスパークリングワイン部門ではアジア・パシフィックエリア最優秀成績を収め、2023年に世界で44名にのみ授与された奨学金を受賞。 【メッセージ】「もっとワインを楽しめるようになりたい！」と思っていただけるように、私が大切にしていることは3つです。①”What”ではなく”Why”を理解することワインの背後にある理由や背景を理解することで、丸暗記ではない「身につく」授業を目指します。②ワインビギナーに寄り添った授業をすること初心者の方も楽しみながらワインの世界に飛び込めるクラスにします。③試験対策をしっかり行うことできる限りのサポートをしますので、最後には合格して一緒に楽しく祝杯を上げましょう。 皆さんと授業でお会いできるのを楽しみにしています！ My passion for wine deepened during a study abroad in California. While working for a wine importer, I completed the WSET Diploma in just 16 months, earning distinctions in Fortified Wines (D5) and Sparkling Wines (D4). For my D4 result, I achieved the highest score in the Asia–Pacific region and received one of only 44 awards given worldwide in 2023.In my classes, I focus on three things: helping students understand the “why” behind wine, creating a welcoming space for beginners, and providing support for exam success. My goal is for you to leave the course not only with new knowledge, but also with greater enjoyment of wine.I look forward to seeing you in class!

WSET® level 4 Diploma in WinesJ.S.A. 認定ソムリエ (Certified Sommeliere)Society of Wine Educators Certified Wine Specialist日本ドイツワイン協会連合認定ドイツワイン上級ケナー(Verband der deutschen Weingesellschaften Japans e.V. Hervorragender Deutscher Weinkenner)航空会社勤務時代、滞在国でその土地の食事とともに味わったワインの美味しさと奥深さに惹かれ、ソムリエ資格を取得しました。退職後は、企業研修向け語学学習コンテンツの企画・開発に携わりながら、NHK学園や企業向けにワインセミナーを実施。WSET Level4 Diploma in Wines 取得を通じて、多様なワイン文化に触れ、英語で学ぶWSETが世界共通言語として持つ価値を実感しました。クラスでは「なぜこの色や香り、味わいになるのか」という問いを大切にし、品種や産地、気候、人の手による影響を整理しながら、理解を深めていきます。初めてWSETに触れる方にも、安心して納得しながら学んでいただけるよう心がけています。My interest in wine began while working for an airline, where I enjoyed wine with local food in the countries I stayed in. Drawn to both its pleasure and depth, I later earned my sommelier qualification.After leaving the airline industry, I worked on language learning content for corporate training, while teaching wine classes for NHK Gakuen and corporate clients. Studying for the WSET Level4 Diploma in Wines gave me the chance to experience many different wine cultures and helped me appreciate WSET as a truly global language of wine.In our classes, we start with simple questions: why does this wine look, smell, and taste the way it does? By breaking things down—grape varieties, regions, climate, and human influence—you’ll build your understanding step by step.I hope to help make WSET approachable and enjoyable, especially for those discovering it for the first time.