Sommellerie Cyprus
The Noodle House restaurant in Limassol hosted the 2012 General Assembly of the Cyprus Sommelier Association (CSA). Affiliated with the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale (A.S.I.), this active association of professionals works with other sommelier organizations around the world, with the common objective to ensure international recognition for the profession of sommelier.
The very first goal of the union and its 85 members is to promote education as well as Cypriot wines both locally and abroad. Educating and training its members is fundamental. The CSA is a non-profit organization and works thanks to subscription fees from its members and sponsors.
During the Assembly, outgoing President Georgios Kassianos (from Hotel Alexander the Great) stressed the importance of wine professionals in the food industry. Despite the financial crisis, they must still work together as a team to advance the profession and try to enrol and train more sommeliers as a way to boost competitiveness. At the end of the Assembly, elections were held and the new committee was made up.
A week later, at Alexander the Great in Pafos, the Association had a new President: Iraklis Christophorou of Meat Academy
& Gyros tou Cosmou Restaurants, while Vasos Manoli of Risto La Piazza was appointed Vice-President. The Secretary now is Dr. Andreas Emmanuel and the Treasurer Spyridon Stivaros, followed by Savvas Papathomas (Four Seasons Hotels) in charge of the activities and events, and Marcos Zambartas, at the head of the Education committee. Ex-President Georgios Kassianos is now responsible for Marketing and Public Relations.
Relying on the dynamic growth of CSA since 2003 and the increasing popularity of the wine in Cyprus, the board members will run the CSA with dedication and determination. With such a strong team and profound support from the association, the new President is convinced that he will be able to expand the membership as well as to obtain further recognitions internationally in the years to come.
Georgios Kassianos