Wine Scholar Guild names first managing director

Wine course provider Wine Scholar Guild (WSG) has named Preston Mohr as its very first managing director.

Minneapolis-born Mohr (who has resided in Paris for almost two decades) had been in the role of WSG’s sales and marketing director for the last two years.

He said of the organisation’s future: “Our success as the leader in the specialised wine education space since 2005 has allowed us to build a name for ourselves, and our dedicated and loyal students are clamouring for more. The world is increasingly global as compared to our founding year. Online education is now a ‘new normal’ but we were already well-positioned and prepared for this change as we’ve always been a pioneer in online education.”

Explaining another way that the requirements of wine education have changed, Mohr said: “Wine drinkers now understand that wine is about the people and places behind the labels. It’s no longer about quantity or simple categorisation of styles or grapes, it’s about quality and authenticity.”

At present, WSG has some 130 schools across 30 countries on five continents, and offers certifications on the wines of Italy, France and Spain.

In addition to Mohr’s appointment, the organisation has announced that Justin Martindale MW (formerly of Edinburgh’s Lothian Wine School) will be taking on the role of membership and community manager, while Courtney Carroll will be taking Mohr’s place as sales and marketing director. Founder Julien Camus will remain as WSG’s president. At present, WSG has 19 full-time employees and 150 contributors.