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The Panama Wine Academy was born out of a passion for wine and education. We wish to contribute to the growth of the wine sector in Panama by offering courses for both professionals and passionate consumers.
The courses we offer strike the perfect balance between theory and tasting. Our students not only gain a deep understanding of wine regions, grape varieties, and winemaking techniques, but also develop the practical skills to taste and evaluate wines.
PWA is a sister company of the Amsterdam Wine Academy which, having provided over hundreds of WSET courses, has an extensive and proven track record.
Best friends since childhood, Dieter Ploeger and Wouter Aalst both started their professional careers in the world of gastronomy, Dieter in the kitchen and Wouter as a host. Wouter opened his first restaurant in 2003 and currently owns Paskamer, which was acclaimed best wine bar in the Netherlands in 2023. He also founded the Amsterdam Wine Academy together with his wife Fransje. Dieter chose a different career path and after coming to Panama for a visit in 2005, stayed indefinitely, falling in love with the country and then with his wife Stephany, with whom he has two children. However, the passion for gastronomy never left and, increasingly engaged by the fascinating world of wine, the Panama Wine Academy project was born.
Our academy prides itself on delivering high-quality courses from renowned international wine institutions such as WSET and GWS, ensuring that our students receive the most comprehensive and up-to-date wine education available.
“It is our mission to broaden and deepen the wine knowledge of our students. We pass on our passion and knowledge with contagious enthusiasm to all who wish to start or continue their journey in the world of wine.”
At the Panama Wine Academy, you can achieve prestigious certifications that are recognized both nationally and internationally. These credentials serve as a testament to your expertise and enhances your career prospects within the wine industry.
The WSET is internationally recognized as a leading authority in wine education by professionals and employers. Choosing a WSET course can provide you with a globally recognized certification that holds weight in the wine industry.
The Panama Wine Academy offers WSET courses at different levels, accommodating both beginners and those seeking advanced knowledge. Whether you’re starting from scratch or looking to deepen your expertise, there is a WSET course suitable for every level of interest and experience.
The WSET study books are well-written, compact and concise, with a logical structure and solid explanations. WSET’s systematic tasting system offers you a methodology that imparts confidence and provides you with the skills and tools to evaluate wines and make an informed judgement. We often notice that the part of wine tasting and evaluating can be the most challenging and even a bit daunting. This is the reason why at the Panama Wine Academy we practice this thoroughly and taste more wines than required! And no need to worry as blind tasting is not part of the exams in levels 1 and 2 Award in Wines.
Dieter is a political analyst by profession, with an MBA in international business and a Master of Arts in European Studies from the University of Amsterdam. After an initial career as a chef in the Netherlands, destiny brought him to Panama over 15 years ago. With a family of two children, his life has been characterized by cultural diversity and a love for traveling around the world.
Dieter, a WSET Certified Educator, comes from a home of educators and from a young age he has been drawn to teaching. At the Panama Wine Academy he combines this with his passion for wine.
Having successfully completed WSET Level 3 with distinction, he can also call himself ‘Spanish Wine Scholar’ and ‘French Wine Scholar’. He will soon embark on the WSET Diploma and pursue the title ‘Italian Wine Scholar’.
Captivated by such an historic and extraordinary beverage, our co-founder sees himself studying the world of wine for the rest of his life. Put in his own words, “A beautiful aspect of wine is that the more you learn, the more you appreciate it; and the more you appreciate it, the more you want to know about wine.” A virtuous circle and a passion that he hopes to pass along to his students.
Wouter is the senior lecturer at Amsterdam Wine Academy in the Netherland and is mainly concerned with the educational side of the company. Wouter has a background as a hospitality entrepreneur and brings extensive experience with hospitality as one of the most important values of the academy. Wouter is partner in Panama Wine Academy and supports Dieter with all wine related issues. Currently he is a student at the Institute of Masters of Wine. He prefers Chianti Classico, but also loves a nice glass of champagne.
Back in the Netherlands, Fransje is the spider in the web of the Amsterdam Wine Academy. She takes care of all the organization and administration down to every detail. When it comes to communicating with the students or setting up our course locations: she does everything with a great eye for detail and without concessions. Fransje is a partner at Panama Wine Academy, and she supports Dieter with all backend processes. Fransje enjoys a nice glass of Chardonnay from Burgundy.
Panama Wine Academy is a WSET and WSG recognized wine course provider.
