Florida
International University Uncorks
One-of-a-Kind Beverage Management Center
MIAMI (September 10, 1999) -- The art of wine appreciation and the science of beverage tasting and education will soon rise to new levels at Florida International University’s School of Hospitality Management.
The just-completed million-dollar Southern Wine & Spirits Beverage Management Center will offer students, professionals in the beverage industry, and the community-at-large the perfect forum in which to learn about wine, spirits, and other fine beverages.
Located on FIU’s Biscayne Bay Campus, the state-of-the-art facility includes a 76-seat classroom, a tasting laboratory with sinks, air filters and special lighting and a temperature-controlled display wine cellar. Construction of the much-anticipated building marks a milestone in the School of Hospitality Management’s expansion of its beverage management program, which promises benefits for students and industry alike.
“The center is the most unique facility of its kind in the world. It will provide our students with the best beverage management education available today, allowing them to become leaders of the hospitality industry,” said Joe West, Dean of the School of Hospitality Management. “In addition, the center brings FIU to the forefront of the wine and spirits industry, providing a facility that can be widely used to test new products.”
The 4,500 square-foot center is named for Southern Wine & Spirits of America, Inc., the largest private beverage distributor in North America, which contributed a portion of the building funds.
“We have worked closely with the university to help provide their students with the tools needed in the study of beverage management while also contributing to our community,” said Harvey Chaplin, chairman and chief executive officer of Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc. “This center will revolutionize the industry. It is the only one of its kind in the U.S. and will be available to students and industry leaders alike,” said Chaplin.
Southern Wine and Spirits of America, Inc. is the largest distributor of wine and spirits in America with distribution operations in Florida, California, Hawaii, Nevada, Arizona, Kentucky, South Carolina and Pennsylvania.