Wine pros: you are invited to apply for the Familia Torres Wine Course 2025

This June, Familia Torres will welcome 15 students to their estate for a week-long immersion into the history, philosophy and methods behind their world famous wines – and the region of Catalonia. For the first time, a place on this exclusive course has been opened up for applications from Star Wine List readers. If you’re a wine professional, here’s what you need to do!

Partner story with Familia Torres.

The Familia Torres Wine Course has been an annual tradition since 1991, when it was created by Miguel A. Torres on becoming the company’s President. And while Mr Torres has recently slowed down his role, he will once again be ready to receive his global guests – for the 35th time – by hosting a welcome dinner at El Celleret Garden Restaurant within the family’s Mas La Plana winery in Penedès, on the first evening.

That’s just the opening night. Over four jam-packed days, the chosen students will spend valuable time with various family and team members, broadening their knowledge of Familia Torres’ heritage, vineyards, winemaking, sustainability practices and more through lectures, open discussions and practical tastings. The Wine Promenade is always a particular highlight, during which attendees taste the full range of Familia Torres wines, as is Mireia Torres’ masterclass on ancestral grape varieties. This year, other topics covered will include vineyard management, geographical classifications, regenerative viticulture, and sustainability insights from the International Wineries for Climate Action, a working group co-founded by Familia Torres in 2019 to promote and explore carbon reduction strategies.

What’s more, students will learn about the history, terroirs, cuisine and culture of Catalonia by visiting different vineyard sites, and tasting the food and wine of the region at lunches and dinners throughout the week. They will spend three nights in the beach town of Sitges and one in the sunny city of Barcelona, exploring the Torres wineries in the regions of Penedès, Priorat, Costers del Segre and Conca de Barberà.

There will be a final exam at the end of the week, with prizes awarded to the top three candidates: the first prize will be nothing less than a Spanish Wine Scholar certification from the Wine Scholar Guild; second is a Riedel voucher to spend on your favourite tools; third place will receive an engraved corkscrew. The whole study group will enjoy a farewell dinner and cocktail night.

How do you get a place on this exclusive trip?

Until now, suitable candidates have been head-hunted and personally invited to submit applications to attend the course. But this year, one spot will be opened up for applications from a Star Wine List reader working in the world of wine (including sommeliers and those working on-trade) and hoping for a deeper understanding of the wines of Catalonia, and the Familia Torres heritage in Penedès.

This year’s course will be held from 9 – 13 June 2025 and applicants are required to speak fluent English. Familia Torres will cover the costs of flights, accommodation, transfers, food and drink throughout the course.

To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter to Núria Aulèstia Agné and Brenda Sánchez by Tuesday, 15 April 2025.

Your covering letter should explain what you hope to discover about Catalonia, and Familia Torres, by attending the course, and how you believe it will help your professional wine aspirations.

Good luck!