PRESS RELEASE
Port MasterClass for Sommeliers to take place in Amsterdam
The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, I.P. (IVDP, IP) will host an exclusive MASTER OF PORT – BENELUX MasterClass for sommeliers on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, in Amsterdam. The MasterClass offers wine professionals the opportunity to deepen their knowledge of Port and the Douro Demarcated Region, while providing sommeliers with an introduction to the knowledge and skills required for the 2nd edition of the MASTER OF PORT – BENELUX competition.
The MasterClass will take place from 10:00 to 13:00 at the Pestana Amsterdam Riverside in Amsterdam, with a live-streamed session available simultaneously at Maison de La Poste in Brussels.
The event is open to all interested wine professionals and is not limited to sommeliers intending to participate in the competition. Wine trade professionals, journalists, oenologists and other wine professionals are also welcome to attend. Participation is limited to 30 participants at each location.
Discover the Diversity of Port
The MasterClass will be led by Paulo Russel-Pinto, Certified Port Educator, and will combine theoretical knowledge with practical tasting.
The programme will cover:
- An introduction to Port and the Douro Demarcated Region
- The history and development of Port
- The different styles and categories of Port
- Food pairing possibilities
- Practical tasting and analysis of Port wines
Participants will taste seven Port wines during the session, providing an opportunity to explore the diversity and character of this renowned wine region..Practical tasting and analysis of Port wines.
MASTER OF PORT – BENELUX Competition 2026
The MasterClass also provides an opportunity for sommeliers interested in taking part in the MASTER OF PORT – BENELUX 2026 competition to familiarise themselves with the knowledge and skills relevant to the competition.
The competition is open to sommeliers. The online examination will take place on 26 October 2026.
Following the online examination, the 10 highest-scoring candidates will be invited to Portugal to compete in the quarter-finals, taking place from 8 to 11 November 2026.
Full information about the competition, including the rules, registration requirements and all stages of the competition, is available on the IVDP website under the following link: https://www.ivdp.pt/en/master-of-port/
Registration
Sommeliers wishing to participate in the MASTER OF PORT – BENELUX 2026 competition must register through the official competition registration form:
https://www.ivdp.pt/en/master-of-port-form-2026/.
Registration for the competition and registration for the MasterClass are separate.
Wine trade professionals, journalists, oenologists and other wine professionals who wish to attend the MasterClass only must register separately through the dedicated MasterClass registration link: https://abrir.link/IVDP-MASTERCLASS-BEN
Please note: Registration for the MasterClass does not provide access to the competition’s online examination. Likewise, registration for the competition does not automatically include participation in the MasterClass. Sommeliers wishing to compete must complete the official competition registration, while anyone wishing to attend the MasterClass must register through the dedicated MasterClass registration link.
Event Details
MASTER OF PORT – BENELUX MasterClass 2026
Date: Tuesday, 20 October 2026
Time: 10:00–13:00
Amsterdam: Pestana Amsterdam Riverside
Brussels: Maison de La Poste – live-streamed session
Places: Limited to 30 participants per location
About the IVDP
The Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto, I.P. (IVDP, IP) is the public institute responsible for regulating and certifying Port and Douro wines and for safeguarding the quality, authenticity and reputation of wines produced in the Douro Demarcated Region.
Media Contact
For further information, please contact:
Ghislaine Melman
Melman Communications
Email: info@melman-communications.nl
Mobile: +31 (0)6 14 789 44
