Educators
Meet the certified educators who lead our courses.
Certified Educators
Dieter Ploeger
Certified WSET Educator with merit in the prestigious DipWSET, he also holds the titles of French Wine Scholar and Spanish Wine Scholar. With over two decades of experience in Panama and an MBA in International Business, Dieter brings together academic rigor and a genuine passion for wine education. For more than two years, he has been teaching courses every week, having already guided over 150 students toward a deeper and more confident understanding of the world of wine.
Noel Sánchez
Beer expert certified by WSET, Cicerone, Doemens-Ameg, and BJCP. International career spanning Panama, France, and Germany as entrepreneur, consultant, and beer educator. Invited judge at major beer competitions across five continents.
Rafael Reyes
WSET Certified Educator and spirits specialist with over two decades in the hospitality industry. Graduate of The International Hotel School of The Hague, combining hotel management training with technical expertise in spirits production and evaluation.
Melina Aguirre
Senior Sommelier and WSET Educator with the prestigious DipWSET. Melina brings an international career in the ultra‑luxury hospitality sector across Dubai and Mallorca, Spain. In the Middle East, she trained elite hospitality teams of renowned brands such as Emirates Airlines, Atlantis The Royal, Four Seasons, and the Armani Hotel (Burj Khalifa) as part of the MMI Wine Academy. Currently based in Panama, she leads CruCo. Wine Studio S.A., a company dedicated to consultancy, specialized wine service training for the restaurant industry, cellar management, and the importation of an exclusive portfolio of boutique wineries.
Valérie Avila de Montulé
Valérie Avila de Montulé is a French-Panamanian sommelier with more than 20 years of experience in the world of wine in Panama. Her journey began at Felipe Motta, where she was part of the communications team for over 8 years, and for more than a decade she has worked as an independent sommelier. She is a Professional Sommelier, graduated from the Argentine School of Sommeliers (EAS), a Certified Wine Specialist from the Society of Wine Educators, holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines with Distinction from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, and is the first Panamanian sommelier to obtain the French Wine Scholar (FWS) certification from the Wine Scholar Guild, an advanced specialization in the wines of France.
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Juan Carlos Rojas
Juan Carlos Rojas is a WSET Certified Educator and holds the prestigious WSET Diploma in Wines (DipWSET). He graduated with honors from the Escuela Argentina de Sommeliers and has complemented his wine education with studies in gastronomy, developing a particular interest in food and wine pairing. A passionate traveler, he enjoys exploring the world’s wine regions and discovering the people, places, and traditions behind their wines. Outside the wine world, Juan Carlos holds a PhD in Electrical Engineering and a Master’s degree in Engineering Management from Stanford University, with over a decade of university teaching experience. He brings this academic background and passion for education to making the complex world of wine engaging and approachable.