Tempus fugit, wrote Latin poet Virgil over twenty centuries ago. Paradoxically, his statement “time flies” was so strong that it lasted until today. But time does not fly: We are the ones flying… time stays!
Three years ago, I stood before the General Assembly of ASI and asked for its support to become its president, together with a team that combined enthusiasm and experience on a mission to be the change we all wanted to see in our profession. It seems like yesterday, but much has happened since then. It hasn’t always been easy. We had an ambitious set of objectives and a tightly packed agenda. The route has not been — and is not — without difficulties, and this year’s pandemic has certainly unlocked a whole new level of challenges for both ASI and its community of members around the globe.
The promises we made in 2017, however, have been fulfilled to the best of our abilities, and today our beloved Association de la Sommellerie Internationale keeps growing, with several full and observer members coming onboard in a few weeks. It boasts a solid long-term financial situation, is becoming increasingly relevant in the world of wine and gastronomy, and continues to work intensively to be ever more inclusive, modern, smart, transparent, contemporary, strategic, professional, and global.
They say a classic is “an outstanding example of a particular style; something of lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or highest quality, class, or rank – something that exemplifies its class.” It is still early to know if ASI will last as long as Roman literature has lasted, but the foundations to keep growing and promoting sommellerie around the world for another fifty years continue to be laid.
Cheers!
Andres Rosberg, President ASI