Gastronomy Academy
We believe in the unifying power of the table — a place where people connect, cultures meet, and stories are shared. With this belief, we embrace the responsibility of shaping an ecosystem built on international standards of service, quality and experience, where gender balance is part of the foundation. At Diageo Türkiye, we see ourselves not only as a producer of drinks, but as an essential part of gastronomy in Türkiye and beyond. Standing side by side with the wider gastronomy ecosystem, we know that when it grows stronger, so do we.
One of our most significant investments in this vision is the International Wine & Spirits Academy (IWSA), a Ministry of National Education (MEB)-accredited institution founded to train tourism and gastronomy professionals and to raise service standards across the industry. To date, we have trained tens of thousands of waiters and sommeliers through IWSA programmes.
As a training and practice centre that provides comprehensive knowledge on both fermented and distilled beverages, IWSA aims to fill a major gap in Türkiye's gastronomy sector, while supporting holistic food and beverage education.
Founded by Diageo Türkiye to address the growing need for qualified professionals in the tourism and gastronomy sectors, the International Wine & Spirits Academy (IWSA) was established as a career platform for those looking to build a career and specialise in the food and beverage industry. As a training and practice centre offering comprehensive knowledge on both fermented and distilled beverages, IWSA also aims to fill a major gap in Türkiye's gastronomy sector, while supporting holistic food and beverage education. Industry professionals can benefit from the Ministry of National Education (MEB)-accredited Fermented and Distilled Beverage Service Personnel Training Programme, developed by IWSA.
As the official representative in Türkiye of the London-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Diageo Türkiye continues to deliver internationally recognised programmes through IWSA. Designed and led by expert trainers, the curriculum includes globally accredited WSET Level 1, 2 and 3 in Wine, WSET Levels 1 and 2 in Spirits, the Anise Academy Level 1, Anatolian Grapes seminars, as well as World Class and Diageo Bar Academy professional seminars.
Located at River Plaza in Şişli, Istanbul — one of the city's most central and accessible locations — IWSA features two classrooms with a capacity of 30 students each, a bar practice classroom, a dedicated library, application bar areas, meeting rooms, and a restaurant practice area.
