Zvonko HERCEG

I was born 1969 in Macedonia, the biblical land, where the wines has been drunk for at least 3000 years.
Croat by origin, a wine country as well, so the wines are my history, present and future, my oyster, where I was born and probably where I will die.
My love for wines was born after more than twenty years in wines and spirit business, but not because of that, due of my WSET mentor Mr. Maurizio Colia from Tuscany, where I started my wine education. That Italian spoke with so much passion about wines and styles, that my "ears" were full of wine, and I was sure that I will continue with my education further.
I passed the next WSET level in Bordeaux. France, enogastronomic country, full of love.
My mentor, Ms. Fanny Darrieussecq, weaved a wine love in me through the world's terroirs and wine finesse, so that there was no escape for me. So, I set off to get my diploma on my last three-year wine educational adventure to London, under the well-known UK education system.

Today I live in Skopje (the capital of North Macedonia), and perform several duties in the world of wine:

PRESIDENT of
MACEDONIAN ASSOCIATION OF SOMMELIERS - MASOM

As president of MASOM, I lead the Association through three key activities:

Sommelier education, creation of educated staff in catering, as well as increasing the number of wine enthusiasts.
Wine Events, building the domestic wine scene through an enogastronomic approach
Wine Projects aimed at presenting the country as a wine region around the world

WSET EDUCATOR

As an associate for wine education at the Tikves winery, I lead and teach at the Wine Educator school, which is an educational body within the winery.

I also work as a consultant for wine marketing in the same winery.
The school works according to the official program of the WSET - Wine & Spirits Educational Trust - UK. We hold close to 30 wine courses a year, which are attended by a large number of employees, as well as candidates outside the winery.