Meet Vinspire Academy Founder Philip Dunne
Founder - Philip Dunne
Beginning his hospitality career early in life, Founder and Head of Education at Vinspire Wine and Spirit Academy Philip Dunne is one of Irelands most awarded sommelier and wine & spirit experts in the luxury hospitality sector in Ireland.
Previously Head Sommelier in Ashford Castle in Mayo, Head Sommelier of The Westbury in Dublin, & currently the Global Group Sommelier of The Doyle Collection, Philip has a vast level of experience in wine list design, and expert result-driven wine and spirit education.
Philip has been twice awarded Ireland's 'Sommelier of the Year' by the Sunday Business Post (2018 & 2019), and also in 2018 became an accredited educator for WSET (Wine Spirit Education Trust). In June 2023, Philip was the winner of the Champagne Academy, a competiton between 16 of the UK and Irelands leading wine professionals in a series of tasting and written exams in Champagne.
Since becoming a WSET Educator, Philip has educated and delivered these wine and spirit qualifications to over 3,000 students in Ireland, the UK, and across the USA.
Philip has set up Vinspire to offer Restaurants, Bars, Hotels and drink enthusiasts in Ireland specialist wine and spirit education, and award qualifications through WSET. These qualifications assist employers with increased staff knowledge, confidence in selling, and improvement of staff retention - as well as being a benefit in offering an education incentive at the recruitment stage of staff.