Formed in 1992 in New York, the European Wine Council is comprised of trade representatives of eight European wine-producing nations. The council aims to enhance knowledge and appreciation of European wines in the United States and to promote a spirit of good will among wine professionals in the U.S. and Europe. 

Since 1983 Mutkoski has taught his Introduction to Wines course, always one of the university�s most popular courses and the only course of its kind among major U.S. universities. He estimates that he has taught over 30,000 students, and that 90,000 bottles of wine have been opened in the class. �That�s a lot of corks,� says Mutkoski, �and a few screw caps, too.� 

In addition to the introductory course, Mutkoski teaches specialty courses in Beverage Management to Hotel School students. He often hosts exclusive wine tastings for students, featuring rare vintages made possible through his relationships with premier vintners. Mutkoski also has taught in the School�s Professional Development Program, where he provides his insights on beverage management to hospitality executives. 

Mutkoski has written two distance learning courses on Food and Beverage Management for eCornell, an online learning company wholly owned by Cornell University, and offered via the School�s executive education program. He also is author of The Wine Professor® CD ROM series, an interactive multimedia training program. 

�We are very proud of Steve for earning this internationally-recognized award honoring his commitment to his profession and to his students,� says Interim Dean Sherri Kimes. �Steve�s impact is reflected in the large number of his students who have gone on to become leaders in the wine industry.� 

Mutkoski continually refines his knowledge of the wine industry, visiting at least one major wine region in each of the past 20 years. He has been inducted into the leading wine and food societies, including the Association Internationale des Maitres Conseils en Gastronomie Francaise, the Commanderie du Bontemps de Médoc et des Graves and the Cofradia del Vino de Rioja. 

Mutkoski received his undergraduate and doctoral degrees from The School of Hotel Administration at Cornell University. He and his wife, Patty, also a Cornellian, have three children, two of whom are Hotel School graduates: Mark �89 and Melissa �94; son Steve received his bachelor�s degree in Arts and Sciences from Cornell in 1991 and graduated from the Cornell Law School in 1997. 

The Cornell University School of Hotel Administration is shaping the global knowledge base for hospitality management through leadership in education, research and industry advancement. The School provides management instruction in the full range of hospitality disciplines, educating the next generation of leaders in the world's largest industry. Founded in 1922 as the nation's first collegiate course of study in hospitality management, the Cornell Hotel School is recognized as the world leader in its field. For more information, visit www.hotelschool.cornell.edu