Exploring the Wine Industry

Here is my New Journey in becoming a sommelier #273

In Blog 271, I delved into strategies for Stress Relief in daily life. Now, let’s embark on a journey through the wine industry.

Reflecting on my 18 years, 10 months, and 18 days in my last job, I experienced both the best and worst moments. Amidst 48 job rejections, I pondered if it was ageism or simply the need for a change. One thing is for sure, I have a lot of knowledge to share in those experiences, so how can I do this and enjoy myself in the process. After some reflection, It really became a choice between staying on the same path or opt for something different.

Change of Course

Opting for a new path, I enrolled in the Certified Sommelier course at the National Wine School. Unsure about working in a restaurant, my goal was to acquire extensive knowledge for potential opportunities beyond the culinary domain, such as wine buying or reviews.

The path to becoming a Sommelier involves Introductory, Certified, Advanced, and Master levels. I chose Certified, a 7-week course with three levels. The initial stage covered regions and grape varieties, followed by a deeper dive into wine tasting, including blind tasting in level two. The third level explores major vinicultural regions, terroir, and winemaking styles.

Despite the absence of tastings in level one, the theoretical aspects covered seven topics, from Major Varietals to Food and Wine Pairings. A quiz followed each topic, allowing me to repeat them until I achieved 100%, reinforcing my understanding through video revisits.

Fascinated by each topic, I gained a profound appreciation for the wine industry. Achieving Level 1 certification, missing only one question, propelled me into Level 2 with enthusiasm.

Level two more intense

Preparing for Level 2 involves acquiring approximately 22 bottles of various wines, covering a spectrum of different varietals. To enhance this experience, it’s recommended to use a Coravin, a nifty device facilitating the pouring of wine without the need to uncork the bottle — all thanks to a hollow needle that grants access to the wine while preserving its integrity.