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Level Two Sommelier Course
Here is my New Journey in becoming a Sommelier #274
Level Two Sommelier Course Blog 274
In 273, I delved into exploring the wine industry. Now, let’s embark on a trek through the Level two sommelier course.
Well, I’ve leveled up and tackled the Level two sommelier course. Spoiler alert: I passed on January 26th, 2024. But hey, let’s rewind and take a look at what went down.
Level Two Exam
The exam is split into three juicy sections:
Tasting Portion: This is where the real action happens. Armed with the required wines, you dive into tasting under the watchful eye of Instructor Keith Wallace. No faking it here; you’ve gotta show off your tasting skills with authenticity. There were 6 different wines and questions after the tasting to describe what you just experienced. It was a little different than what I expected so it was not an easy task.
Aroma Identification: Get ready to put your nose to work! Armed with your trusty “Exam Material,” you sniff out specific aromas and link them to winemaking processes or grape varieties. One example was aa Packet that smelled like Lavender and My task was to match it with a certain type of wine they called out in the question.
Theory Portion: This section tests your wine knowledge with around 40 questions of multiple-choice, sorting, and fill-in-the-blank formats. And hey, watch your spelling on those blanks — accuracy is key! In Level one I studied the quiz questions and there were only a few from the lectures. This test was about 50/50 so it was a good thing I took good notes during the course.
Fun Stuff I Learned
Throughout the course, you’ll pick up some handy techniques like the 5 S’s:
- See: Check out that wine’s color and clarity.
- Swirl: Give that glass a gentle whirl to awaken the aromas.
- Sniff: Take a big whiff and dive into a world of tantalizing scents.
- Sip: Taste the flavors and let them dance on your palate.
- Savor: Fully immerse yourself in the taste and finish.
