Fueled by the restlessness of confinement, Tammy and I decided to take advantage of the unplanned stay-at-home new normal of 2020 and jump eagerly into the Court of Sommelier certification program. In late June, I enrolled in the closest 2-day Introductory Sommelier Course & Exam. It took Tammy a few weeks to decided whether or not she could rearrange her work schedule and join the pursuit of Sommelier Level 1. The classes and exam are scheduled to begin in just under three(3) months. This should be plenty of time to prepare–right?
In addition to the Introductory Sommelier Course Workbook necessary for the course and exam, The Court of Master Sommelier also prescribed additional study materials–including:
Windows of the World – Complete Wine Course, Kevin Zraly
The Wine Bible, Karen MacNeil
With over 1700 pages of wine history, varietals, countries, regions, regulations, vintages, viticulture and vinification to study (and hopefully retain), this journey promises to be a labyrinth of learning and frustration. While the outcome is unknown, we am looking forward to sharing knowledge, ideas and opinions along the way.
Here we go…
Next article in the series: Enthusiast to Sommelier: Appreciating Viticulture
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