The best things happen outside your comfort zone. The first few months of this journey left Tammy and me mentally exhausted, but at the same time energized. Keeping this journey of oenology and viticulture a secret was an enormous challenge. Every interaction with our friends and family was an opportunity to reveal our plans, but somehow we kept it under wraps–at least for a minute or two 😉 One reason to keep it hush hush was to save ourselves from embarrassment in the event something went terribly wrong.

We have attended (and hosted) many wine-centric events over the past fifteen months–during which time we shared some incredible wines paired with amazing cuisine–all contributing to our journey from enthusiasts to sommeliers. Our friends’ and family’s shared passion for wine was the inspiration needed to forge ahead with the first-step to becoming a certified sommelier. We are, in fact, eternally grateful to everyone who knowingly and unknowingly contributed to our success.

Special thanks to Scott and Alison White

Our friends Scott and Alison White have made us feel like there was nothing we couldn’t accomplish with a little hard work, and a lot of liquid courage (wine). Scott blazed the trail by being the first to jump into the deep-end of the wine knowledge pool. We embrace every opportunity to participate in his relentless pursuit of the perfect wine pairing dinner. We are in awe of his extensive collection of wine, and have cherished every moment of traveling, dining, and attending events with Scott and Alison.

Special thanks to Dima and Oksana Semenski

Dima and Oksana are responsible for our involvement in several local wine enthusiast clubs. They are good friends, gracious hosts (see Wine Experiences: A Taste of Adelsheim), and natural oenologist with a passion for robust old world reds and obscure whites. From the first time we met–at a local wine bar–to the many wine-related events and special occasions, Dima and Oksana have shared our love of wine and appreciation of wine knowledge.

Special thanks to Mike and Patti Weber

Mike and Patti are without a doubt two of the most fun-loving, life-embracing people we’ve ever met. We feel fortunate to be on their exhaustive list of friends. There have been countless events in their home–including Wine Experiences: The Debate–and each one somehow rivals past events. This is also true with casual get-togethers and spontaneous outings, where there are usually a bottle or three of Bordeaux making its way to our glasses 😉

While it is important to note that I am now on a first name basis with the FedEx guy–because of all the hard-to-find wines we’ve acquired and tasted along the way–the two local venues (95 and Vine and The Chalice Off Canal) played an important part in our journey. These wine bars both provided sanctuary and much needed escape from the textbooks. Not to mention an amazing selection of wines and wine-friendly food. Yes, please.

As mentioned in the title, this is just the beginning. There is so much to learn (and appreciate) as it relates to oenology and viticulture, it can truly be never-ending (in a good way). The Court of Master Sommeliers online courses were organized very well, and the instructors were engaging and professional. While not the same experience as the in-person Introductory Sommelier Course & Examination, we definitely gained tremendous knowledge. I’ve already started researching enrollment in the next level CMS course, as well as Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) courses.

The journey continues 😉