So You Want to be a Sommelier...?

My answer to this question is "yes"...and this is no easy feat, people!

Fairly spontaneously, I decided I was going to begin my sommelier journey in November of 2010, so I got my student ID from the Court of Master Sommeliers, bought the epic Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil and planned to take the first of what could possibly be four exams this past May.

Through the CMS, there are four different levels of sommelier study and/or certification. Though Level One doesn't get you certified, it brings you one step closer to Level Two, which is a bona fide certification. Levels Three and Four are for the hard-core sommeliers who are studying to be Masters of their craft. Study for this (although fun!) is not exactly easy. Have you ever read the Wine Bible? - not exactly light reading on a summer's day kind of material, but Karen MacNeil is playful in her written banter and adds fun facts as well which makes the reading much easier to bear. The exam for Level One is a 70-question multiple choice exam given after two 9 1/2 hour days of lecture which, if you've come prepared, should basically be a review of the book(s) you've already read. Level One also begins to prepare you for things to expect out of Level Two such as blind tastings and proper table side wine service.

Blind tastings are just that. A wine is put in front of you and you need to be able to decipher the year, varietal, climate, region and the country from which it came as well as proper wine descriptors, etc. In addition to the tastings, you have to do a bit of roll-playing and be able to perform the proper table side service that would be givin in a fine dining 5 star atmosphere with a wine that has been aging for the better half of the last century as well as be cognizant of the regions soil (a.k.a. gravel, sand, clay, loam, schist, limestone, etc...) and wine history.

It's a lot to remember.

So back to my story. After 6 months of studying and drinking all types of wine (and leaving little room for much else), I took the Level One exam in May of 2011 and passed. Not everyone passed and out of those that did, at least half of them were scared out of trying for Level Two because of the commitment and dedication it takes to move up.

Of course, now I'm studying for Level Two. I took a short break from reading (though the drinking continued! :) and am now getting back into the swing of things. I plan to take the exam in October/November of 2012 - with all the reading I need to get done, I really don't see being able to take the exam before then.

So the point of this entry is to begin a new journey and to take you with me. I will be posting wine information based on what I am studying at the moment as well as posting pictures of wines tasted and reviewing them with flavor and aroma profiles as well as price information, so you can pick up a bottle for yourself!

See you soon, with a bottle and a glass...

Cheers!

Nic.