If you want to explore wine as a career or learn more about wine just for fun, there are two main paths you can take—the first track is the Court of Master Sommeliers and the second is The Institute of Masters of Wine. Both wine programs are rigorous and teach you not only how to blind taste like a pro, but also everything you could possibly need to know about the major wine growing regions and grape varietals. The difference between the two programs is the sommelier track focuses more on wine and spirit service, whereas the Masters of Wine program is for those who want to pursue other wine careers such as writers, marketers, educators, etc.
I chose to embark on the Masters of Wine track. Before you can even begin the Masters of Wine program, you must first complete the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) diploma level, or test out of it. I had no prior knowledge about wine and was primarily just doing this for fun, so I began my wine education with WSET’s programming through the Capital Wine School.
WSET is approachable and sets you up for all the skills you will need as you advance through the program. WSET is split into four levels for wine education, however, Level 1 is not required in order to advance to Level 2 (I chose to skip Level 1).
The Level 2 course was a ton of fun, but I was immediately overwhelmed by how much there was to learn about wine. Who knew?! It wasn’t just about knowing the regions and grapes. It was also the winemaker’s choices, soils, weather patterns, and geographic influences (mountains, oceans, forests, lakes, etc.) that impact the wine. In addition to the brain overload, Level 2 introduces you to the science of tasting wine. You try a variety of wines and learn how to start detecting the color, smells, and taste associated with them. I remember the very first wine that I tasted in the course—a Gewürztraminer from Alsace, France. I think I spent 20 minutes trying to teach myself how to say Gewürztraminer before I even tasted it (Spoiler alert: It’s Gah-vertz-trah-mean-er). The wine was beautiful with notes of oranges, honey, and flowers—a complete 180 from my standard Cabernet Sauvignons. The final examination was one of the most challenging exams I’ve sat through, even though it was only multiple choice.
Once I passed my WSET Level 2, I decided to pursue my Level 3 Award in Wines. If I thought the Level 2 exam was hard, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. The Level 3 exam was a mix of multiple choice, short essays, and a blind tasting of two wines. I walked away from the examination shaking from writing so much and questioning all of my answers. I was relieved that I passed the examination and learned so much in the process. One of the best things to come out of the course was making friends with a great group of fellow wine lovers. We still meet regularly for wine tastings and to geek out about wine.
Whether you just want to learn more about a passion or get serious about a career in the wine industry, I highly recommend the WSET program. The program exposes you to the beauty and complexity of wine. It also forces you to step outside of your comfort zone, exploring wines you would have never tried before and gaining a wealth of knowledge in the process.
Wine Don't We 