Week three. This was our first ‘feedback tasting test,’ a practice tasting exam. It wasn’t the only thing on the schedule, of course. The other parts of the day, walking through the various decisions involved in making different styles of wine – will destemming help here? Oak or not? – as well as a tasting workshop, where we wrote and swapped tasting notes were great. Both were incredibly useful in their respective ways. But here I’m...
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That was tough. Cruel even. Not the theory, or even the blind tasting. Those were fine. Interesting. No, I mean, being expected to taste and spit eight sweet wines, ranging from ‘very good’ to ‘outstanding’. There was a Recioto della Valpolicella Classico. A Canadian ice wine. A Tokaji. A 1992 German Beerenauslese. You get the idea, but the list goes on.I just wish I had thought through the cultural vandalism that was to be an...
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Yesterday I started the WSET Diploma. I may or may not do a running commentary on it as it progresses over the next two years. That depends on other obligations and time commitments. Nonetheless, I thought a few thoughts on it seemed in order.The first day was scary, enlightening, humbling, scary, and occasionally encouraging. I alternated between ‘What did I get myself into?’ and ‘Yeah, I can do this.’The first part of the day was a...
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