In my previous blog I explained the wine experience that fired up my wine passion. The journey continues below.
In 2012 I felt the need to get really serious about this wine thing. By this time I knew a lot about Australian wine but there was a whole world of wine out there, and I wasn’t sure how good my palate really was. So it was time to put it to the test and get some formal education.
There are two major wine certification bodies globally: The Court of Master Sommeliers, which focuses on wine service, and The Wine Spirit Education Trust (WSET) that is for the general wine Industry. I decided to focus on the WSET qualifications which range from level 1 (basic) to level 4 (Diploma) before the Master of Wine (by invitation). As a good friend of mine had decided to do level 3 I decided to jump right in with him. But, oh boy, what a learning curve it was!
That 10 week intensive course taught me so much – we spent three weeks just on France and only one week on Australia, New Zealand and South Africa combined. And the tastings were brutal, based on a standardised system and we had to calibrate our palates with the instructor. But along the way I discovered my palate (tasting) biases, which we all have, and learned how to adjust them. The course taught me about the broader world of wine, honed my palate and forged me as a qualified wine professional. I am proud to say I got a Distinction for tasting and a Merit for theory when judged globally against my peers, I discovered that just maybe I did have what it takes to cut it in the wine world.
But I also felt a deeper calling, a need to share my passion with the world, that I needed to take people on the same journey that I had been through and show them the joy of wine. So in 2013 I started the WineMatchmaker and started holding the sort of unique, fun and informal wine education and events that I really wanted to share with others. I wanted to focus on my three things I was passionate about:
1. Showcasing aged wines – In Australia most wine is consumed within 48 hours of purchase, which means that most people experience red wine the way I used to – harsh and tannic. Whilst wine making has improved with red wines being much more approachable young, there is nothing like drinking an aged wine of with 5 or even 10+ years. And it’s something most people don’t get the opportunity to experience.
2. Showcasing smaller boutique producers – There are some great smaller producers making great wines that you don’t get to hear about. We love partnering with those winemakers, we love their energy and passion for the craft, like Richard Sheedy from Glen Eldon (Eden Valley, SA). I still have fond memories of the interview and wine dinner we did with him.
3. Finding great ‘bang for buck’ – Good wine doesn’t have to be expensive. We recently picked up a 3 year old red from a well-known SA producer exclusively for our members for a mere $10 a bottle. If you want access to our exclusive deals simple like my Facebook Page.
After doing a number of events and exclusive wine dinners, I felt it was time to take the next step in my wine education and attempt the WSET Level 4 Diploma in 2017. It is a two year course that covers both wine and spirits and is the pre-requisite for the Master of Wine, arguably the top wine qualification in the world. The Diploma consists of six units ranging from wine production, the business of wine through to spirits, fortified, sparkling and table wines. But it’s not for the faint hearted with many of the units having a close to 50% failure rate with very few students making it through in the allotted two years. I’ve just completed my exam for the fourth unit and it has been tough, but like most challenges, it’s taught me more about what I don’t know than what I do.
In 2018 the WineMatchmaker, much like myself, is evolving with its focus shifting to teach ‘Wine Confidence’. I am always amazed how timid people can be when expressing their opinions on wine. Maybe it’s because of the proliferation of wine communicators and reviewers speaking ‘wine wank’. But for wine drinkers, whether it be trying to deal with “Bottle Shop Shock” in the local bottle shop, navigate a long wine list in a restaurant, or even figure out what wine to bring to a dinner party, understanding ‘Wine Confidence’ is all the help they need.
If you have a question about wine you are afraid to ask to someone, then please send it to me and I will answer it.