Studying, Sangiovese, and Saying Yes to Italy

Lately, life has been moving fast. Between moving, starting a new job, meeting new people, and quietly working toward a big travel goal, this little corner of the internet took a back seat. Somewhere between all these changes, writing fell off. But wine didn't. 

After the holidays, I decided it was finally time to take my WSET Level 3. I am so excited to be learning about wine in a structured way again. There is so much to learn, and I can’t believe how much new content I have already absorbed in 120 pages.

I signed up for the 4 day intensive course, which means I will have 4 classes at the end of March and the exam immediately follows. This means you have to come to the class prepared and well studied. I am trying to get through the 200 page textbook before the class starts and actually retain the content in the book. The exam is made up of three parts: a tasting portion, a short answer portion, and multiple choice. You have to score at least 55 percent on each section. Can I say how nervous I am to identify flavours and aromas in two wines in the blind tasting? Even practicing for this has been challenging. It’s the end of February now, so it’s really time to get drinking. Luckily, I have many friends that do not mind joining me for this part of the adventure.

The other update on my journey is how I am planning to travel. I am currently applying for my Italian visa and plan to get it, hopefully in April. My flights are booked for May 22, which means I could be living in Italy for up to a year starting this May. I still have a lot to prepare, but for the most part I have it all planned out.

I really want to work at a winery in Tuscany and had a promising lead for a working cultural exchange, but unfortunately it fell through. After getting my hopes up I went back to the drawing board and sent out a million emails. To my surprise I had a winery get back to me and pending final confirmation I will be working on a winery helping produce one of my favourite styles of Italian wine: Chianti. 

With WSET studies underway and Italy coming up, this feels like the beginning of a chapter I’ve been quietly working toward for a long time. From tasting notes and exam prep to travel plans and winery visits, I want to continue to document these experiences, both the wins and the challenges. Here’s to continuing to learn, explore, and follow a love of wine wherever it leads.