So, I’ve obviously been away for a while. I didn’t quite realize I hadn’t posted since the FWS Conference in October. Seeing that, however, prompted me to get in an update.
At the conference, I had taken the French Wine Scholar exam. As it turned out, I didn’t pass. I got my result in late October, and it was a 71 out of 100. The passing score is 75 out of 100; 80 in order to instruct the scholar level educational program. Not passing bummed me out for a while, but being so close, I decided I had to sit for it again – surely I could get another 4+ questions right the second time.
I had my chance in early December. Starting in mid-Nov., I went back to the study guide, made notes on the regions I hadn’t done hand written things for the first time, and reviewed the ones I had made. Of course, I focused in on things I knew I missed on the first exam, which turned out not to be as useful as I thought since the second exam was a completely new set of questions. The additional study time and focus helped, though, as I got a call the day after the test to say that I had passed, with a 79, so I’m now an official French Wine Scholar!
Having the certification behind me gives me a boost of confidence as I think more seriously about moving into the wine industry – first as a sideline, and perhaps more full-time later on. I’m thinking about additional courses of study, particularly the Society of Wine Educators’ Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) program. I may take that on in the new year. I’m still not quite sure how to get started in this new endeavor, and DC may be an oversaturated market for educators, but I still think that’s a good “in” since I work in and enjoy training – especially when I’m so interested in the topic.
As to what I’ve been drinking lately, I’ll have to refer back to my journal, which I don’t have at hand as I write this. Most recently, Monday night in fact, I had a Savennieres from Jo Pithon. Apart from our tastings at conference, I hadn’t had a Savennieres before. The color was golden and honey-like. The wine itself seemed ‘thick’ in the glass. I’ll have to research a bit, but I think there may have been some residual sugar – while not exactly sweet, there was an ‘off-dry’ quality. That may have just been fruit/floral notes, but I think there was something more there. The nose was rather floral, I thought, as was the palate, with some toasted notes also. It didn’t taste of cream or dairy, but had a very round feel in the mouth. I enjoyed it and would have it again when in the mood for something other than a more crisp, high acid white.
I haven’t quite decided what to serve with Christmas dinner on Friday. We’re having goose. I may go with a Chateauneuf du Pape that I have a couple of bottles of in the cooler, or I may go a Burgundy route. The only thing I have for sure on the slate is a Muscat de Baumes de Venise to accompany our Buche de Noel for dessert.
Happy holidays and New Year to all.
