Sommelier Study Group

Every Friday I meet with 2 ladies to study wine.  Their names are  Barbara and Ruth.  Barbara is the first sommelier I ever met.  She came into the wine store I work at just after it opened to introduce herself and offer her services (she owns a wine consulting company called Pairing to Perfection).  She told me about a wine study group.  At the time I didn't quite understand what she was talking about.  Once I got the wine bug I remembered her and contacted her about the study group and we began meeting together for study  Barbara has already passed her level 1 sommelier exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers and is studying to take her level 2 exam in April. She acts like she is my peer but she is really my wine mentor!  Ruth is the dining captain at a country club and she is going to take the level 1 exam with me next month.  She also knows a great deal about wine from all her experience in the restaurant industry.  I am very grateful God has brought these ladies into my life to walk alongside me on my road to sommelier.  They are both very knowledgeable, gracious, and fun.  

A typical study session sees the three of us discussing a particular region we have studied for the week and tasting a few wines from that region.  Our last session was extra special as we had a delicious lunch together.  Barbara cooked a lamb stew topped with lemon and cilantro.  I baked some fresh breads and Ruth brought a fresh fruit salad made of the fruit flavors you typically find in red wines.  This study session was on California and we enjoyed studying three Cabernet Sauvignons from Napa and Sonoma with our stew.   Matt was able to join us for this session since he didn't have to work until the afternoon.

Barbara's amazing lamb stew

Ruth, me and Matt

the 3 Cabernet Sauvignons