So Much to Learn

A man with white light hair wearing glasses while outside. He is smiling and holding close to the camera a glass of white wine.

Eduardo has been zooming through our WSET wine courses since last winter. He shared with us his plans for all his learning:

Why are you pursuing a wine education?

As with any typical Italian family, Sundays were usually the day of the week dedicated to more elaborate meals – and the expectations were always high, particularly when a bottle of wine was brought to the table. I believe there is so much to learn about wine; it is an endless learning process. I decided to attend WSET courses in order to develop a deeper understanding about wine, improve my skills, be better able to interact with wine professionals, to learn even more, and get a WSET Diploma. 

How are you using your wine knowledge?

I am a salesperson who works in the pharmaceutical industry, and my job requires me to travel internationally quite frequently. I have wined and dined more than 1,000 clients and suppliers over the past decades, which were great opportunities to enjoy quality time in the company of interesting people who also like wines. When at home, I like to invite friends over for exciting wine tasting sessions.

Do you have any advice for other students?

There is so much to learn about wine, and such vast opportunities to be explored in this sector. Dedication for sure is required for a successful professional career or to achieve personal goals. The more you learn about wine, the more curious and excited you will become.

Focus on the Grand Crus of the Napa Valley with John Szabo

Imagine of a sign that says ‘welcome to the world famous wine growing region Napa Valley and the wine is bottled poetry’.

With the support of Napa Valley Vintners, join Master Sommelier and IWEG visiting instructor John Szabo for an afternoon of tasting and exploration focusing on the Grand Crus of the Napa Valley. The The masterclass will take place on Monday, May 1st, 2023 at 2pm – 4pm. Sign up now!

Man in blue suit and blue dress shirt sitting at a table with his arms crosses gently. A bottle of wine and two glasses are beside him.

Master Sommelier John Szabo was the first Canadian to add the “MS” after his name in 2004. He holds the international Wine & Spirits Education Trust Diploma with honours, as well as the Canadian Sommelier Guild diploma. He’s principal critic for WineAlign.com, Canada’s premiere wine resource, and co-host and producer of the podcast Wine Thieves with a global following in the trade. He writes a monthly wine advisory for Canaccord Genuity, a global financial services management company headquartered in Canada, as well as a column for Grapevine Magazine, and contributes to many international trade and consumer publications. He’s currently co-writing on a book on wine chemistry.

On the consulting side, John builds wine programs across Canada, and is currently sourcing wines for Accor/Fairmont/Sofitel Hotels in Québec. He is a regular guest speaker at events worldwide and has delivered masterclasses for virtually every major wine trade associations and has taught countless wine courses over the years, among others, for the CMS and IWEG. He has travelled to virtually every wine producing country on earth in pursuit of fine wine and to keep on top of this fascinating industry, including two visits to New Zealand. In his spare time, he tends to his new vineyard in Prince Edward County.

Become a French Wine Scholar

Image of logo with the words French Wine Scholar (FWS). In the background in a laptop with the image single and double guyot pruning system, the French Wine Scholar manual and a smartphone with Champagne flashcards.

Sign up for the French Wine Scholar course by March 22nd with the coupon code fws0323 to save $150 at checkout. Limited quantities available.

The French Wine Scholar is an in-depth specialist certification focused on the diverse wines and wine regions of France. It is designed by the Wine Scholar Guild to provide current, accurate information on all of the wine regions of France and validate proficiency in the wines and wine regions of France.

This 20-hour course provides detailed coverage of French AOC wines, as well as an introduction to French history, geography, viticulture and winemaking.

You will:

  • Develop specialist knowledge of the AOC wines of Alsace, Champagne, Jura, Savoie, Burgundy, Loire, Bordeaux, Rhône, Languedoc, Roussillon, Southwest France, Provence and Corsica
  • Appreciate the cultural context of French wine
  • Consider the vineyard and winery factors that contribute to wine styles
  • Taste a range of French wines

The course is taught by authorized Wine Scholar Guild instructors Nancy Reynolds DipWSET, Caitlin Ferguson DipWSET and Danielle Chandler.

French Wine Scholar 
Date: Thursdays, March 23rd – May 18th at 6:30pm – 8:30pm
Register Now!

What is Natural Wine?

The natural wine movement has gained significant momentum in the last decade. It’s helped bring a new generation of wine lovers to the industry and improved transparency in winemaking practices. However, without many legal definitions of this category, it can leave some people confused about what natural wine actually is. Learn more.