As a result, Stage 1 candidates have a lot of ground to cover in a short period of time. I certainly found myself scrambling! When I was accepted into the Master of Wine study program in September 2025, I was still a relatively fresh graduate from the WSET Diploma program. This gave me a base of knowledge that was still easily retrievable and deployable. But the level of expected acumen and fluency was definitely not the same. Nor was the sheer volume of different topics covered the same. I quickly discovered that I needed to bridge the gap, and bridge it fast.

Like any studious candidate, I consulted a plethora of resources. Technical wine reference books, scientific articles, leading industry websites and publications, podcasts, discussions with winemakers, visits to wineries, examiners reports and past exam papers all formed the foundation of knowledge that I worked to build up. As I said earlier, the learning effort was substantial and I have the stacks of loose leaf paper, notebooks and typed files on my computer to prove it.

Having said that, as I look back on this time in my life, there are a handful of resources that really stand out as materials that I repeatedly went back to over and over again. As I look ahead to Stage 2, I think I will continue to return to this core set of texts to learn what I need to know, or clarify what I have learned elsewhere. This makes these resources invaluable to me.

Listed below are four of the books that I found to be particularly helpful to my MW studies, and why. Perhaps you might find something in this list that you think you should be adding to your library of wine resource texts too.

The Reference Text That Covers It All

If you are going to add only one thing to your library of wine books, make it The Oxford Companion to Wine.

Edited by world renowned MWs, Jancis Robinson and Julia Harding, and containing contributions from countless leading experts, this text covers almost everything you could need or want to know about wine. Seriously.

For me, this text really helped me to connect seemingly unrelated technical topics and concepts. For example, linking fining to clarification, colloids, tannins and tartrates is much more seamless with this resource in hand than without.

I love that this text is written as an encyclopedia, making entries easily searchable and retrievable. There is also plenty of linking of complementary and related concepts throughout, so a reader can cover a lot of ground quickly. The book is available online, making it very convenient for those who want digital access and continuous updates. Personally, I use the hardcover version because I like to thumb through and hold the book and I also think it looks pretty cool sitting on my bookshelf.

Who this book is for:

From the curious enthusiast to the serious wine student, educator or industry professional, this book has something for people at all stages of their journey. Be warned though - it is a serious text and is not written in a light-hearted fashion; nor is it designed in my view to be read cover to cover…there are better books for that style of reading.

The Book That Helped Me Improve My Blind Tasting Calls

As you’ve probably heard me say before, I don’t consider myself to be a naturally gifted blind taster. Blind tasting wine, and making the right call, for the right reason(s), is something that I have to work at.

So, when I find a text that provides a strong framework for blind tasting, I’m all about it. Beyond Flavour is a book that does just that.

Written by Nick Jackson, MW, Beyond Flavour presents an architecture for identifying wines and grapes that is based on the central components of structure - namely acidity and tannins. The author places a significant emphasis on acidity as being especially salient, describing the acidity and texture of different wine grapes and wines from around the world in terms of shapes and tactile sensations. The central premise of this book is that flavours can be misleading, but structure doesn’t lie.

While I don’t take what is shared in this book as absolute truth, I have found the tips and tricks that are shared to be very helpful when trying to wade through what differentiates the sea of options that could be in your wine glass from one another during blind tasting sessions. More than anything, I found the book to be helpful when I made the wrong call - consulting it helped me to think about what I might have missed or misconstrued, and what I need to still practice and master. For example, I always miss Gamay in a blind tasting so I used this book to try to understand what markers are associated with this grape and which other grapes it is most often conflated with in blind tasting - and why. FYI, Gamay can be more herbal than Pinot Noir, which it is often confused with, especially when we are talking about Cru Beaujolais!

Who this book is for:

Like The Oxford Companion to Wine, students may start finding this book useful whenever the ability to describe, assess and/or identify wines under blind tasting conditions becomes important in their journey.

As a Master of Wine candidate, I think this book is hugely helpful because it gives you insight into how a Master of Wine actually succeeded in passing their exams - whether you agree with the approach or not, it still gives you a sense of how you can and should design your own approach.

Equally, I think this book is quite useful for serious wine enthusiasts who wish to become better at understanding the nuances of what they are drinking and/or where various grapes tend to be grown and how they differ in style and expression across growing regions.

The Book That Took Me Behind The Scenes And Into The Vineyard

Viticulture is a complex topic. What occurs in the vineyard can be challenging to grasp if you are not someone who has experience working in a vineyard. Beyond the basic concepts of altitude, slope, water and nutrient availability etc. that all wine students and many wine enthusiasts learn over the years sits a serious amount of detail that makes the proverbial wheel turn.

Given there is a whole exam paper dedicated to viticulture in Stage 2 of the MW study program, and more than likely a mandatory or optional question related to the topic in the Stage 1 MW exam, understanding viticultural concepts is not something that a candidate can take lightly.

Viticulture by Stephen Skelton MW is an excellent reference book for learning the basics of viticulture. For me, it helped me to synthesize the key concepts into succinct frameworks. As an example, soil management is a topic that I spent hours trying to understand - Skelton’s book gave me a baseline to return to in order to keep things from ballooning into abstraction in my mind.

Viticulture covers topics such as vine physiology, the vine growth cycle, vine pests and diseases and water management, and it does so in a relatively accessible manner. The book is theoretical but it also has a practical side to it, as the author has worked as a consultant and an expert in the field for a considerable amount of time and brings his lived experiences into his writing.

Who this book is for:

I would definitely recommend this book as a good starting point for all Master of Wine students, though you will have to go beyond this text to learn enough to feel comfortable that you “get it” in my view (more about that below!).

I would also recommend this book to WSET Level 4 Diploma candidates who are finding that they want supplemental materials to augment the textbook that is provided by the WSET. Someone who is just joining the wine industry and wants to learn the basics fast might find this text to be quite useful too.

The Book That Really Changed The Way I Think About The Grapevine And The Vineyard

While Viticulture is an excellent book that delivers in terms of helping readers understand the various aspects that are critical in viticulture, the nerd in me found true joy in the topic by reading The Science of Grapevines by Markus Keller.

Keller is a researcher and he has truly gone into great detail and depth in this book. He is a clear expert on the topic and everything he says is backed up by scientific research (the reference list/bibliography section of this book is long, let me tell you!).

While incredibly dense and scientifically oriented, I really enjoy reading this book. The serious and complex nature of the vineyard and the vine become abundantly clear as you work through the pages of this text. For example, I always thought the concept of yield was a simple one - reading The Science of Grapevines changed my thinking forever by demonstrating in detail how yield is in fact linked to a plethora of decisions from pruning to canopy management, sunlight exposure and beyond - and how the impact of these decisions is experienced not just in one season, but rather, over long periods of time.

Who this book is for:

This book is for the person who wants to go very deep when it comes to understanding viticulture. There is no middle ground here - you will learn a lot, but you will also have to read and think a lot to attain that knowledge. Stick to Viticulture by Skelton if you are interested in an easier read.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Below is a summary of each of the 4 books that I have recommended in this article, and who I think they are best suited for:

I hope this information helps you find the right book for you and become a more informed wine lover!

If you’d like to read about my some of my specific experiences as a Stage 1 Master of Wine candidate, have a look at these articles: Tackling Stage 1 Course Days, Self Doubt, Blind Tasting and the High Line | A Week in Austria - The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Is there a wine book or technical reference that has fundamentally changed how you understand wine? Tell me in the comments - I’m always looking for valuable additions to add to my reading list.

Subscribe to follow my journey through the Master of Wine program and discover the books, wines, places and humbling lessons that are changing both my understanding of wine and me as a person.

Until next time,

A.

The bottom line is that the Master of Wine study program requires quite a bit of travel. You have to be prepared for that if you want to be successful.

If you’re a future candidate and reading this, be sure to take this aspect of the program seriously into consideration, and plan accordingly!

Sincerely,

Me. xx

VIDEO TRANSCRIPT:

So one of the things that I think is worth considering, and probably isn’t necessarily talked about enough when it comes to thinking about the Master of Wine Study Program, is the amount of travel that’s required, particularly if you are not in London, where a lot of the major testing happens, course days are delivered, and of course the Institute of Masters of Wine is actually headquartered in London. Or if you’re not in California, where there’s another sort of central area, usually Napa or Sonoma, where a lot of content is delivered and testing is undertaken. And I’d say I think the third place is either in Asia, I believe it’s sort of Hong Kong, Singapore, somewhere in Australia (I think that changes from year to year).

But if you are not in particular in London or in Napa/Sonoma (which are relatively close to one another) you do need to do a lot of travel.

I was just driving around today thinking about how much travel I actually did in a very short period of time. And I have to be honest, it’s pretty remarkable, costly and time consuming.

I was accepted into the stage one Master of Wine study program in September of 2025, sort of mid-September. In November, I went to New York for a couple of days and in January, I went to Rust, Austria. I’ve written about both of those trips.

In March, I went to Bordeaux on a special student trip that I was lucky enough to be picked to attend. There are student trips through the year that are sponsored by trade bodies in various regions. You can put your name in the hat and if you get picked, you get to go.

And then in June... I went to Napa to write my exam. So that’s four trips.

I skipped a trip to New York for an extra set of course days in March because I was doing a personal trip with my family.

So five trips from about October until the end of May. Add on to that any personal travel that you do, and it starts to multiply very quickly.

In that same time period, I went to Chicago for my cousin’s 50th birthday. And as I mentioned, I went for spring break with my family. I did not travel during the Christmas break because I didn’t want to travel so much. So I ended up doing, I guess, six trips - some long haul, some a little shorter - but still six trips in approximately seven or eight months.

So travel is a very important part of the study program, and it’s not something that you can avoid in most cases. And I want to highlight that in my first year of the program, which is what I’ve just completed, I actually did not travel to wine regions, which is also something that a lot of people do because it’s kind of an expectation of the program that you will travel to wine regions and bolster your knowledge. I just decided that other than the big Bordeaux trip, I was going to wait and see how I fared and then save all of that travel to wine regions for stage two.

So if I’m lucky and I make it to stage two, I think it’s going to be another year of a lot of travel. If it takes me longer than one year to finish stage two, then it’s going to be multiple years of a lot of travel. But like I said, it is important to note that travel is a very big element of this study program. And it’s interesting because coming into the year, I wasn’t really all that comfortable with traveling, certainly solo travel. But by the end, I felt a lot better about it. So that was a win!

A lot of people complain about getting headaches after drinking wine, especially red wines.

And I hear a lot of people saying - you know what, it’s the sulfur in wine.

Then I hear a lot of people saying, actually, it’s not the sulfur, you’re dehydrated. And I have to agree - my personal view is that 9 times out of 10, you’re probably dehydrated…or you need some food.

But there is another sneaky reason why people get headaches or feel unwell sometimes when they drink wine, particularly red wine.

Enter Biogenic Amines.

So I decided we needed an article on the Wineitupanotch website that discusses biogenic amines, because these invisible secret agents can be a real source of trouble for some folks.

Head on over to the website and have a quick read if you are interested in learning more.

You don’t need to stop drinking wine, you just need to make informed choices. Cheers! xx

READ THE ARTICLE

Whatever the reason, I feel strongly that I still want to publish this. After all, this space is my memory box when it comes to my MW journey. Not publishing about the ups and downs of all of it would be a betrayal to myself. And to be honest, looking back on what I wrote months ago from where I stand now is quite interesting. More on where I stand now in future articles. For now, I hope you enjoy this…..

This post has literally been weeks in the making.

I’ve been back from the Masters of Wine (MW) Stage 1 seminar for almost two months now, and I promise you that since coming back home, I have regularly thought “Let me sit down and document my experience and key takeaways”, and then promptly moved on to something else that seemed to be far more important in the moment.

This has happened so many times, I’ve lost count. Even now, as I sat down with my glass of Chateauneuf-du-Pape Blanc, determined to put the modicum of free time that I had allotted to getting this article written to good use, I instead found myself drawn to cleaning open tabs on my Chrome browser, looking at old videos on my computer and even going down the rabbit hole of reading a manual about O2 management in winery settings.

Sheeeesh. That’s truly procrastination at some next level of prowess, if I do say so myself….

Truth be told, I think I’ve got a bit of a psychological block, an ‘ick’ of sorts, around writing about the Stage 1 seminar. “Why?”, I can hear a particular voice that lives rent-free in my head asking. I suppose the answer to this question is simple and yet it also isn’t.

Frankly, I think I just don’t want to acknowledge all that I learned, and all that I left understanding I still had to learn and do, during this monumental week. Acknowledging this necessitates a need for (urgent) action. In sharp contrast, sticking my head in the proverbial sand and ignoring the obvious lets me avoid the needful and the pain. I’m rather sure that this is what I have been doing.

This is not to say that I haven’t been studying….because I definitely have been, lol. I maybe just have been trying to avoid some unavoidable truths, such as those prickly areas where I really need to dig in and do the hard work.

Well, the time has come. Let’s get into it.

THE PREAMBLE

I chose to attend my residential seminar in Rust, Austria in the second week of January. While this certainly isn’t the ideal time to visit Austria, and I’m not a fan of solo overseas travel as I’ve previously heartily expressed, I chose this option over going to the Stage 1 seminar in California because the timing better suited my daughter’s exam schedule. By going in early vs. late January, I was able to be home during the critical week and a half that her exams were taking place, which, in my evaluation, was of paramount importance.

(NB: Interestingly, my leaving was disastrous from my daughter’s perspective, regardless of exactly which week I was away. So I probably could have gone to California!)

A long nine hour overnight flight got me to Vienna in reasonably good shape. I landed feeling much better than I thought I was going to. Getting on the plane and through the plane ride was the hard part psychologically - once I was on firm ground, my nerves settled and the excitement about the adventure of it all began to take hold.

I spent the first day exploring Vienna on my own while trying to adjust as rapidly as possible to the jetlag. I went to a museum, took myself out to lunch, did a bit of window shopping and met an old friend for a long and leisurely dinner. All in all, a remarkably good first day.

On the morning of Day 2, I met a different friend and was treated to the most magical experience (as her guest) - a private concert/show at the Vienna Opera House. Talk about moments that one does not easily forget. This was definitely one of the highlights of my trip.

Post-private-concert, and after a leisurely lunch in a converted greenhouse/conservatory with my friend, it was time for yours truly to begin the real business of the trip.

First, a taxi ride back to Vienna airport to meet a group of unknown fellow MW candidates; then, small chat with said fellow MW candidates in a crowded arrivals hall in front of Burger King (our meeting point), then boarding a bus (I had to drag and load my bags onto the bus - that wasn’t a good scene!) and then a bus ride in the dark to a small town called Rust in a place that suddenly felt so, so far away.

As we disembarked, uncertainty started to set in. Straight away, we walked into a lobby reverberating with the sound of excited MW student chatter. I think there were about 60 people there.

Should I really be here, so far away from home? Who were all these people? Why was I doing this again? The questions in my head were running wild at this point.

Luckily, I quickly found a few people I vibed with and felt a connection to. “Maybe this is going to be ok after all”, I thought. Our kickoff dinner that night was pleasant enough too. Maybe it was indeed all going to be fine I thought again, as I drifted off to sleep that night, rather exhausted.

Ultimately, the week was better than fine. It was amazing.

And also very, very humbling and confounding.

LET THE GAMES BEGIN

Let’s just say that “they” did not take it easy on us. Seminar is a one week intensive that is put together by MWs, for the benefit of students. It is intended to set you straight, arm you with knowledge and skills, and clear your vision regarding what you’ve signed up for.

And I have to say, this week does a fantastic job of exactly that.

Starting on Monday and ending on Friday, every single day, we tasted and evaluated wines. Yes indeed, these were our mornings. In the afternoons, we attended multiple (excellent) in-depth lectures. And in the evenings, we did walk around tastings with producers, went on site visits at local wineries etc. We had one “free” evening all week; otherwise, the days were fully spoken for. And they started early too. Not being in your seat and ready to go, locked and loaded with breakfast well behind you, by 8:15am came with serious consequences. Same for post lunch. There was no time to spare.

I suppose Monday wasn’t that bad. We didn’t blind taste on Monday. Rather, we spent the morning calibrating our senses, evaluations and emotions with two storied MWs. Only mildly intimidating. We then went into small breakout rooms and the MWs in my small breakout room were nice enough….so there was that. On the other hand, I did knock over and break two wine glasses with an errant swipe of my backpack as I tried to squeeze into a seat at the front of the crowded room. I’m pretty sure that I was the only one to break wine glasses in front of everyone that week, and that too, on Day 1. What can I say? I arrived three minutes before the start of the agenda and every seat, save one, was already taken and the room was incredibly crowded…and I don’t usually wear a backpack so I have no idea how much space it takes up behind one’s body, especially when there is almost no wiggle room. Mortifying.

Thereafter, every single morning consisted of a 12 wine blind tasting, timed for 2.25 hours exactly. This was followed by a two hour feedback session, conducted as a group. I am most grateful that on most days, we were given the space to volunteer answers for evaluation, rather than being forced to share our answers in front of the group.

This approach suited me well because I did not feel confident in my answers. I didn’t get many of the wines right and I didn’t finish any of the papers. So you can see why I might not have wanted to display my ‘messy middle’ in front of a group of uber-super-tasters. Seriously, the MW candidates in my group were impressive AF! Only on Friday did I finally work up the courage to share a few responses. Mercifully, the feedback I received was reasonable by this end stage of the week. I had picked up a few tricks over the days.

The toughest challenge for many was the mock blind tasting exam that we wrote on Wednesday morning. The mock exam is marked by an MW and feedback is shared in a 1:1 session the following day. It was such a great opportunity to learn, but also very intimidating.

Since I definitely knew that I definitely did not pass the mock exam (heck, I ran out of time and didn’t even finish it), I chose to focus on the learning opportunity side of things; some others were less light-hearted. Notwithstanding, I don’t think any tears were shed. I have to say - the MWs in Rust were very nice overall. It was clear that they were there to help and guide, rather than mock and scare, us. So no tears needed to enter the scene, no matter how disappointing the feedback.

As for me, I happily accepted the feedback that I was kindly offered and determinedly ignored the failing mark that came with it. Focus on the bright side - I had survived my first mock exam!

ABOUT THE THEORY SIDE OF THINGS

As I’ve explained, the MW exams consist of two components - a practical (blind tasting) component and a theory component. Thus far, I’ve really only talked about the practical preparation we did during the seminar. While this was certainly a key emphasis in the week, there were plenty of opportunities to hone theoretical knowledge too, either through discussions with producers, observations during on site visits, or through formal lectures delivered in the afternoons.

Highlights for me in this regard included an in-depth presentation on wine microbiology, a panel discussion on the global business of wine, an in-situ pruning workshop in a local vineyard and the numerous insights into Austrian wines including the local sweet wines from around the township of Rust.

Personally, I would have loved to have even more theory thrown at me. But that’s just because I am naturally more drawn to this side of the study program. I’ll take a deep dive on a theoretical topic over a blind tasting of twelve wines every single time!

WHAT I ENJOYED THE MOST

Hands down, the best thing about the Stage 1 seminar is meeting other like-minded people who are in the same boat as you.

Camaraderie is everything in this program, and I met so many lovely MW hopefuls from all around the world, all with different experiences, perspectives and personalities. I took the opportunity to listen carefully to what others had to say and to soak up what I could. While I didn’t partake in a lot of the extended socializing that took place, I made sure I was present and engaged in the numerous dinners, lunches and other opportunities for networking and relationship-building that presented themselves through the week. As an closeted introvert, being around people constantly wasn’t always easy - notwithstanding, it was one of my favourite aspects of the week in retrospect.

A close second would be the Laurent-Perrier Grand Siecle masterclass where we heard directly from Olivier Vigneron, the fourth ever Chef de Cave of this remarkable Champagne house. Alongside hearing from Olivier, we also had the opportunity to taste and compare and contrast LP’s top cuvee, namely the Grand Siecle, in particular no. 20 (from magnum), no 24 (from bottle and magnum), no. 25 and no. 26. An amazing opportunity indeed!

I also really enjoyed the chance to deepen my knowledge and appreciation of Austrian wine. I have not had a lot of exposure to Austrian wine in my work to date, and I was frankly quite blown away by the quality and uniqueness of what was shared with us. I don’t think I would ever have gotten such an immersive experience at home - a trade masterclass just doesn’t have the same impact.

Finally, I’d have to say that meeting and learning from so many different MWs during the week was also an absolute highlight. Our seminar in Rust had MWs coming and going all week long, and we were exposed to a wide range of them. The breadth of experience and expertise was really very impressive and inspiring.

WHAT I REALLY DIDN’T ENJOY

I’d be lying if I said it was all sunshine and rainbows for the week.

I was actually quite miserable on the 4th day because it was my birthday and I was alone in Rust, amongst people I didn’t know. I didn’t really share broadly the fact that it was my birthday though I did tell a few people and thus, I received a few polite birthday greetings and an extra “cheers” or two.

But overall, I felt sorry for myself. I wanted to be at home, with my family and friends. That’s the truth. Even at my age and stage, you can sometimes be overly emotional about things.

The good news is that I survived. And celebrated once I was home. It all turned out ok in the end. A small price to pay for the adventure and challenge of a lifetime!.... :)

A MEDITATION ON KEY LEARNINGS

Looking back, there were so many takeaways that I gleaned from this intense week away in a cocoon of deep and intense learning. I would be hard pressed to list them all, or even come up with a succinct summary.

As I type in this moment, I am looking at my pages and pages of notes from the week (which I have not reviewed since I left - this is an utterly bad move, don’t repeat it if you are in my shoes one day!!) and gosh, there is a lot there. To make matters worse, it’s rather scattered - across small scraps of paper, loose sheets, and pages in my fancy notebook. I need time to consolidate the information and really let it all sink in.

But that’s rather unsatisfying for you, the reader, and for me, when I return to this article at some future date. So, here’s a stab at 5 things I learned that seem important in this moment, in no particular order:

1. Timing is everything. You can’t get marks for what you didn’t write and/or finish. It is imperative to practice under timed conditions to be successful in the MW exams.

2. Blind tasting is not all about getting to the right answer. It’s more about the process, and the deductive reasoning, behind your answer. Show the examiner how you think and what got you to what you thought and aim to pick up points along the way.

3. The wine world is complex, nuanced and deep. You’ll never know it all…but you definitely need to know a lot about a lot if you want to be a Master of Wine.

4. Over-tasting is a trap - one that I fall into pretty regularly!

5. A good funnel can save the day. I must learn to funnel. If you know, you know….;-)

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

With only three months left until exam day, time is definitely a-ticking. So now comes the hard work of taking what I learned in seminar, and applying it tactically and strategically, to my benefit.

Easier said than done, for sure. But on the plus side, every day is an opportunity to incorporate a new piece of knowledge or advice into my repertoire and/or approach. Perhaps the best piece of advice coming out of the Stage 1 seminar was also the most simple → do not give up, keep pushing until you can’t push any longer, and keep your mind healthy and happy because mindset is everything…..

Until next time,

A.

To follow my work in wine, be sure to check out @wineitupanotch on Instagram, visit the Wineitupanotch website or tune into The Wineitupanotch Podcast on your favourite podcast player! Thanks for being here! Xx

A few weeks ago, I had my first intimate experience with the process of becoming a Masters of Wine candidate, namely Stage 1 course days.

‘Course days’ are offered by the Institute of Masters of Wine (IMW) to students in both Stage 1 and Stage 2 at a few different locations around the world. Stage 1 course days are intended to help you hone your blind tasting and assessment abilities (I’m not sure what Stage 2 course days cover) in accordance with the expectations of the IMW. We’re talking about two whole days dedicated to the art and science of blind tasting the MW way. Yup, you read that right.

It bears mentioning here that blind tasting and assessment as a MW candidate looks and feels very different to what students learn within the WSET program. While the basic tenets are similar, the output is not. Hence, the need to practice rigorously - identification and making good observations is just one part of the battle; using your observations and conclusions to provide meaningful analysis based on what is present in the glass is a whole other game.

There are three course days offered in the year leading up to the exam. These are not mandatory to attend - only the official seminar (coming soon in January 2026) is mandatory. However, attendance is certainly encouraged and described as being helpful.

So, of course, yours truly cleared the calendar and booked it over to Manhattan for a few days in early November. Ostensibly, this was a moment of reprieve from daily life and responsibilities. And in many ways, it was. But Course Days 2025 in NYC will always be remembered for so much more by yours truly. Here are three of my key insights:

1. SOLO TRAVEL & ADVENTURE

You’re possibly going to be surprised to read what I’m about to write. But - going to NYC on my own for a few days was a really big deal for me.

A trip to NYC is a big deal??? I know that’s what you might be thinking. It’s a pretty regular trip from Toronto and many other North American cities after all. It’s definitely a big city that people visit in the normal course. In fact, I used to go to NYC all the time for work in a former life. In fact, I used to travel all around the globe on my own for work - trips to Asia, Europe, and different U.S. cities were all pretty normal and regular occurrences for me back in the day.

Therein lies the kernel of interest. Back in the day was truly….back in the day.

As I left home and was waiting in the airport for my flight, feeling really quite nervous about this short distance and short duration trip, I questioned myself as to why I had so much trepidation.

It was then that I realized that I had not been away on my own in years. Almost 7 years to be precise.

Since the pandemic and my career switch, I have had the privilege of being around my family pretty constantly. Whenever I travel, it is with my family and while we travel a lot, I am never ever alone. I haven’t done any type of solo trip in years. 😳

Not sure how or when it happened, because life sneaks up on you in so many different ways. But it did happen. And now, I was nervous about going off on my own.

The good news is that I survived. Actually, I did better than that. I actually had fun.

I made it there and back, caught up with old friends, and made new ones. I went for a few long walks (NYC is so walkable!), did some shopping, checked out the Whitney Museum (and made some friends there too), and went for a run in midtown Manhattan on a quiet Saturday morning. And I did it all on my own. I even had dinner at one of my favourite restaurants with me, myself and I one night. You might laugh - but I’ve never been able to bring myself to sit at a restaurant and have a meal on my own until this opportunity. Until this time. Because why not? I learned that it was actually quite fun hanging out with Me.

Frankly, I’d have to say that the most important thing I learned during my trip to NYC was not the MW content. It was that I had forgotten an aspect of me without even realizing it - and that I am very happy to have re-discovered it/her.

Remind me of this the next time I have to take a solo trip for the Masters of Wine study program. Next time, it’ll be longer and further away….*gulp*

2. SELF-DOUBT IS A CONSTANT COMPANION

I’m not going to lie. I felt self-doubt and imposter syndrome in full effect during course days. So much so that I entertained the thought of just getting up, leaving the classroom and not coming back - more than once.

There’s nothing quite like feeling as if you have no idea what to do, what to say, how to say it etc. after you’ve spent multiple decades and tens of thousands of hours working on your skill set and expertise. And I’m not just talking about wine here. I’ve lived many lives before I came to the wine world, and honed a lot of different skills.

But there I sat, feeling the wind get knocked out of me more than once when I didn’t word my answers well, didn’t identify a wine (or several) accurately, felt my mind go blank under timed conditions…

And in those moments, here’s a sample of the things my mind was saying to me (in a pretty unkind tone):

• Why are you even here?

• This is a huge mistake.

• These people are much smarter and more capable than you.

• You should be at home with your family - you’ve made the wrong choice.

• You don’t belong here

There’s more that I could write, but I think you get the point. My confidence definitely kept abandoning me and my inner critic was having a field day.

I’m happy to report that I was able to fight back. I made it through the two days and lived to tell the tale. In these moments, where my legs wanted to jump up and run, I kept reminding myself that I was ok, that feeling trepidation was completely normal and indicative of how much I care about what I’m doing, as well as a leading indicator of the fact that my mind is trying its best to keep me safe (a good thing) but if I listen to it, I won’t grow (a bad thing).

If I’ve learned anything over the years, it’s that true personal growth never comes without a healthy helping of discomfort. Said differently, if you’re not uncomfortable on some level, you’re probably not growing.

I share this because I hope my doing so helps someone else. We are all a lot stronger than we think and we can handle a lot before we truly cannot handle anymore.

Oh and one more thing. I guess it’s true what they say. It doesn’t matter how far you go, or what you do, self-doubt is a universal and lifelong human experience. Get used to it, because no matter your age or stage, self-doubt ain’t going nowhere… ;-)

3. TALK ABOUT WHAT IS, AND NOT WHAT IS NOT

This last one may seem a bit more wine-geeky and technical in nature, but bear with me as I explain.

During course days, I kept being reminded by my instructor to describe what is in the glass vs. talking about what is not. For example, “this wine demonstrates [fill in the blank]” vs. “this wine is not [fill in the blank]”.

Focus on what is, for this is what matters.

Of all the things, I wouldn’t have predicted that this is something that would keep coming up for me. But it did. So I’ve got to work on it.

It’s also got me thinking about how this is analogous to life. Often, we spend time worrying about what might be, or complaining about what is not. As humans, we struggle to focus on and appreciate the present moment and what is right in front of us. I’ve been watching my words and reactions a bit more carefully since I’ve come back home.

Life brings us lessons in many ways, shapes and forms, doesn’t it?….

That’s all for now!

Until next time,

A.

To follow my work in wine, be sure to check out @wineitupanotch on Instagram, visit the Wineitupanotch website or tune into The Wineitupanotch Podcast on your favourite podcast player! Thanks for being here! Xx

I’d like to think that I know a fair bit when it comes to wine given I have worked hard to attain the DipWSET designation. And to be fair, I do know more than a little bit - but it’s becoming abundantly clear to me that there is definitely a lot more to know to get to a “Master of Wine” level of understanding.

This past week, as I’ve been reading journals, articles, research papers and books, I’ve found myself frustratingly stumbling over loads of unfamiliar terminology. It almost feels as if every time I start reading about a topic, I have to stop to look up a word I’ve never seen before…and then suddenly, I’m down a path of reading about an altogether different (albeit related and/or adjacent) topic.

Fascinating? Yes. Frustrating? Also yes!

The potential rabbit holes that I can allow myself to get lost going down is staggering. No doubt, the trick is to reign in my curiosity and love for strange and complex words, and zero in on what I really need to know for the MW Stage 1 exams. Unfortunately I can’t say I’ve figured this ideal balance out yet. Right now, it feels as if I’m in at least 5 rabbit holes at any given time.

So perhaps you can imagine the chaos in my head, in my office and on my desktop! But I’m not going to lie, I kind of revel in this kind of thing, I love to read, go deep and geek out on things that I find compelling. N.B.: It’s quite the opposite when I’m not interested in a topic. For example, sports (as a general topic) is something that I don’t really care about. So I won’t invest the time to learn.

Anyways, all that to say that there is a pile of new words that I’m adding to my lexicon these days. Here’s a brief list of some of the newest additions, along with what I think they mean (NOTE: I reserve the right to refine what these words mean as I learn more!):

• Adjuvants - compounds/substances that help another substance to be more effective. This concept is commonly applied in the world of medicine, for example with vaccines. It is also applicable in agriculture - for example adding an agent that is designed to work alongside foliar herbicides (i.e. weedkillers) to attain faster impact in a vineyard vs. if the weedkiller alone was applied.

• Fermage - a form of agricultural lease in France wherein a landowner retains the rights to their land while permitting someone else to work the land. Effectively, they are renting their land to someone who is willing to farm it. The amount of rent paid for bare land or buildings is based on a national index, while the amount paid for vines is calculated on a per hectolitre basis and differs from appellation to appellation. A fermage has a minimum duration of nine years with an automatic right of renewal granted to the tenant at the end of the lease. Fermage arrangements are quite common in France’s viticultural sector.

• Métayage - another form of agricultural lease in France wherein the leaseholder gives the vigneron the right to farm the land in return for a proportion of the harvest. In other words, this is a sharecropping agreement. In the past, half of the harvest was given back to the landowner; these days, the amount given back is usually a lot less. Metayage agreements are not very common these days, but definitely have historical significance in the history of French wine.

• Norisoprenoids - a diverse class of aromatic compounds that contribute to the varietal character of many wines, especially in aromatic varieties such as Riesling. For example, 1,1,6,-trimethyl-1,2-dihydronapthalene (TDN) is a norisoprenoid that contributes petrol aromas in aged Riesling. Detectable at very low levels, they develop during ripening though they are not aromatic at this stage. During fermentation and/or aging, they are released and they become aromatic. If you’re not confused enough yet, I’ll add that these compounds originate in large carotenoid molecules found in grapes, such as beta-carotene and lutein, and they can be enhanced in the vineyard by exposing grapes to more sunlight…b/c more sunlight = more carotenoid development in the grapes.

• Isoprenoids - the broad family to which all aromatic compounds in grapes and wine belong. Isoprenoids are then further classified by the amount of carbon atoms they possess. Norisoprenoids (above) are one category of isoprenoids, as are mono-terpenes. Some are volatile while others develop due to enzymatic reactions that occur during fermentation and/or aging. Super interest AND ALSO kind of confusing!

• Pied de Cuve - translating roughly into “foot of the tank”, this term is used to describe a method of kickstarting the fermentation process by essentially using the vinicultural equivalent of a starter culture. In essence, healthy and clean grapes which demonstrate desirable characteristics are put into a small vessel and allowed to ferment via indigenous yeast activity ahead of the full harvest. This small batch is then added to all of the harvested grapes. This is a natural way to ferment grapes, using native yeast strains. Suitable for organic viticulture.

So, you can see, I’m swimming in uncharted waters (for me)! No doubt, this list will continue to grow in the months ahead, as will my bewilderment. Hence, I need you to wish me luck in figuring out what it is that I need to know - and more importantly, being able to remember and use this knowledge when the time of greatest need arrives! 🙂

Until next time,

A.

To follow my work in wine, be sure to check out @wineitupanotch on Instagram, visit the Wineitupanotch website or tune into The Wineitupanotch Podcast on your favourite podcast player! Thanks for being here! Xx

I’ve been doing a lot of reading and research over the past week - specifically looking at articles in scientific journals - as I work towards slowly deepening my knowledge and understanding of viticulture (practices in the vineyard) and viniculture (practices in the winery). The MW syllabus has high expectations in these regards.

While undertaking these readings, I’ve repeatedly been struck by how closely winemaking and grape growing are connected to fundamental concepts that we learn in high school science class. Fascinating.

Books and articles about wine that that ambitiously tackle viticulture/viniculture related concepts for the benefit of the general public tend to simplify things to a palatable, albeit still intellectually challenging, level. But once you get into reading research papers and scholarly articles, things change significantly. References to nutrients, absorption levels, soil types, molecules and atoms (and the scientific processes that relate to them) all underpin the deep work that is done by the scientific and academic communities to try to understand and improve wine production and grape growing.

Maybe I wouldn’t have learned all of this in my high school Science classes, not at the depth that I’m reading about it now. But I can say for sure that some of the basic concepts that are appearing in the articles I am reading definitely came up in high school - I know for sure because I see my daughter learning these concepts in Grade 9 and 10 Science (she’s currently struggling through Grade 10 Science, and I’m right there with her, trying to be her part-time tutor on the side of everything else I have to do!). Aaaaah, how life comes full circle….

If I could go back in time, knowing what I know now, I would have done things differently in high school. Here’s what today’s version of me would tell that younger self if I could….

Dear Younger Self,

I’m writing you this letter because I want you to know that it is critical that you pay attention in your Science classes and learn as much as you can in these class(es).

I know you find Science, especially Chemistry, to be particularly challenging and somewhat boring right now. High school has so many other interesting things to offer that you’d rather be doing so why waste your time mastering something that doesn’t appeal to you, right? After all, you don’t plan on becoming a doctor or scientist once you’re all grown up….

But here’s the deal. You don’t know it now but one day in the future, you’re going to walk away from a career that you took a long time to build and choose a new path for yourself. It’s going to be so different from what you are planning for today.

You’re actually going to choose to become a wine expert, of all things! And when you do, you’re going to need to know some Chemistry, Ecology, Biology etc. Like, how these things actually work in the real world.

I get that you don’t even know what wine is right now so me saying this probably sounds really weird. But trust me, you’re going to fall in love with this magical liquid called ‘wine’ and spend enormous amounts of time (and money) trying to learn about it and teach what you know to others. Eventually, you’re going to put a lot of time and effort into trying to become something called a Master of Wine.

And when you do, it’s going to be important to understand how wine is made and why it tastes the way it does, and all of this ultimately has a lot to do with science! And then, you will REAAAALLY wish you had paid more attention in Science class. I promise. Because it’s much harder to learn about things like atomic structures and interactions, chemical reactions, microbiological stability, spoilage organisms and soil types once you’re an adult who’s never really paid proper attention to these things before. Trust me, I’m speaking from experience and trying to save you some serious pain.

There’s an added bonus to all of this. You don’t care about having your own children right now but one day, you will have your own children and they will need your help with their homework and test preparation. You’ll definitely be reminded of all of the things that you’re trying to avoid right now at this stage in your life, including Science class… ;-) And you’ll be bugging your kids to work hard and learn as much as they can!

In conclusion, my advice is pay attention now, and maybe you’ll be in a better position later. At least, I think so. Now off I go to read more about hydrogen, carbon and sulfur impacts in wine. Wish me luck, it’s a real struggle!

With love, Me xx

I wonder what, if anything, reading this letter might have changed for me when I was a wide-eyed teenager, sure that I could conquer anything in the world that I wanted to do and equally sure that Science class had nothing to do with my ambitions. I guess I’ll never know - but it sure is fun to daydream and ponder these things when my mind is about to explode as I read the same thing for the fifth time in hopes of eventual mastery.... ;-)

Until next time,

A.

To follow my work in wine, be sure to check out @wineitupanotch on Instagram, visit the Wineitupanotch website or tune into The Wineitupanotch Podcast on your favourite podcast player! Thanks for being here! Xx

So you’re in, Grover. What now?

Six seemingly simple words that I’ve asked myself this past week and that carry profound meaning for me.

Because, really - I REALLY DO need to figure out what being part of the Masters of Wine (MW) Study Program is going to mean for me and my life. I need to figure out how I am going to make this work, and stand a chance of attaining my goal to one day, some day, become a Master of Wine.

WHAT IT TAKES - THE BASICS

For the uninitiated, allow me to provide some basic background information.

The MW Study Program consists of three stages. The first stage, or Stage 1 as most people call it, is essentially an introduction to the main (and more onerous) part of the program, which actually unfolds during Stages 2 and 3.

In Stage 1, newly minted students are provided with guidance, mentoring, assignments and mock test scenarios over a roughly 8 month period. Then, in June, candidates sit a one day exam consisting of both a theory and practical element. During the theory exam, candidates are required to write two essays to respond to two questions, whilst the practical exam consists of blind tasting and assessing 12 different wines. Each exam is two hours in length. I’ve heard some people say that the pass rate averages around 40-50%.

By contrast, Stage 2 consists of 5 days of exams that test both theoretical acumen and tasting skills. So you see, it is indeed far more onerous. And let’s not talk about the pass rates here (it’s scary stuff).

Then, candidates who are successful in passing both exams proceed onto Stage 3, where there is then the daunting task of writing an original thought piece in the form of a rigorous research paper. Definitely not for the faint of heart - I can say that after having written my own 3000 word research paper in order to pass through the WSET Level 4 Diploma Program! The MW requirement is far more demanding than anything most wine professionals have done before from a research and/or writing perspective.

If you’re really focussed and really capable, and you never have to repeat a single exam, you can make it through this program in 3 years. But the unicorns who accomplish this are few and far between; I can’t wait to meet one. For most, the program takes 5-7 years to complete, and entails many re-sits. And that’s not even speaking to the candidates that drop off along the way ....those that make it and become MWs constitute a notoriously small percentage as I explained in my last post.

THE SPECIFICS - STAGE 1

But hey listen, I’m not going to worry about the mountain before the mole hill, so to speak! I can’t be worried about the gargantuan journey to the peak, and how the probabilities may or may not be stacked against me. Not yet.

Right now, I’ve got to zero in on what I need to do to pass Stage 1. So this is where my focus has been over the past few days, and here’s what I’ve learned/done:

• To start, I tuned into an introductory webinar by the Institute of Master of Wine (IMW) which provided a good overview of:

1. the resources that are available to us as MW students; and

2. what we should expect and plan for over the next several months. Lots of good info gleaned here!

• I also downloaded the MW Study Program syllabus and read through it (this is applicable to the whole program, not just Stage 1 but the questions we will be asked will come from the topics listed on the syllabus so we still need to know a decent amount about all of them!).

  • The next step will be setting up a study plan against the syllabus, honing in on my own personal areas of weakness (or shall I say, opportunity ;-)). I think this document is going to be my best friend for the next little while!

• Then, crucially, I set out a schedule listing all of the key program dates that I need to be aware of because they will most certainly impact my life between now and early June 2026 when I write the Stage 1 exam.

EVEN MORE SPECIFICALLY

On the topic of scheduling - there are 4 theory practice papers and 3 practical/tasting papers to pass in and get feedback on - I’ve calendarized each of those 7 deadlines and planned them around my family and work/client commitments and priorities.

There is also a week long overseas seminar to attend, three course days in either Napa or New York (for me these locations are best for a short day or two classroom seminar), a potential student trip to Bordeaux, webinars by MWs, deadlines to pay fees and book things….and of course, the big exam itself. All of this, along with my plans to study and learn the content I need to know AND blind taste wines with my study group needs to fit in with normal life stuff like holiday breaks and vacations with the kids, my daughter’s exam schedules and medical appointments, my son’s extra-curricular calendar, running my business, meeting with prospective and current clients, continuing to build the Wineitupanotch brand and intellectual capital and keeping up with my volunteer roles with various community organizations that I am involved in.

So ya, having a robust plan is going to be key to keeping everything straight and moving in the right direction!

I learned the importance of having a strong plan to follow during my WSET Diploma journey where, quite frankly, I did not follow a structured plan in many regards and suffered handsomely as a result. Once bitten, twice shy as they say. I’m not making that same mistake again.

SO, WHAT HAPPENS NOW?

I don’t know.

Ok, so I’ve laid out all of the things I’ve done and learned. But do I feel good? Do I feel ready?

No, of course not. There’s a lot to do! That hasn’t changed. But my mind does feel a bit calmer for what it’s worth.

I know this early plan that I’m setting out isn’t going to be the final one. But it does give me something to work from, and targets to calibrate and re-calibrate against. Life has taught me that as a busy professional and parent, no matter what your chosen profession, one can never be too prepared. Sound preparation and planning almost always paves the way to success in all aspects of life.

Now comes the next part. I need a plan to tackle my syllabus and to study consistently and rigorously over several months. Consistency and stamina will be key. Surely, I can craft a plan for this too, right? Let the games begin!.....

Until next time,

A.

To follow my work in wine, be sure to check out @wineitupanotch on Instagram, visit the Wineitupanotch website or tune into The Wineitupanotch Podcast on your favourite podcast player! Thanks for being here! xx

I’m still feeling this way, even though I found out weeks ago.

OMG, I’m doing this. I’m am officially an Master of Wine (MW) student! Somebody pinch me.

For a wine geek like me, this is the kind of thing that dreams are made of. When I started studying wine formally, I set my eyes on the MW qualification and thought, “Wouldn’t it be totally amazing if I could do THAT someday?”.

Well, that was just a few short years ago, and today, here I am.

HOW IT WENT DOWN

I actually applied to the MW Study Program back in June 2025 (it is the end of September 2025 as I write this).

Quite suddenly, after months of deliberation and ‘umming and aaahing’, I decided to “go for it”, the trauma of my recently completed WSET Level 4 Diploma exams a distant memory in the rear-view mirror of my life.

Had the pain of my WSET Diploma journey been fresher, would I have applied? I don’t know for sure, but I think it might have been less likely. Passing those Level 4 exams was really hard work after all - and I swore I was DONE! But with the passage of a few months, I started to feel the familiar itch to learn more and go deeper yet again….

WHAT HAPPENED NEXT

The application process was rigorous. I had to study for an entrance exam, find an MW to act as my reference, and submit multiple short form essays expressing why I thought I was a good fit for the program, why I wanted to become an MW and what I planned to do after becoming one.

The entrance exam itself, while written remotely, was also equally nerve-wracking in and of itself, complete with a theory question (pick 1 out of 3 possible options and provide your best possible answer) and a tasting exam.

Once the application was in, it was really just a waiting game. And I chose to wait very quietly.

I didn’t feel it would be helpful to share that I was applying and/or had applied with anyone outside of my husband and children (and the MW who was my reference of course). Why? Well, I certainly didn’t feel absolutely certain that my application would be accepted so why talk about something that might not happen? And beyond that, I usually don’t like to talk extensively about things until there is truly something to talk about. Before that stage, I feel there are more useful things to put my energy towards.

So that is what I did. I had a marvellous and languish summer, complete with a family trip to the East Coast of Canada, lots of projects and lots of sun-drenched walks around the neighbourhood. I guess I was taking advantage of the reprieve before the next chapter, were it to actually transpire. But, the question of what would happen next was not forgotten - rather, it was always nearby and whispering to me. With every passing day, I was one day closer to finding out…..

THE NEWS (AND JITTERS) ARRIVES

When the news finally did come - on September 10th 2025, I’ll never forget that morning - I met it with jubilation of course. As my sleep drenched eyes caught a glimpse of the email saying “Congratulations” from the Institute of Masters of Wine, I was of course completely over-the-moon thrilled!

But I’m not kidding when I say that I checked the email over and over again, making sure that I was really reading what I thought I had read - that in fact, a panel of MWs had agreed that little old me was potentially a good fit for their inner circle one day and said “yes, you may try to join us”. It took a long time for this reality to settle in.

My first call was to my mother in law, then one of my sisters, then my sibling group chat. And then I sat with the news, checking and rechecking the email, letting everything sink in before I was ready to share it more broadly on my social media platforms and with my industry colleagues. And as I did, I slowly stepped into the next chapter of my one beautiful life. Trepidation and anxiety abound, coupled with heaps of excitement too!

AND HERE WE ARE

Oh my goodness, I’m an MW student. Yes, these words still ricochet through my head. And yes, I STILL keep doubting if it is true. But then, I tell myself this:

Hey little one, it’s time to believe that you’ve done this…you’ve brought yourself here….and now it’s time to buckle up and see where you this takes you! You can do it…. Love, Me.

I’m starting my writing about my MW journey at the very start of the start, because I want to capture THIS - i.e. the messy, uneven, uncertain start. The nerves, the jitters, the anxiety that accompanies starting along a path, when you don’t know if you will ever find the destination that you are seeking.

But hey, there’s beauty in this too. Perhaps one day, I will look back at this and smile.

Or maybe not. Only time will tell.

Regardless, it promises to be an interesting life journey and personal growth opportunity. And what’s a good journey worth to you if you don’t stop to enjoy it, inclusive of all of the twists, turns, highs and lows that it takes you on? That’s what I’ll be doing here so stay tuned :)

Sincerely,

A.