When you get to the point as a wine lover that you know a little more than the average wine drinker, you get used to being asked to make wine recommendations. Your friends tend to hand you the wine list in restaurants or they call to ask what they should buy to drink for a special occasion or for no occasion at all. I have made choices of what to serve to many people at my home for one event or another. As I related in the last issue of this publication, I have also acted as the Wine Ombudsman…
On April 13, I sat for the Introductory Sommelier Exam provided by the Court of Master Sommeliers (more about this august body below!). The course was a two-day intensive instruction administered by five certified Master Sommeliers, followed by a written exam that surveys the entire world of beer, wine and spirits. The exam consists of 70 questions, so the survey is brief and selective, meaning that if you do not have a fairly comprehensive knowledge of wine, beer, sake and spirits, it would be very difficult to excel on the examination. There were 80 students in my class, and I…
Hi. My name is Mark Wayda, and I am bringing you this new blog called Wayda on Wine. Through this blog I intend to share with you my personal journey from enthusiastic consumer of fine wines to wine professional, engaged in import, distribution and sales. More than that, this blog is a resource. Whether you want to learn more about wine, how it is made and who makes it, or if you just want help finding something to drink this weekend, Wayda on Wine will be for you. I will also tell you about what I am drinking, from the…