I used to be terrified to order wine in shops and bars. I knew next to nothing about wine except that it was made from grapes and was available in red, white, rose and sparkling. Everything about wine was intimidating!

Despite my lack of knowledge, I started collecting different wines on my travels, from Bulgaria and Lebanon, to Kazakhstan and Jordan, always hoping that they would be vaguely drinkable. After a while, I decided that acquiring some knowledge about wine could be helpful, and impulsively signed up for my Wine Spirits and Education Trust (“WSET”) Level 1 exam at AWSEC Wine School. Little did I know, this would result in a journey half way round the world to Napa Valley, California to attend an incredible Harvest Bootcamp for WSET Level 3.

The WSET exams are globally recognised as being a prestigious wine qualification and they aren’t for the faint hearted. For Level 1, beginners are eased in with a high level overview of wine and the opportunity to taste various wines in class. The test was multiple choice test and I passed with flying colours. With this new found confidence I signed up for Level 2 and this is when it started to get more challenging. The scope of the course was broader covering principal grapes, regional grapes and winemaking processes. There was a section on spirits which was less appealing, particularly as it involved tasting shots of cheap vodka on a Monday night - gross! 

Being such a diligent student, I signed up for wine tastings across Hong Kong to build my experience and knowledge. One of these tastings culminated in 10 glasses of wine, , some midnight aerobics (according to my Fitbit) and a cracking hangover. In this delicate state, I remembered being told about a Harvest Bootcamp where you could visit vineyards to see winemaking in action first-hand and learn about wine. After some research, I discovered that Napa Valley Wine Academy offered a Harvest Bootcamp in Napa, this was the once in a lifetime experience I was looking for, so I ignored the hefty price tag and went straight for the credit card.

The first day of wine school arrived and I walked in feeling like an imposter who didn’t belong in a room full of wine experts. I needn’t have worried, everyone was so welcoming and it was so inspiring to meet people from such a wide range of countries and backgrounds.

The revision course entailed an intensive 8 hours per day in the classroom, cramming as much information as I could. However, there were some incredible highlights that I will never forget: sorting grapes with Cathy Corison, punching down grapes at Holman Cellars, a tour of the Vineyards at Herb Lamb and Stoney Hill, and a private dinner on the hillside at Smith Madrone. It was one of the best experiences of my life.

The exam was 3 hours and comprised a blind tasting, a multiple choice paper and short written answer test. By the end of the exam I was discouraged and almost in tears, feeling that my hard work had been in vain.

After three long months, I was shocked to discover that I had passed my exam with Merit and even gained a Distinction for tasting! The WSET course has enabled me to confidently engage and interact about wine. I’m excited to share my knowledge and passion through Wine Adventures in Hong Kong. Come sip with me! Cheers!