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amateur de vin: a lover of wine
An intellectual salon for wine writing, consultation services, WSET guidance, and more. Read on, and cheers!
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Allison Sheardy
Nov 15, 2024
The importance of failure
As the title of this post may imply, I received the results of the MW exam back in September and things did not go as I would have liked....


Allison Sheardy
Jun 18, 2024
The MW Exam Experience
Well, now that I have had a little over a week to process, I am finally ready to revisit and share my MW exam experience. First, a...


Allison Sheardy
Mar 6, 2024
So, that happened: Stage 2 seminar
Last month saw me travelling to Napa for the annual residential seminar. Some of you may remember my discussion of this last year, but to...


Allison Sheardy
Jan 27, 2024
MW Stage 2 Trials and Triumphs...so far
Well, the last several months have gone by in an absolute blur. The fall is always my busiest time at work, thanks to the gorgeous...


Allison Sheardy
Sep 28, 2023
MW Stage 1 Reflections and Tips
Well, the big news around here is that I have successfully completed Stage 1 of the Master of Wine program! I got the email earlier this...


Allison Sheardy
Mar 31, 2023
Seminar in Seattle
I attended the Master of Wine Stage 1 residential seminar waaaaay back in early February -- already seems like a lifetime ago. This...


Allison Sheardy
Jan 15, 2023
Birthdays and course days
Early December saw me back in Napa for the first Master of Wine course days. The course days are two days of lectures, study tips, and...


Allison Sheardy
Sep 17, 2022
The Path to MW -- Introduction
Last week I received an email I’d been waiting for all summer – I was accepted to the Master of Wine study programme! Even now, after...


Allison Sheardy
Apr 27, 2022
London (finally) called!
On April 11 I had the thrill of attending the 2022 WSET Graduation and Awards Ceremony in London. This was a bit of a journey, with the...


Allison Sheardy
Dec 30, 2021
London calling?
The last couple of months have been quite the whirlwind. I found myself in Sonoma for a work trip, followed by a week of bliss at an...


Allison Sheardy
Sep 4, 2021
Harvest 2021 Begins
This week we got in our first juice and grapes of the season. The first bit of harvest is always exciting, cementing the reality of the...


Allison Sheardy
Aug 4, 2021
Drumroll please
“In victory, you deserve Champagne. In defeat you need it.” ― Napoleon Bonaparte Well, I am pleased to report that today is a day of...


Allison Sheardy
Jul 5, 2021
Wining and Dining: Fourth of July, Observed
Food was my first love, and wine came much later, actually. I would be remiss to not include lots of food pictures and discussion here....


Allison Sheardy
Jun 19, 2021
Back to Napa
Last month, I was back in the Napa Valley for the first time in over a year. It was surreal to be in a place that I know so well and yet...

Pablo Neruda
“I like on the table,
when we're speaking,
the light of a bottle
of intelligent wine.”
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