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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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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
Jun 18, 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
Mar 6, 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
Jan 27, 2024


Reading Between the Wines: The Summer Job
Welcome to a new (semi) regular series, Read Between the Wines, in which I review a book and suggest a wine pairing (it is a tough job...
Allison Sheardy
Jul 29, 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
Mar 31, 2023


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
Apr 27, 2022


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
Dec 30, 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...
Allison Sheardy
Jun 19, 2021


Tasting Today: 2017 trisaetum Ribbon Ridge Estate Riesling
Tasting Today is a series of WSET-style tasting notes, based on their Systematic Approach to Tasting (SAT). While the SAT can be used to...
Allison Sheardy
Jun 11, 2021

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