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. I can honestly say I was not surprised, but that doesn’t eliminate the disappointment. However, I think it is really important to take this setback as a learning opportunity, a chance for personal development, and strong motivation to jump back better than ever.
As a recap, the MW exam consists of three practical papers (P1 -- whites, P2 -- reds, and P3 -- a mixed bag, often including sparkling and fortified wines). The theory exam is divided into five papers, each of 2-3 essays, covering the topics of viticulture, winemaking, wine handling, the business of wine, and contemporary issues in the wine industry. You must pass each paper with at least a B to pass that section of the exam. You can pass one section and not the other and not have to repeat. I did not pass either section in its entirety this attempt -- I passed papers within each section, and got an average of a ‘C’ all together. I actually did overall better than I thought, considering how much I debated deferring this year and the struggles I had leading up to the exam.
I have been incredibly fortunate in my wine certification journey so far. Until this, I’ve passed every exam on the first attempt, usually with high marks, even earning an award for my performance along the way. Of course, I am super proud of these achievements, but at the same time, I was less prepared for failure (as a sidebar, the MW is kind enough to not actually use the word ‘fail’ in their results email -- instead, they let you know that your grades do not reflect a passing score). I think that ultimately, failing was a good thing -- it pushed me up against the wall and made me decide how much I truly want this, and how far I was willing to go to pursue it. And I do think it will make ultimate success taste all that sweeter. I can say all of this now after a couple of months to process.
So, I was faced with a decision -- defer for a year, or keep going right away. Passing a few papers -- getting close -- was a big confidence boost despite the failure. I actually think that maybe I can do this, and I’m not sure I could honestly say that a year ago. This year will basically be a repeat of last year in terms of obligations -- seminar, practice assignments, and so forth. I’ve decided to go all in one more time and see where that gets me. I went ‘all in’ the first year and was pretty successful, but last year a few barriers (health-related, family and life stuff…) really affected my ability to focus and be fully present. Another good lesson, honestly -- life doesn’t stop while you’re doing this program, so you need to find a way to prioritize and balance -- and it's okay if sometimes, that priority is not the MW. This year I am signed up for the seminar in the UK (you may remember I went to Napa for this last year). I have a fellow MW student who attended the Odney seminar last year and spoke very highly of it, so I am hopeful that will be a fulfilling experience. I’m also signed up for course days in New York this spring. I’m working closely with a member of my study group to develop a bootcamp study program, going back to basics and identifying areas of weakness.
That leads me to another key takeaway from this experience thus far -- the importance of being honest with yourself, being humble, and being open to feedback. I am often embarrassed to admit when I don’t know something in the world of wine, and that’s just silly. Having not learned about something before is not something to be ashamed about; rather, it is an open door to build knowledge. I get so anxious at seminar or the course days to read my answers, but I need to remember that I have proven that I deserve to be in that room, and even if I made a stupid mistake, there’s nothing to worry about.
So, here we go again. Right now I am feeling confident and motivated -- wish me luck!
Some snaps from a trip to Bordeaux last month -- a vineyard slope in St. Emilion, and some gnarly mold in a cremant cave.
Currently listening to: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas by Michael Buble (do not even try to tell me that it's too early)
Currently drinking: Grand Cru Alsatian Pinot Gris -- damn these aromatic whites!
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