Page 49 - Southern Oregon Magazine Winter 2019

LM: WHEN DID YOU GET CERTIFIED?

JW: Certification is a two-step process through the Court
of Master Sommeliers. I completed my introductory two-
day course and successfully passed the introductory test in
Victoria, B.C. in July 2016. I then passed the certified level
test in San Jose, CA in December 2017. I was lucky to have
the support of Neuman Hotel Group to help finance the
expense and give me the time needed to study. Continual
learning and innovation are core values of NHG, and I am
very appreciative for a supportive company that values the
education and empowerment of their team. Leading the
team at Larks in blind tastings was a huge component of my
own study process. Teaching others is a great way to learn!

I’d also like to mention that there’s another organization
called the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET), which
offers similar certifications and is the track a person would
follow to become a Master of Wine. Bree Boskov, Education
Manager for the Oregon Wine Board, is an example of
someone who holds this certification, which is the equiva-
lent to the Master Sommelier. WSET is more focused on
the business aspect of wine including retail, wholesale, and
learning to describe wine in writing. Whereas the Court of
Masters is focused pretty exclusively on selling wine in a
restaurant setting, and learning to identify wine varietal,
region, and vintage through blind tasting. People can choose
either track to get a similar educational experience, but
usually Court certified somms are working in restaurants. I
also hold my WSET Level 2 certification and am consider-
ing taking the Level 3 test sometime soon. I used the WSET
2 exam to study for my Certified Somm exam and now that
I have passed both, I’d like to round out my wine knowledge
(and writing skills) with the WSET Level 3 curriculum. It’s
good to keep studying and tasting in order to stay current in
a dynamic field like wine and beverage.

LM: DO YOU HAVE A GOAL TO BECOME A
MASTER SOMMELIER?
JW: Not at this time, I would need to start studying for
my Advanced level and that would be an enormous com-
mitment of time. I do have other plans to travel to some
amazing wine regions, and will complete Wine and Spirits
Education Trust level 3.

LM: HOW MANY WOMEN HOLD THE SAME
CERTIFICATION AS YOU? IN OREGON? IN THE
UNITED STATES?
JW: Good question! There aren’t any official stats beyond
the Master level, but I think around 8,000 people world-
wide—maybe 1/3 are women? I don’t know of any other
Somm (male or female) in Southern Oregon who is cer-
tified through the Court of Masters. I do know there are
quite a few who have attempted the introductory course.
It’s much more common in Portland restaurants to have a
Sommelier on the team.

winter 2019 | www.southernoregonmagazine.com 47