Hey there friends! If you’re new to the Purfect Pour community, let me introduce myself. I’m Rachel, your friendly neighborhood wine aficionado. Things have been a whirlwind lately, so grab a glass and let’s catch up, shall we?
About a year ago, the universe decided to gift me with my dream job. You know, the kind that involves wine, making friends with wine reps, and creating the perfect wine list for an up-and-coming restaurant. It was like winning the lottery, but also like being thrown into the deep end of a pool filled with wine. I mean, I knew my way around a wine bottle, but some of my friends make me look like a kindergartner by comparison for knowledge. Thankfully, they let me tag along for the ride. My boss, who’s an absolute gem, suggested I study to become a certified sommelier.
You know that moment when you’re so sure you’re about to nail something, and then reality hits? That was me signing up for the Court of Masters level one certification. I thought, “Easy peasy, I’ll breeze through this during the summer break.” Oh, how the universe laughed at my overconfidence. It was more like diving headfirst into the deep end of a pool, but forgetting I didn’t know how to swim.
My cat, Boo, was my study buddy, giving me those judgmental eyes every time I dozed off at my desk. She’d nudge me for treats, probably to keep me awake. I tell you, that furry little genius only ever thinks about my well-being.
Now, every cloud has a silver lining. My silver lining? The wine store. Studying hard and rewarding myself with a fancy bottle of vino was my routine. Those were some of the best, albeit slightly blurry, times. And let me tell you, Boo might have a sophisticated palate, but she always left the final verdict to me. The cat knows who’s boss.
Six months of intense cramming and French map hoarding later, the day of reckoning was finally here. The butterflies performing a circus in my stomach could not be ignored. But after wrestling with 60 questions that felt like a matter of life and death, I clicked that dreaded submit button and… drumroll, please… nailed it!
The celebration was like a scene out of a movie. Friends, colleagues, even my boss’s boss was in on the excitement. There were tears, laughter, and, of course, the guest of honor – wine.
Wine studies have been a joy, but don’t be fooled, it’s not all fun and games. Who would have thought that a farm kid from Iowa could end up using farming knowledge to drink wine professionally? Don’t worry, you can tell my dad about the irony – he’ll probably disown me.
Remember those French maps I mentioned? Well, they tie into my restaurant’s mission – to serve up the best French wines to our customers. France is a puzzle waiting to be solved, and I promise you, it’s worth every second.
I look forward to spilling more wine secrets with you in the weeks to come. However, it’s time for me to attend to Boo and her ‘treat time’ stare. Feel free to drop me a line with any wine related queries, thoughts, or suggestions. Or just pop in to share the name of your go-to wine. Cheers to that!
