Emma Foster, IWS

  • The Italian Wine Scholar course provides so much more detail and depth of information than my previous wine studies.
  • WSET Level2, WSET Level 3
Emma Foster, IWS

Congratulations to Emma Foster, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors!

About Emma:

I fell into studying wine almost by accident – although I have always enjoyed a glass of wine with dinner, it was just out of curiosity and at the recommendation of a friend that I took my first wine qualification.  I have never worked in the wine trade, but I am fortunate to have found myself on the Wine Committee of my Club, alongside a Master of Wine and a group of people with real knowledge and experience in the subject.  It has been a real privilege, and an amazing opportunity to learn.

I passed WSET Levels 2 and 3 in Wine, which really showed me the benefit studying the subject properly.  On the one hand, it gave me a structure within which to understand wine and the ability to recognise and place a much greater range of wines, grapes, and regions.  On the other hand, the additional knowledge has enabled and encouraged me to become a lot more adventurous about my own wine choices and much more appreciative of opportunities to try a really different or very special wine.  Despite that, as a non-professional, I didn’t feel able to commit the time required to continue my studies with the Level 4 Diploma – and that was the point at which I discovered the Wine Scholar Guild.  The Italian Wine Scholar course provides so much more detail and depth of information than my previous wine studies, but in more convenient and approachable 8 week sections.  Throughout the course I have been able to try wines, often carefully sourced from small or little-known appellations, that I might never otherwise have come across – but always in the context of a logical structure that has really enabled me to enhance my knowledge of the region.  In addition, it has been a real pleasure studying with the West London Wine School – Jimmy presents all of the material and the wines with such enthusiasm and enjoyment that it cannot help but bring the subject to life.

At this point I probably know more about Italian wine than I had ever imagined – but that just adds to the enjoyment of finding an unusual or interesting Italian wine to try.  Having spent so much time studying each area of Italy, I would love to put some of that education into context by visiting some of the country’s wine regions – perhaps Piemonte, Friuli, or Puglia.

In the meantime, the rest of the world is still to discover, and I am looking forward to continuing my studies with the French Wine Scholar or Spanish Wine Scholar later in the year.

Andrea Mcewan

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