​NEWA
1
How did you get into wine and how did you get started in the business?
 
TT
I kind of grew up in the business - my father owned a store. I worked in the store through school and when I graduated from college, I didn’t really have a specific direction. He was opening a new venture and when that store opened, I got involved and that is where really developed an interest and got passionate about wine. Not so much the business or the industry but wine. I do enjoy the business but it’s really about the wine. I started in retail 37 years ago. That lasted about 6 years and then I decided to transition over to something that was more wine focused and moved into wholesale where I have been since. Working for Slocum & Sons and then Worldwide Wines as a sales rep, and now as a manager.

2
How has going through the WSET educational process helped or impacted you with your place in the industry? You have passed Level 3 Wine.
 
TT
Yes. Candidly, I wanted to get to Level 4, and I really originally took WSET studies through Level 3 because of that. Unfortunately, getting the Level 4 has not proven to be logistically practical. But where I am is kind of where I expect to end up in the industry, so that is ok. I did Level 3 Wine during Covid lockdown, so it was also something to occupy my time, But I did notice and I continue to see more people referencing their level of award. At this point in my career, I did not really see it as critical, but why not? I love wine, I love learning about wine, and I had the time. For anyone starting in the industry it definitely helps to provide a foundation or structure for learning about the trade, and I encourage anyone who is new or just starting in the industry to further their advancements in WSET levels.
 
3
What is your go-to wine for a Tuesday night?
 
TT
On a Tuesday? Whatever is left in the sample bag…
I almost exclusively drink Italian. I will mix some French in from time to time. If I am buying my own wine, I am probably going for a Nebbiolo, DOCG level Barolo, Sangiovese-based such as Rosso di Montalcino or Chianti Classico, etc…

So what is the attraction of those? Obviously Italian is a favorite place, but stylistically I am guessing there is something there that you enjoy that is different than French or California or others?

Yes, definitely. That is a good question…I definitely prefer Old World to New World regions, just stylistically, but why Italy over France? Mostly because I love the place.
You mentioned Nebbiolo and Sangiovese based wines, and those are grapes that tend to have little more acid structure and tannin structure to them, so I am guessing that is something that attracts you to these?

I feel like I am immune to tannin.

After this long in the industry?

Yeah, it doesn’t bother me one bit…and I enjoy high acid wines as well – both white and red wine.
 
4
What is your favorite wine region or place you have travelled to?
 
TT
Piedmont. Without a doubt.
Anywhere in particular in Piedmont?
Barolo
 
5
In the past 6 months, what’s the favorite wine you have tasted?
 
TT
…Past six months, ok…
I could ask you what’s your favorite wine, but that’s an annoying question. And since you routinely taste a lot of things, I thought I would ask what stands out in recent memory.
 
That’s a really good question…ummm…
I am in a tasting group, and there were two bottles of 2009 Barolo from Giuseppe Rinaldi that we had last fall (2023). They make two Cru - Brunate La Coste and Cannubi San Lorenzo Ravera. Standout wines.
 
 
Thanks
 
 
Tom and I have known each other for many years. We came across each other routinely as sales reps for competing companies, working a list of overlapping accounts. When I transitioned from wholesale to the on-premise, Tom took over the route I had been working and he became one of our reps for a number of years. He eventually transitioned to a regional sales manager in the same company, and we continue to see each other on a regular basis. A dedicated wine person, he has even inspired some of his children to work in the industry. I think he likes to box, as well.

This week, I had a Level 3 Wines student contact me because he was frustrated and looking for advice on the wines he should be sourcing and sampling for his studies. Going to wine and package stores in his area and trying to get wines that lined up with the curriculum - especially accurate wines for calibrating to the WSET format with regard to the core components in wine - Sugar, Acid, Tannin, Alcohol as well as understanding the impact of wood on wine - was not as easy for him as it should be. Either running into store employees who were lacking the proper knowledge in the basics of wine - or even the opposite in running into people who were qualified but with the unfortunate dismissive attitude of this was not worth their time - was what he was facing.
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So he reached out to me for guidance. 

Now, I have published lists of wines for sourcing, but it should be noted that it is challenging to put out lists with brand names as not all wines are available in all markets, and wine styles change over time. But I do my best to maintain this list and make accurate recommendations on what wines to source. Please source wines as best as you can, but take a look at things like abv, which could be an indicator of sweetness levels (lower abv might suggest a sweeter wine), and read shelf-talkers or notes to get a feel for the wine style.

The other thing that is really important to note is the when sourcing wines to taste for study and exam conditions, it is not always the most expensive or highest scoring wines that need to be tasted. In fact it is necessary to taste wines that sit at the acceptable and good point on the quality scale so that we can understand what is the difference when a wine with attributes for very good or outstanding quality level come across our palate. 

Generally speaking I like to use 'standard' wines for study purposes. Meaning, wines that are reasonably priced, show good varietal character, and are representational of the goal of the study assignment. For instance, when looking at tannin, it is important to taste a wine with a lot of tannin  to get that experience and calibration, but in the glass next to it you should have a wine with medium or low tannin, as an accurate comparison.

Which brings me to my last point. WSET students need to taste wine in flights and compare the differences between styles, aroma/flavors, faults, and components. By having the immediate side-by-side comparison it becomes so much easier to understand the differences.

So to that point, I am producing four short posts that I will post above and permalink on the L3W Student resource page for the following topics: calibrating for tannin, acid, sugar, wood/maturation. Additionally, I am working on complimentary posts for understanding Body and Intensity (color, aroma, flavor). These will all include some guidance for sample brands to source in many locations. I am also working with a local retail package store in my area to develop WSET study kits that can be picked up or ordered for delivery, where legal. 

All this coming at you shortly, if not already. Cheers, BMitch

It has taken a bit, but the card decks on Brainscape for the WSET Level 1 Spirits course have been updated to the latest version of the textbook. Brainscape has been working on a massive overhaul and update of their platform, so this has contributed to the delay, but I finally received the go-ahead this week to start editing the decks that I have contributed to and/or authored. This includes all of the Certified WSET Spirits courses currently on offer from Brianscape.

WSET introduced new revisions to the Spirits (as well as other courses) this past summer with the commencement of the new academic year. With this update some material was added and refined. The folks at Brainscape asked its authors to refrain from making any changes to the course decks while they were progressing through up-dates the past couple of months. Most of these up-dates involve migration of the decks to new editor software, which allows for better control and access via mobile devices. All aimed at increasing the use and functionality by the authors, but also allowing for a better user experience on the front facing / student-consumer side. Most of this migration has been completed and we are now able to review and edit the classes, once again.

As a reminder, all student to NEWA receive a three-month Pro Membership to Brainscape with class enrollment. This is a huge help when it comes to your studies, as the Brainscape platform is designed to reinforce and recirculate material that is being studied, and allows the user to control the flow of information in order to maximize study time and knowledge.

​Follow this link to enroll in the next WSET Level 1 Spirits online course with New England Wine Academy, starting in early January.

Click here to learn about Brainscape Flashcard app and how it works!

I have had a few requests to both give some challenging study questions or to give some examples of what might appear on the more advanced level exams as questions. There have also been a few conversations with other students regarding how I study for advanced level questions. I thought I would bundle these together in one single initial article and then continue on with a series each time I post. I will answer these questions here, but in the future I will simply post the question(s) initially and then follow up the following time with answers. This will give those who are studying a chance to answer on their own, and then we can discuss as needed. So here goes, and remember these are fairly advanced level questions...answers are on the bottom if you want to challenge yourself at first.

1 - Name three Chateaux from the Cantenac commune which were classified in 1855 and state there classification.

2 - Name four wards in the Stellenbosch district of South Africa.

3 - For which grape variety is Ull de Llebra a synonym?

4 - Name three Grand Cru villages of the Cote de Blancs.

5 - What is the maximum sugar content allowed for Brut style Champagne? (answer in grams per liter)

6 - Name 6 sub-districts of the Willamette Valley.

7 - What is the maximum permitted alcoholic strength of a distillate from the second distillation in the Cognac region?

8 - What is the main flavoring ingredient in Suze?

9 - Which house produces Quinta de Terre Feita Port?

Ok, so first a little about how I study, and how I study specifically for certain styles of questions. To begin, it is necessary to know what style of questions you will be tasked with on a certification exam. For those studying the introductory levels of WSET, the questions are in the format of multiple choice answers. One piece of advice I often give students is that they should be prepared for questions that are asked with multiple option answers (1 and 2 only, 1-2-3, all of the above). The Brits are big fans of layering the question answer options, so it is absolutely necessary to have a good understanding of the theoretical material in order to answer correctly. You cannot just guess at many of the questions. There are also a lot of questions that are asked in a double-negative or slightly twisty way. Again, the best advise is to read the whole questions and understand what is being asked. This is the same for upper level exams where the answers are in written response.

For those studying WSET Level 3 or Diploma, as well as CMS Advanced and MW candidates, almost all of the questions responses will be in written format. The best tip I ever received in this process was to make sure I read the question, understood exactly what is being asked and then only answered the question. Don't get caught in doing a brain dump of facts you think are related to the question, as this may not really answer the question. Practice writing long-form answers or mini essays is the best practice you can employ for this. Getting yourself familiar with writing, writing under pressure and timed, will be a critical asset for being successful in any of these exams. Writing a longer answer out also forces you to look at more material and a broader scope of resources, which will help build your theoretical knowledge base.

Ok, so once I know what type of questions and exam format I will be facing, it is important to study properly. As stated, I like to answer questions in long form, and this means knowing a lot of material across a spectrum of concepts and study areas. For me this helps to build a solid foundation of base knowledge, and it forces me to be able to think across topics and then pull these ideas together in a focused answer. Keep in mind, some answers may simply be a regurgitation of facts, while others will task you to pull in multiple layers of answers to get the answer.

Some of the tactics I employ in studying include the following:

• Flashcards - both physical and digital. I usually will write out physical cards as I read and study, then type them into a digital app, such as Brainscape. this allows me to open up the app and study anytime. Repetition is key and flashcards are perfect for this. Brainscape and other apps let you create your own content, as well as use their certified decks that are already built by certified authors (of which I am one - full disclosure).
• Magazines - this may be a little unorthodox, but I like to use magazines to study. Not so much for the actual content, especially facts, as these change over time and will all need to be checked for accuracy, but more for the broad range and almost random nature of the material that is involved. Wine magazines do not have a single topic for each issue. Rather, they put together a multitude of topics for articles and news points, as well as review subjects. I have yeas worth of magazines that I have collected and go back through to read and research for new questions and terms that may not appear anywhere else. I also use these for vintage notes and to stay up-to-date with trends that emerge in certain areas of the consumer or production world.
• Have a Study Plan (and stick to it!) - it doesn't matter if you are studying for a Level 1 certification or a Master level, you need a plan and you need to follow it. Figure out the time frame you have to prepare, fill in the needed topics and resources, tasting sessions and other areas, and then execute the plan. Best advice I got years ago was to "plan your work, and work your plan". Interruptions are inevitable, but getting a plan together allows you to balance your life and space out the topics needed to be covered.
• Books - I have a lot of wine and beverage books. Honestly I don't use them as much as I used to. There is this thing called the internet now, and I can pull up any topic I need in an instant and research it. I do use some books for historical or broad topic resources, but many books are outdated almost as soon as they are published, so I have become much more selective in my library acquisitions, lately. they are expensive and take up room. My iPad is a much easier place to keep a lot of books handy. It was a tough transition for me to move from physical books that you can hold, write notes in and lend out to others, but moving more of them to a digital format allows me to access any number of books easily and anywhere. This has been a game changer in a lot of ways.
• Internet - mainly YouTube and primary resource sites, as well as Podcasts. The internet is full of material. You just have to make sure what you are reading is actual facts and not just marketing nonsense or published by someone who is not accurate in their details. I tend to stick with first authority sites such as the Consortium or governing body for the region, winery sites, and topic-specific authors that really only focus on a single region or style of wine. The internet is also great for looking up and building your map and geography theory. I find it very useful to draw my own regional maps as it can really help to put places into context with each other. I will use the internet to make sure I am getting it right by looking at a multitude of resources for comparison. I will also look to follow blog sites by people who have achieved the same certification I am working on, such as an MS or MW. They write in the language I am looking to emulate and will typically be focused on the facts and notes I need to build out my theoretical knowledge. YouTube is great for quick bites of material, but be careful about the actual content. And don't get side-tracked by the latest cat video. Podcasts are awesome for filling in the time when its hard to do actual book-work, such as when you are driving or exercising. There are a multitude out there - Levi Dalton's is the best.

This is just a taste of what and how I study. It is a layered approach and is generally designed for a more advanced certification goal. But, anyone can take pieces of this and make it work for them. I study in my way, though, so what works for me is not always going to be the best for you. The single best thing for anyone though, is to make a plan and stick with it. 

ANSWERS!!!
1 - Name three Chateaux from the Cantenac commune which were classified in 1855, and state their classification.
So for this question you need to know what the 1855 Classification was, where it was, and what Cantenac is. 
The 1855 Classification was done for the Paris Exposition, and ranked the Chateau of Bordeaux's left bank and Sauternes based on their common selling price, at the time. It was assumed that the higher the market was willing to pay for a wine, the better it must be. Cantenac is part of the Margaux commune, and is often referred to as Cantenac-Margaux. Wines in the classification were sorted in a ranking of growths or "crus" from 1st to 5th.
The Chateau that could be used to answer this question are:

• Cht Brane-Cantenac (Brane in 1855) - 2nd
• Cht Kirwan (Kirwan in 1855) - 3rd
• Cht Cantenac-Brown (Boydin 1855) - 3rd
• Cht Palmer (Palmer in 1855) - 3rd
• Pouget-Lassale and Pouget, both now Château Pouget - 4th
• Cht Prieuré-Lichine (Le Prieuré in 1855) - 4th

2 - Name four wards in the Stellenbosch district of South Africa.
This answer could include the following wards of Stellenbosch: Banghoek, Bottelary, Devon Valley, Jonkershoek Valley, Papegaaiberg, Polkadraai Hills, Simonsberg-Stellenbosch and Vlottenburg 

3 - For which grape variety is Ull de Llebra a synonym?
This is one of the many names for Tempranillo, Ull de Llebre is used frequently in the Peñedes region of northeastern Spain.

4 - Name three Grand Cru villages of the Cote de Blancs.
The Côte des Blancs includes six villages classified as grand cru. One way to remember them is using "CA COOL"

• Chouilly
• Avize
• Cramant
• Oger
• Oiry
• Le Mesnil-sur-Oger

5 - What is the maximum sugar content allowed for Brut style Champagne? (answer in grams per liter)
The maximum amount allowed today is 12 grams of sugar per litre for a Champagne Brut.

6 - Name 6 sub-districts of the Willamette Valley.
There are actually 9 AVAs, currently, in the Willamette Valley, these include...

• Chehalem Mountains AVA
• Dundee Hills AVA
• Eola-Amity Hills AVA
• Laurelwood District AVA
• McMinnville AVA
• Ribbon Ridge AVA
• Tualatin Hills AVA
• Van Duzer Corridor AVA
• Yamhill-Carlton District AVA

7 - What is the maximum permitted alcoholic strength of a distillate from the second distillation in the Cognac region?
The alcoholic strength of the newly made spirit from the second distillation in Cognac, also known as the bonne chauffe, may not exceed 72.4% abv.

8 - What is the main flavoring ingredient in Suze?
The main ingredient is gentian root, specifically the species gentiana lutea (Great Yellow Gentian), which imparts the bitter, vegetal flavors the drink is known for.

9 - Which house produces Quinta de Terra Feita Port?
Taylor-Fladgate owns and produces wine from this property, which is located on the west bank of the River Pinhão.

For anyone taking a higher level of qualifications through WSET, you will run up against the need to write short answer questions if you are to be successful in passing. The approach to gaining the most points when answering these questions is often a little illusive for American students, as the British have a fairly specific way they like to ask, and then have answered, exam questions. Really what it means is understanding how to break down the question, and answer it correctly. Often students will read a question but not focus on the keywords in the question that should guide your answering. Words like State, Identify Explain, Describe and List all considered command verbs, and these verbs are the link to how you should approach your answer formation.

When I write an answer, the first thing I am doing is circling the command verbs and any other key words in the question that will get me the most concise answer. Many students read a question, think they know what is being asked, and then download a lot of info on the topic. This is usually not a good approach. It can waste time in the exam. It also may not touch on the key points that the examiners are looking for to award points. 

Below is an example of the type of question that may appear on a Level 3 Spirits exam, along with a written answer. See if you can figure out how this answer would score (available 10 points), and if it is a successfully written answer or where there are mistakes. I will post next week with the answer to how successful this answer was and the points awarded.

Describe how the two types of condenser used in malt whisky distilleries in Scotland work and explain how the type and/or design of the condenser can affect the style of malt whisky that is produced. (10 marks)
 
In Scotch malt whisky production, there are two types of condensers used to cool vapors back into liquid form: Shell and Tube condensers, and Worm Tube condensers.

In a typical still set-up, each of these condensers are located at the end of the Lyne Arm and take in heated vapors from the pot still at the top of their units, while a coolant, usually cold water, is input at the bottom of the unit and taken out at the top. As the vapor comes into contact with the coolant it condenses back to liquid form and flows down the unit eventually being collected via an output at the bottom. The coolant gains heat from the vapors and is collected from the top of the condenser unit.

The difference between a Shell and Tube and a Worm Tube condenser is how the vapor and the coolant each move through the unit.

In a shell and tube style condenser, the coolant is kept in a series of tubes that circulate through the cavity of the condenser, which is also known as the shell. The vapor is pushed into the cavity and comes into contact with the cool tubes, which are often made of copper. This model is generally preferred as it allows for a high level of surface contact of the vapor / distillate to come into contact with the copper tubes. This creates a more efficient system while also allow for removal of more sulfur compounds, thus producing a lighter, cleaner style whisky. While the worm tube version has a tube (worm) that the vapors are contained within, and this tube is coiled within the body of the condenser. The coolant circulates around the worm and pulls the heat from the distillate. Because there is less contact with cooper in this version, the whisky produced here is often richer and bolder in style.
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New England Wine Academy is very pleased to announce a new partnership with Julia Menn, as an associate educator. Julia will be guiding students through Levels 1 and 2 Wine Awards, with class set-up and delivered as hybrid sessions. What is a Hybrid session? Glad you asked...

Hybrid sessions are classes that are offered with the delivery being done online via a webinar format. The real difference here is that during the class sessions you will have facetime with a real instructor. The WSET Online model is a great format, but the only small drawback is that you are not in a live session with an instructor. And while the instructors are great at getting back to students with answers to questions, and tasting note feedback, there is really nothing like having a person answer your questions and give you all the information needed, right then and there.
 
Julia has earned her Level 3 in Wine, works in the wine industry, and even teaches classes on her own. You can read her bio by clicking here.

We are pleased to offer two WSET wine levels, initially, starting in February and March, with Julia as your guide and instructor. Click on the buttons below for full details, and do not be afraid to ask us questions. Cheers

We are working hard here at The Academy, and we have updated all course descriptions and schedules for the remainder of the 2020 calendar year, as well as into 2021. Please refer to the "Classes" tab above for full descriptions, or click on "Shop" to go directly to the class list. We have also added options for anyone needing to resit an exam - this is for Levels 1, 2, and 3 - wine, and Level 1 or 2 in spirits. Once you book a resit then a date will be coordinated with you depending on the schedule needed.

This past week, WSET added several more options for online wine courses at Levels 1, 2, and 3. These dates have been added due to demand. Additional classes are scheduled to begin throughout the remainder of 2020, and well into 2021. Class registration deadline is generally 7 days prior to the course date.

With the year drawing to a close (thank goodness!), we are offering a number of end-of-year courses at discount. 
All Level 1 Wine courses are currently on sale with added discounts for the last few 2020 start dates getting even more aggressive. These are the ever-popular introductory course, and are designed to build a foundation for further learning.​ 

The last Level 2 Wine course for 2020 online, is also being offered at a 10% discount off the regular low-low price. Take advantage of this one as it is a great price for this course, which is one of the most popular offered by WSET. ​