The Tasting Panel magazine

October 2018

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32  /  the tasting panel  /  october 2018 L indsay Pomeroy's Master of Wine title comes with some asterisks worth noting: She joins a group numbering less than 20 in the United States and 380 globally as she claims her title as the first female Master of Wine in San Diego. Pomeroy began teaching about wine in 2006 when she founded Wine Smarties, the Southern California city's first wine-education school. Full of pizazz and endless ideas, she adds sparkle to the world of wine and is set to serve as a featured guest lecturer at SommCon San Diego, planned for November 14–16. by Michelle Metter Lindsay Pomeroy, MW Congratulations on your achievement of earning the prestigious Master of Wine designation. Can you tell us a little about your journey? Gosh, it's hard to give it a start time, but let's say I've been studying wine since 2005 and have been in the Master of Wine program since 2013. There was a lot of work leading up to being accepted into the program, including the WSET diploma, which takes two years to achieve. The Master of Wine path was its own beast—I didn't really know much about it or what to expect. I think if I knew how hard it was and how much it would take, I'm not sure I would do it, so it worked out that I jumped in feet first! In the end, I ended up spending more than 5,000 hours just for the MW path. It was definitely a huge commitment of time, energy, and money, plus the heartbreak of the years I didn't pass a section. What surprised you most about the process? How much I needed others: my friends and family for laughter and support, my amazing MW mentors and study mates, my students—who both emotionally and financially supported me— and everyone else along the way. It was truly a community effort, and that was the most beautiful thing to experience. When you do difficult things, you need a team to get you through it. You will be leading a session during SommCon on advanced study tips. What are some key pieces of wisdom you have for others studying for their advanced credential? Be prepared to sacrifice and learn to live with not knowing what will happen. Detach from your expectation of how the process will go for you, and join a consistent, reliable, and serious tasting group to challenge yourself. This was key to offset costs, espe- cially for blind-tasting. Also, be humble and compassionate with others and yourself. It's hard to be a master or advanced-level taster—it takes practice and focus. Don't compare yourself to others, and find ways to increase your confidence, not deflate it. You have one glass of wine and five minutes: What are you drink- ing, who are you with, and what are you listening to? 1977 Vintage Port with my friends and family. I'm listening to my own thoughts about how magical the wine is! The Tasting Panel and The SOMM Journal are proud to serve as the media sponsors of SommCon San Diego (November 14–16). For schedule and registration details, visit sommconusa.com.

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