Well, I'm wrapping up my studies and preparing for the Advanced Exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers next week. I have been preparing myself for the exam in which there are three parts; blind tasting of 6 wines, a service examination and a theory exam with questions like

"Name 5 einzellagen in the Phalz region of Germany"

Answer- Ungsteiner Weilberg, Unsteiner Herrenberg, Forst Stift, Forst Jesuitgarten, Roxheimer Berg

"Where is Barsac, what type of wine is made there, what grapes and name the Grand Crus.

Answer-This an appellation in Bordeaux, a sweet botrytis style of wine from Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon, the Grand Crus are Chateau Coutet and Chateau Climens.

This is just an example of the very difficult questions I'll be faced with next week.

Although the questions are very difficult I am cautiously optimistic that I'll do very well.

The blind tasting is always a challenge because not only do you have to be very intimate with a large number of grape varietals but also the Regions that produce them, the quality levels and which years were good vintages and which vintages are so so. The only way to really handle this test is to handle the nerves.

As for the San Diego contingent, I am excited to say that San Diego will have 3 others taking the test with me. Megan Burgess from Rappongi in La Jolla, Dan Pilkey from Addison at the Grand Del Mar, and Lisa Redwine from Molly's at the Mariott.

It is a great thing to see, because it shows that San Diego is really on the rise in the Wine World, with many professionals doing their very best to raise the bar here. San Diego is a great city with a great group of wine pros and the fact that so many of us are making an attempt at the Advanced Exam is a great example of why San Diego restaurants are changing for the better.

Wish us luck, I'll report our results when I return.

Til then

Cheers!

Dustin Jones
Director of Education VinVillage