Cheers!

To the left you can see the pile of books that I will be putting back on the shelf tonight. After 3 years of studying, taking the train back and forth to and from La Spezia, drinking lots of wine (well that part wasn't too bad...) I have been officially declared a sommelier by the Association of Italian Sommeliers.

Today I sat my oral exam before the head of the Florentine chapter of the AIS. I was so nervous that I nearly passed out. I do not fare well at oral exams.

All's well that ends well.

So now what? Now the hard work begins, proving myself as a good sommelier. Travelling, tasting and meeting producers, experts and other sommeliers like me. I am excited that wine will be part of my future.

So why couldn't have I accomplished the in the US? Why can't you really learn a foreign language inside your own country? Wine, in Europe, is intrinsic to its culture. By studying wine in Europe, you are studying history, geography, psychology, anthropology. It's more than a science, a business or just a fun drink: it's an integral part of life.

So for me the course was not just about becoming a snobby wine expert (which I'm not). It was another way of learning to understand the country that I call home.

In any case, I am very proud of myself. It has been a long, difficult journey but worth every minute.

What wine will I open tonight? Well, nothing. William's got a fever so we're eating vegetable broth from mugs while watching 'Casino Royale'.

Cheers!