I’ve worked in many large and midsized markets (SF, Houston, DC). Now I’m in a very small city in southern New Mexico where the only wine tasting group is community of retirees. If any of you are in a smaller market or have experience- how do you stay motivated without a community of wine professionals to work with? I’d love to hear any and all advice y'all have!

What are you studying, reviewing, or trying to finally get to stick this week? Drop it in the comments 👇 Tell us: 📖 What certification or exam are you working toward? 🧠 What topic has your attention right now? 😵‍💫 And what’s giving your brain a run for its money? Whether you’re deep in Burgundy, battling spirits production, memorizing maps, working on tasting, or just trying to remember all. the. things.… we want to hear it. Bonus points: If you see someone studying something you’ve already tackled, jump into their comment with a tip, resource, or little encouragement. Let’s study smarter together. 🍷🧠

My name is Megan - I am currently based in New Mexico but I was born and raised in northern California. After passing the Advanced Sommelier exam I began a research project in 2020 interviewing wine professionals across our industry. I asked a series of questions targeting how people entered the industry and what have they experienced since. One of the questions is what bottle or producer first sparked their interest - “the wine that got them into wine.” For me, it will always be Seth Kunin Syrah from Santa Barbara. I had only been working in the wine industry for a couple of months and I didn’t realize grapes tasted differently based on where they’re grown (such a mind blowing moment). His Syrah was both peppery and smoky, unlike the fruit forward wines of Paso Robles. Then I decided I wanted to do this for the rest of my life 🍇 It’s a question that I feel most of us have an answer to - and I would love to know yours! Please comment and let me know what your first wine was 🍷

Hello, everyone! I’m going through the class about creating a productive study environment, and it got me curious about what has helped you along the way. Do you have any favorite study playlists? A particular tool you use to organize your study space? Something that helps you stay engaged while studying? I almost always keep a fidget gadget with me when I’m reviewing theory.

Your first community post can be simple. Tell us your name and where you are based along with: 🍷 What certification are you currently working toward? 🧠 What is your biggest study challenge right now? 🎯 What would make studying feel easier or more effective for you? Then take a minute to welcome someone else while you're there. You already have something in common: You're both trying to become better learners.