MW Seminar Santa Rosa

 

I have completed yet another Master of Wine seminar week, this time in Santa Rosa CA.  I will freely admit that I went into the week with less enthusiasm than in prior seminar weeks.  My dampened enthusiasm is two pronged.  Certainly part of it is my familiarity with Santa Rosa in general as I have become so consistent a visitor to the area that I have an opinion on area coffee shops, breakfast spots, breweries, and alternate routes to the Napa Valley. I try to use the seminar as a jump off point to an interesting travel destination, and California wine regions have a "been there, done that" feel to them for me however unjustified that thinking might be. I can't tell you how many California wineries think they have invented some type of wheel when they proudly tell you they are "committed to sustainability, minimal intervention vineyard-first mentality that allows us to express our terroir with respect to our winemaking traditions in an authentic way".  I mean, that's cool and all but to an outsider it looks like a rich dude moved to California after making a kazillion dollars doing something else, has a bunch of Hispanic workers doing the heavy lifting in the fields, and employed a winemaker named like "Dylan" or "Merideth" who uncomfortably answers your questions while wearing a down vest.  The wines are good, but there starts to be a samey sameness once you get past the major categories of coastal pinot noir, inland pinot noir, big ass cabernet sauvignon, and oaky chardonnay.  You've got outliers doing shit like "skin contact vermentino" and "premium expressions of Zin", but that's not where the action is.  Don't get me wrong, I'd be jacked if that was my first trip out there.  It's just that I've been there for about three months time over the last five years.  

The other main reason is that I am starting to sour on this whole endeavor.  I have made real progresss in my understanding of the technical aspects of winemaking that has held me back.  I can hang in there during winemaker talk time and raise an eyebrow if I hear a TA level or pH number that is a bit suspect.  I have a pretty good working knowledge of all the major wine producing regions.  I can't get into great depth about a place like Hawke's Bay in NZ, but I know it is reasonable to assume that if I have a Bordeaux blend that feels technically clean and cooler climate without a savory finish, I should probably consider Hawke's Bay as a source.  That skill was always my main area of interest.  However, the major stumbling block for me right now in becoming an MW is how I am writing my answers in both essay and tasting formats.  For me to pass the exam, you'd think that figuring out what the wines are in the glass would be the main hurdle.  However, for me it's now becoming essay structure, word selection to veer sounding like I'm living in London, and proper funneling techniques.  It's not just me either.  I hear the same feedback from others that are not UK education based.  Essay structure isn't why I got into this and I have a genuine lack of motivation to throw myself into that.  I have 16 weeks to basically whip myself into staying motivated on improving that area and I'm not sure if I can do it.

Having lived my life with a "I don't want to join any club that would have me as a member" philosophy is certainly part of it.  I naturally rebel against any type of authority.  While the authority here is all symbolic, I still feel an internal pushback.  I mean, really, what can happen to me here?  Oh, you want me to do it this way?  Well fuck you, I am doing it my own way and now let's fight about it so I can die on the hill that my way is better.  This is a counterproductive set of behaviors that I am aware of and struggle to control.  I have to always remember that ultimately nobody cares if I pass or fail beyond my inner circle.  Truthfully, the IMW wants another face out there in the world spreading the word, though there are definitely certain faces the executive team would prefer instead of mine.  This I understand and between us, I would too if I were them.  I don't think anyone thinks of my candidacy very seriously.

Here's the thing though...  I put a few good days together on the mock exams.  We had one exam graded by an MW.  I got an "A".  I have never to this point received an "A" in anything.  My P1 exam I did fairly well on, had crazy P2 exam with very high highs and very low lows, and a solid P3.  You put those four exams together and I had a legit shot at a passing grade.  The Spain and Odney seminar (two other locations I couldn't get into) will happen in a couple of weeks.  As they use the same wines, I can't run through the mocks yet.  When those finish I will run through that red wine one that I had a rocky time with as usually my failures are much more entertaining to read than my successes.  Until then I'll get back to improving my writing skills and immerse myself into a couple of wine regions that consistently fool me.  We will discuss those soon!