David Harris, FWS

Congratulations to David Harris, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors!

About David:
Several years ago, I thought it would be fun to take a wine appreciation course at a local community college.  I enjoyed it so much that I continued taking courses, most recently completing the French Wine Scholar program.  I love the art and science of wine and the history is fascinating.  When I retired a couple of years ago and moved with my wife to the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia, Canada, I applied for seasonal work at a local winery in hopes of further expanding my knowledge of wine.  I was fortunate enough to be offered a job at one of the finest family owned and operated wineries in British Columbia.  At Quail’s Gate Winery, I pour wine for guests while sharing stories about those wines.  I also conduct tours of our vineyard and winery.  I love learning and sharing my knowledge with others in hopes that they too, may become as passionate as I am about the fascinating world of wine.

My original wine appreciation course evolved into a sommelier study program.  I had almost completed that program, but we moved and I was unable to finish it.  After our move, I looked for a sommelier program locally, but couldn’t find one.  Instead, I signed up for the WSET 3 program and passed that course with distinction.  When we moved once again to the Okanagan Valley (wine country), I heard many good things about the FWS program from my colleagues at Quail’s Gate.  I wasn’t disappointed.  The quality of the program and instructors was outstanding.  I know that I will continue my wine education in the future, possibly focusing on a specific region of France like Bourgogne.

It seems that every time I complete a wine course, I want to take another.  The FWS program has certainly peaked my interest in studying a specific region (or regions) of France in further depth.

The FWS program has greatly enhanced my knowledge of wine in general.  I found that the knowledge gained on the FWS program could, in many instances, be directly related to my work at Quail’s Gate.  Everything from the local terroir and viticulture practices to wine-making techniques at Quail’s Gate can be related to certain regions in France.  At Quail’s Gate, our flagship wines are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.  As such, I’m thinking that my next course of study will be Bourgogne.