Congratulations to Sarah Tomal, FWS, for passing the French Wine Scholar exam with highest honors!
About Sarah:
I started this journey into wine, in part, because of the pandemic. I’m a Registered Nurse in the outpatient setting, and when my clinic temporarily closed, I had extra time on my hands. I decided to use that time to invest in myself and my interests, one of them being wine. French wine has particularly intrigued me, so I took a leap and began the FWS program. During that time, my favorite wine bar caught wind of my studies and eventually asked if I’d like to work part time with them. So I now split my time between nursing and wine as I’m learning the ropes of the industry, and I’m grateful to this program because, without my FWS certification, I would not have so easily been able to get my foot in the door! I’m still finding my place in the wine industry as a whole, but wine education intrigues me. I have a passion for telling the stories in the bottle and making wine more approachable for EVERYone.
Besides my FWS certification, I’m working towards my Professional Certificate in the Business of Wine with San Diego State University. I feel like my FWS studies gave me a solid foundation for learning about other cultures and systems in the wine world and has given me a leg up in my SDSU certificate program. I plan to continue my studies and pursue WSET certification and one of WSG’s Master-Level Programs further down the road.
This program has helped me kindle a tangible passion for wine as a whole. Before, I felt like a casual enthusiast, but now I feel ready to step out and find my place in the industry. I’m excited to see where this new adventure leads me!
