Congratulations to Anne Phillips, IWS, for passing the Italian Wine Scholar exam with highest honors!
About Anne:
I have been a wine enthusiast for many (many) years. I decided to start taking classes about 5 years ago. I took some local classes that did not include a certification, but it gave me some basic knowledge and the desire to learn more. I enjoy learning about wine because it covers many areas. It is a complex subject starting with the vineyard and finishing with the product in the glass. It also involves history, especially in Europe, and culture as well. There is a chemistry side of it too. You really do get exposure to a range of topics as well as the pure enjoyment of it.
I started my first certification with WSET 2, then went on to WSET 3 and took my exam just before the COVID shutdown happened. So I have my certification for both 2 and 3. I started my IWS studies that summer.
I started a Meetup group (an online way people with similar interests can meet), in the Palm Springs area about 15 months ago. We are up to almost 200 members now and I organize and lead tastings regularly for the group. Because I enjoy teaching people about wine, I am pursuing becoming a provider with WSET so that I can teach levels 1 and 2.
We planted a vineyard of Nero d’Avola grapes from Sicily as my mother’s side of the family is from there. I am a landscaper by profession so having a vineyard is something I always wanted to have. We haven’t had a harvest yet, but hope to soon.
I have taken and passed both WSET 2 and 3. I am studying for the Certified Specialist of Wine exam. My plan is to get my Certification to be a wine educator through that program.
I think the IWS took me much deeper into my wine studies. I am a huge fan of Italian wine as it is so diverse, complex and interesting. Not to mention great wines to taste along the way. I hope to go even deeper into the study of Italian wines. I think starting off with WSET gave me the foundation I needed to understand the wine making process which did help with the IWS program.
I hope to teach wine studies in the next year or so. I am looking into being a WSET provider and have started the paperwork to do that. IWS opened a door for me to see how interesting wine studies can be. There is a long history of wine in Italy and it is an integral part of the culture. There is a pride in tradition, and quality. Trying varietals that I had not had before was a great experience because I have found many new wines that I love at great prices. I would say that IWS because of the detail and depth of the program was able to show me the passion, and pride of Italy’s winemaking tradition. Because of that I think I am a better teacher of wine as I now try to share that passion with my students.
