Congratulations Joanna Mackie for passing the Sud de France Master-Level exam with the highest honors!
About Joanna:
''I consider myself a wine enthusiast. It’s primarily a hobby that has taken me from boutique wine tastings, wine dinners and regional and international tours to some serious study – WSET wine courses, French wine scholar program and more recently undertaking the Master Level program with the Wine Scholar Guild.
So what is it about wine that inspires me to learn more?
Wine encompasses ancient civilizations, history, culture, science, geography and more importantly a sense of place. I believe wine is made in the vineyard and it is that interaction of geology, climate and vine that creates that unique substance in the glass. Like learning a new language, it takes almost a lifetime to master.
Every couple of weeks I like to try new wine varieties, styles and regions to expand my knowledge and gain fresh perspectives on new wines. I enjoy sampling different vintages of the same wine to see how the conditions of a particular growing year have impacted on the wine in the glass.
I have always had a passion for French wine. In the last five years, I’ve explored and visited a number of wine regions in France including Alsace, Burgundy, Bordeaux, Rhone, Provence and more recently Languedoc-Roussillon. I love reading wine books, blogs, magazines and even wine journals. My hobby has become a continuous journey and there is still much more to learn.
I hold a:
- Graduate Certificate in Wine Business - Adelaide University
- WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and Spirits – Pass with Distinction
- French Wine Scholar Program – 96 Highest Honours
This course builds on the knowledge and skills acquired in the French wine scholar program and the WSET Level 3 Advanced course.
I am interested in pursuing (in the future) a number of programs including the Wine Scholar Guild Master level program - Burgundy, Italian Wine Scholar program and if time permits the WSET Diploma of Wine. However, I need to be able to balance my studies with my role at the NSW Department of Education.
I am interested in pursuing a part time wine lecturer role with the Sydney Wine Academy. I believe the Master level programs provide an in depth knowledge and comprehensive coverage of France’s wine regions.''
