Congratulations to Evan Robert Fraser, SWS, for passing the Spanish Wine Scholar exam with highest honors!
About Evan:
I was fortunate enough to able to turn my job in the alcohol beverage industry into a career after meeting employees, members of the beverage trade, and local winemakers who radiated passion for the work they do. I currently hold the position of Product Consultant with the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO) and work in a customer facing environment, introducing our customers to what is new and exciting in the world of wine while providing specialist-level information about regions and wines of notoriety.
The process to achieve this position involves extensive study and testing. My passion for wine is rooted in looking for ways to make a complicated subject as simple for newcomers as possible; to help people understand the history and the elements that contribute to the liquid they are about to enjoy. My future aspirations involve working with others who wish to take the next step in their beverage education, along with expanding my role as an ambassador for the wine industry in Ontario.
The majority of my wine and beverage studies have involved work with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust (WSET) and The Wine Scholar Guild (WSG). I currently hold the Level 3 Award in Wine and Spirits certification through WSET and the Italian Wine Scholar (IWS) and the recently introduced Spanish Wine Scholar (SWS) certifications through the WSG. I have had the pleasure of studying with the Independent Wine Education Guild (IWEG) in Toronto, Canada and cannot recommend enough the work and study environment they provide to students.
The information that I have learned from taking courses in the Wine Scholar Guild has been invaluable to the work I do; the detailed analysis of varietals, wine laws, appellations, geography found in the Spanish Wine Scholar and the Italian wine Scholar make them essential certifications for any trade professional and those looking to further their wine knowledge. Moreover, the WSG courses perfectly augment the work that I have done in the WSET so far and will be beneficial to my future certifications.
Taking the SWS has reminded me to look at the industry with a critical eye: one must always evaluate how the interplay between climates, regions, and social mores contribute to a country’s wine heritage and wine culture wholly. In the coming year I will focus my attention on beginning studies in the WSET’s Diploma program through IWEG along with exploring courses offered through Brock University’s Cool Climate Oenology and Viticulture Institute (CCOVI) and focusing on the Ontario wine industry.
The Spanish Wine Scholar Certification has reinforced for me the importance of being a well-read individual in the wine world; to be able to speak to the finer points of the world’s most important wine regions instills my customers with confidence in the products I have selected. The in-depth information in the Spanish Wine Scholar is invaluable and provides expert level knowledge for an ever-evolving wine industry.
