What is the most empowering force in the world? Education!
Education builds knowledge, increases confidence and promotes opportunity.
The power that drove me to pursue wine education
I’ve been a traveler, foodie and wine enthusiast for some time now. My interest in wine began when I moved to California. It has evolved with my love for food ever since. While living and traveling abroad, both wine and food became the main attraction of my travels.
In 2016 I began considering a career change that would revolve around wine and food. I had learned a lot through winery visits and tastings, restaurant pairings, and traveling to various wine regions; however, I realized there was so much more to learn! I enrolled in WSET (Wine & Spirits Educational Trust) Level I and was hooked! Within a year I completed Level 2 and Level 3.
A Newfound Understanding
Through my training at WSET I discovered:
- Confidence in my knowledge and evaluation of wine quality;
- Appreciation of the wine on a new level; and an
- Opportunity and interest in teaching others.
Behavior Change
This new level of knowledge changed my behaviors. I began:
- Selecting wine based on origin rather than label;
- Experimenting with wine from new regions, varietals and producers;
- Pairing wine with food;
- Appreciating the relationship between wine price and quality; and
- Educating others about wine.
Clarity and Opportunity
It became clear that my passion is to educate others about wine, so I jumped into the world of wine!
In 2018, I launched Corks & Boards as a platform to change how people approach and experience wine (and food) through education and tailored wine experiences.
Start with Education!
If you can believe it, up until now, there has been no formal wine education offered to the general public in Charlotte!
So I developed a wine education series that provides an individual with a foundation of knowledge which will enhance their experience when tasting, assessing and exploring wine. Attendees will gain confidence in choosing (or serving) wine in a restaurant or wine shop, evaluating its quality, and pairing food and wine.
Level I – Understanding the Label – is a comprehensive four-part wine education series covering:
Intro to Wine
Explore wine types and styles, climate impact, winemaking and tasting techniques.
The Food & Wine Relationship
Explore the core principles behind food and wine pairing.
Intro to Sparkling & White Wine
Explore the most popular sparkling and white wine grape varietals.
Intro to Red & Fortified Wine
Explore the most popular red and fortified wine grape varietals.
The series is being offered at Camp North End (Charlotte) each Thursday in February from 6:30-8:30pm. Tickets are available now through Eventbrite or Facebook, and can be purchased as a series or by the course.
https://www.eventbrite.com/o/corks-amp-boards-28699098207
Stephanie Roberts, WSET® Certified, is passionate about educating people about wine and all its complexities. She believes that through education comes enlightenment and approachability—elevating the wine and food experience. Stephanie is the founder of Corks & Boards, offering unique and tailored wine experiences, and topic driven tastings/education. Furthermore, she has developed a wine education series that she will launch February 2020. She currently offers wine experiences and education to the Lake Norman community at Brick Row and the Charlotte community at Camp North End.
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