One year on from the Unit 3 exam

Almost exactly one year ago I was madly cramming for the WSET Diploma unit 3 exam and tasting as much wine as I could. So if anyone reading this blog is doing the same right now, my thoughts are with you!

So what difference has passing the Diploma made to me through 2009?

• I thought I'd have more time as there was no need to spend at least one day per week studying but I can't think where that time has gone. It doesn't make me wonder how I found the time before as it only goes to show that if you want to do something enough, you'll find the time.
• I've been invited to apply as a judge - rather than as an associate judge whose scores don't count - by the IWSC. And I hope to judge for the IWC as well as they had previously said that when I passed my Diploma they would invite me along.
• I've helped out at five trade events which has been a great way to expand my network of contacts and try new wines.
• Friends treat my new found "skill" with an element of awe but have fun giving me a glass of wine and asking me to identify it, blind. No matter how tough you tell them it is to get it right they still expect me to guess correctly.
• I was nominated for a scholarship because of my Unit 3 results but unfortunately it was awarded to someone else. It's a shame as I could happily have spent a month working for the company who sponsor it.
• I still spend a lot of time reading up about wine as well as tasting it. It's such an absorbing subject and there is so much to learn - and enjoy - I take every opportunity to read magazines, check out web site and blogs and even utilise Twitter. I record all the wines I taste often putting them on Adegga and try to taste 3 or 4 per week on top of any trade events I go to.
• I'm still occasionally tempted to try the unit 5 Honours Diploma and when I read about Richard Hemmings MW trials and tribulations on Twitter, I feel a pang of envy about the learning and the ensuing satisfaction I get from it. But then I come to my senses!

So 2010 I think will be more of the same although I'll have the added pleasure of choosing the wine for my daughter's wedding in September.

BTW the picture is of a book I won in a recent competition which if I hadn't been a Twitter user. I wouldn't have known about.

Twitter and grapefan

I've started using Twitter - again. I used it over a year ago and was distinctly unimpressed. I found myself trawling through hundreds of meaningless tweets on my PC when I got home so gave it up after about a week.

However things are quite different now. I've been selective on who I follow and as I can access Twitter on my phone I can quickly review tweets so probably only spend 15 to 20 minutes per day in total keeping up to date and sending the occasional tweet.

So how have I found it useful?

• I've learned that Neal Martin has started blogging again. I enjoy - and learn from - his blogs.
• Robert Mcintosh definitely one the leaders of the social network revolution that is slowly permeating the wine world is always worth following to see how he uses Twitter and other tools.
• Jancis as you would expect tweets in a high quality and restrained manner. If it hadn't been for her tweets about her top red and white wines I may not have found them on Purple Pages.
• I didn't know the International Wine Challenge had a blog until I found Ray O'Connor tweeting. Considering I worked there in 2007 and 2008 that's remiss of me.
• And there's Richard Hemming just starting out on his MW studies. It will be fascinating following his travails.
• Seeing Adegga mentioned several times reminded me to update it with my tasted wines and compare note.
  

If you haven't tried Twitter yet you really should do so - but be selective in who you follow.