After 28 years of thinking about taking a wine class I finally acted on it. For fun, over two years, I attended monthly unaccredited classes through Total Wine and More. What a learning experience it was. This led me to wine certification [WSET] programs through local universities and hospitality programs. A hobby became a career. Certification and my blog led to a job as a Wine Steward for a national grocery store chain. This, in turn, led to my job as a local Specialty Buyer [beer and wine] for Whole Foods Market, with eventual growth to Specialty Team Leader and as a salesperson for a national wine importer and distributor. Who knew I would have such a calling.
Just as Whine and Cheers for Wine was named a TOP 100 Wine Blog, the world changed. 2019 had a different plan for all of us. I have been on a personal writing break during this time, but wine is still a large part of my life. I now do social-media and marketing for a Wine Spectator award-winning restaurant in Hobe Sound Florida, The Grove Cucina & Wine. A wine club, tastings, wine paired dinners and other monthly events keep us all quite busy. Luckily for us it all involves wine!
Follow along on INSTAGRAM, The Grove, Hobe Sound / Whine and Cheers for Wine.
Whine And Cheers For Wine 
Hi,
Great site! Please e-mail me at natdecants@nataliemaclean.com. It’s about wine of course 🙂
Cheers,
Natalie
LikeLike
Great site! Really enjoyed it. I will be back!
LikeLike
Thank you so much for the visit and comment. It is truly appreciated and I am enjoying writing it. Well, that and drinking the wines!
Regards,
Ernest.
LikeLike
Thanks for ‘liking’ my post. Great blog!
LikeLike
Thank you so much for your likes and for reposting my ‘Green Wine’ post! Your blog is beautifully done and so well-written. I’m subscribing now!
Cheers/Salud!
Señorita Vino
LikeLike
Thanks for liking my post, Nice blog here 🙂
LikeLike
Great blog… very down to earth… which is refreshing! Best- Jessica
LikeLike
Thank you for visiting and the kind words! I am truly enjoying it.
Regards,
Ernest.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by my blog! This is terrific. You have some great notes and I look forward to reading more. If you’re looking for more certification – I took courses with the International Sommelier Guild. Not sure if they have any classes around you. I liked that it was classroom based and pretty rigorous. Best of luck and keep up the good work!
LikeLike
Thank you for the ISG advice and visit to my blog, much appreciated. Unfortunately no local classes planned but I am working with the WSET [Wine Spirits Education Trust] through a local culinary university. Presently between Level 1 and 2 out of 3. So much to learn! 🙂
Regards,
Ernest.
LikeLike
Very impressive and kudos on your designation. I raise a glass of wine to you and say “Salute.” You show a lot of research and zeal on your pages.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for the very kind words they are truly appreciated. I have found this road very exciting and challenging and am looking forward to where it leads.
Regards,
Ernest.
LikeLike
Ernest, I’ve nominated you for Kreativ-Blogger Award on my blog 🙂 Also, I noticed, you have a comment from Natalie MacLean! That’s awesome! I love her books.
LikeLike
How is the stewarding going?
LikeLike
How is the stewarding going? Good question! One month into it and I am really enjoying working with the public and the wines themselves. I am learning to deal with the different distributors. Fortunately/unfortunately I am technically managing a department of one [me] so I am left to my own devices. The flip side of this is that I could use some procedural guidance from the powers that be as I learn my job, its responsibilities etc. The good news is that sales are up 35% since I started and the wine dept was expanded. Thank you so much for checking in with me, it is greatly appreciated!
Ernest.
LikeLike
Congratulations on your new designation and for following your heart. All the best to you.
LikeLike
Love your blog! I just wrote a “Thank You, Blog World” post and linked to you for Wine Education.
LikeLike
Our Total Wine and More store just reopened after taking over the entire space of an empty Borders Books store. It is a huge space. We went to the grand opening a few weeks ago, and it is fabulous! We can walk to it, it is so close. It also has the most amazing selection of beer which my husband greatly appreciates and my sons when they come and visit.
LikeLike
Big fan of theirs here. When it comes to selection they cannot be beat. Luckily the store I work for is 2nd to them in selection in our community 🙂 Keep an eye out for Total’s wine classes; very informative and fun.
LikeLike
Hi there! I wanted to let you know that I love your blog and I’ve nominated you for a Versatile Blogger award! You can find the link to the nomination at: http://martasdomesticgoddessproject.com/2012/07/05/versatile-blogger-award/
Congrats and I look forward to reading more!
LikeLike
Nice to here someone taking so much from the classes at Total Wine. I teach the class at our Goodyear store in Arizona and I’m glad to here that they are so well received elsewhere also. Thanks for liking my most recent article about blind tasting. Cheers!
LikeLike
Our teacher ROCKED as I am sure you do too 🙂 Good luck with your level II.
Thank you,
Ernest.
LikeLike
Congratulations and more kudos with the new honors and designations. It must be bliss to have to work with such products. All the best to you.
LikeLike
Many thanks for your comment. I am enjoying what I do with the one issue being self control 🙂 It’s hard not taking advantage of all the sales!
Regards.
LikeLike
Having been in a different phase of retailing for most of life, I understand the concept of needing self control. You will find that the urge will taper off after the “need” part is fulfilled.
Enjoy it to the fullest.
LikeLike
I look forward to following your blog. Reading your journey through wine education is quite interesting.
LikeLike
Pingback: Calling All Wine Ninjas « The Food and Wine Hedonist
Thank you very much for liking my post on sulfites and wine: greatly appreciated.
And congrats on a very nice blog and of course content, and also for going through the certification process to be a wine steward! Much like in your case, In the years past, before moving back to the U.S., I have gone through all three levels and final exam to become a certified sommellier with the Italian Sommelier Association, which is the Italian representative of the WSA (World Sommellier Association), and the whole experience has been a blast – you learn so much and they really teach you a culture of professionalism and appreciation for (good) wine and the wine world.
Well, thanks again – I will be following your blog!
Take care
LikeLike
Thank you for the kind words and follow. I too am appreciating your blog and more so now that I know more about your background. Thank you for sharing.
Ernest.
LikeLike
Thanks for the comments on my blog and I’m honored to be on your blogroll! Happy New Year!
LikeLike
Hey! I nominated you for the Liebster Award. You can see the nomination post at http://wp.me/p3cmGw-7D Nice work.
LikeLike
Hello!
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the like!
The whole wine thing is new to me. I am trying to get into it a little, but on a limited budget I do not want to make many costly mistakes. Add onto that the fact many wines I have tried that were recommended by others left a rather bad taste in my mouth – pun intended.
I also am interested in the purported health benefits of red wines and finding some good reds without sulfites to take full advantage of those benefits without drinking something that tastes like I am licking asphalt.
LikeLike
Hello Shawn thank you for your visit and comment. Yes it’s true. picking the right wine isn’t always easy and it can also be expensive. If you have nearby stores or restaurants that offer wine tastings this may be the best way for you to go. Low cost or some are even free and you get to taste many wines prior to buying them. Of course the adventure of finding one on your own can also be exciting. Here’s hoping there is more wine than whine in your future!
Best regards.
Ernest.
PS
Those are some beautiful photos you recently posted!
LikeLike
Nice blog! We have something in common: coming to an in-depth appreciation of wine a little later in life. It’s never too late to start!
LikeLike
Ernest, I am completely surprised and so happy for you and your new wine career! I hope to cheer with you guys sometime soon.
God bless.
Al
LikeLike
Thank you for the visit and great comments! Think of you often and your love of vino too. Yes the last couple of years have been quite a ride and the adventures continue. Here’s hoping to be cheering with you soon!
Ernest.
LikeLike
Thanks for stopping by my site today 🙂 I love your blog and congratulations on your position!
LikeLike
Thank you so much! I am enjoying your blog too!
LikeLike
I found your blog via The Winegetter and decided to check it out. I simply enjoy trying new wines and visiting wineries when I can. How wonderful for you to have found your calling! I think I will follow you blog and perhaps learn from you. Cheers and best of luck!
LikeLike
Welcome aboard and thank you for the visit and follow. Let’s see what adventures and hopefully good wines the future will bring.
Best regards.
Ernest.
LikeLike
Thanks for the shout out! Really like your site! I also really, really like wine!
LikeLike
Right back at ya! Thank you for the visit and comment.
LikeLike
Thank you for “liking” my post. I’ve taken a quick tour of your blog. Having just moved back from Italy, I am definitely in need of a voice of wisdom to direct me to good (and affordable) wines available here in the U.S. It looks like I may have found just the right place. I look forward to reading more!
LikeLike
So glad we found each other! Thank you for visiting and commenting. Feel free to let me know about any of your finds.
Regards.
LikeLike
Will do! And I’ll be looking forward to reading more from you. Cheers!
LikeLike
Truly a remarkable website. Power packed full of knowledge and artwork. The pleasure was all mine.
Visit my website, I would love to do business with such a well rounded individual such as yourself with an extraordinary wine background!
-Adam Mizrahy
Unitedwineflorida.com
LikeLike
Thanks again for the wonderful comments and visit.
LikeLike
Hi. I just came across your blog from a comment you made on another blog I follow. I love your story. Though I am more than a year late, congrats on your journey and achieving your dream!
LikeLike
Thank you for the visit, follow and the wonderful kind words. It’s never too late, salud!
LikeLiked by 1 person
This is the blog I was looking for! I have just started studying and drinking wine recently and I got a certificate of WSET level 1 a few months ago and I am going to study for WSET level 2 and higher. My knowledge about wine is still very limited and your posts must help to improve my knowledge. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Sounds like a fun journey!
LikeLiked by 1 person
“Right place at the right time” The Martini family and story is one for the books, I am very jealous that you were able to experience this, but of course, so happy for you that you did! Regardless of how my career winds through this world, the Gallo family and its brands that they bring to the table will always be special to my heart, and we appreciate your passion and support every day!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Pingback: No whine just wine. Time for an update. | Whine And Cheers For Wine