39 JAPAN

I have always been interested in wine. I enjoyed drinking it, of course, but I was also curious about what makes each wine different. There are so many varieties, regions, and styles, and I wanted to understand more about what I was actually drinking.

While researching wine, I discovered that there are wine examinations and certifications that allow people to study wine in a more structured way. That immediately caught my attention. Instead of simply enjoying wine, I thought it would be interesting to challenge myself and see how much I could learn.

So, I decided to take my first wine exam, the Bronze level.

Preparing for the exam was much more interesting than I expected. I learned about different grape varieties, famous wine-producing regions, and the characteristics that make each wine unique. Before studying, names such as Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Cabernet Sauvignon were familiar to me, but I did not fully understand what made them different.

As I studied, I started to see wine differently. A bottle of wine was no longer just red or white. I began thinking about where the grapes were grown, which varieties were used, the climate of the region, and why a particular wine might taste the way it does.

I recently took the Bronze examination and passed it with only three incorrect answers. I was very happy with the result, especially because this was my first serious step into studying wine.

After the exam, my teacher recommended that I continue to the Silver class, which is the next level. I hadn’t originally planned to move on so quickly, but now I am seriously considering taking the Silver examination in November.

The more I learn, the more I realize how deep the world of wine is. There is always another region, grape variety, production method, or history to discover. That is probably what makes studying wine so interesting.

At the end of this month, I will also be joining a winery tour, and I am especially excited about it. Until now, most of my learning has come from textbooks and classes. This will be an opportunity to actually visit a winery and connect what I have studied with the real winemaking process.

I am looking forward to seeing the vineyards, learning how wine is produced, and hopefully recognizing some of the things I have learned in class. I think experiencing wine in person will make everything I have studied feel much more real.

Passing the Bronze level feels less like the end of an exam and more like the beginning of a new interest. I started simply because I liked wine, but studying it has made me appreciate it in a completely different way.

Next might be Silver and I am excited to see where this journey takes me.