Rational Wine

Author: Mark

  • Four Wine Questions I Always Ask Customers and Guests (+ bonuses)

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    Mark
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    In my career spanning hospitality and retail, I have come across many different customers. I have found that most customers have a rough idea of what they are after, and just need a little help. Others have no idea what they are looking for, and appreciate deeper guidance. I have learned that by asking the…

  • My Experience of the Advanced Sommelier Exam, Attempt #1, August 2018

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    Mark
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    The original version of this article was first published on 14 August 2018. Disclaimer: The following is purely a recollection of my own experience of preparing and sitting for the Advanced Sommelier exam. The Court of Master Sommeliers may choose to alter the format of the examination in the future. I take no responsibility if you…

  • My Experience of the Advanced Wine Assessment Course

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    Mark
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    The original version of this article was first published on 17 November 2021. Early in 2021 I was honoured to receive the Sydney Royal Wine Professional Development Scholarship, which placed me in the 53rd Advanced Wine Assessment Course held at the Australian Wine Research Institute in Adelaide, South Australia. I had recently made a sideways jump…

  • A Love Letter to Australian Wine

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    Mark
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    This image should illustrate the main point clearly; the great Old World wine countries of Europe, including France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, etc… could all comfortably fit within the area that Australia encompasses. Europe does have some advantages over Australia: But Australia has these advantages over the EU: (There are certainly more points to consider,…

  • Losing 10 kg and Ending Snoring – My Experience With Prolonged Fasting

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    Mark
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    DISCLAIMER: I am not a medical professional in any sense, and I strongly recommend seeking professional advice before you or anyone else thinks to try anything similar to what I have done, especially if you have any underlying medical conditions. Recently I decided to see how long I could maintain a fast (including from wine…

  • How You Can Learn About Wine (and Life) By Tasting Purposefully

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    Mark
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    If you don’t work in the wine industry, and you don’t have the time to deeply study about wine, the best way to learn is through tasting. Lots and lots of tasting. Not just tasting your favourite wines, but making the effort to taste as many of the world’s most classic styles as you can…

  • A Fresh Start

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    Mark
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    It’s been a long time, but it seems that circumstances have finally aligned to allow me to approach this website with a fresh perspective. Coming into the new year, a question I find myself asking is: how do I become part of the solution, instead of the problem? Most of what I read is discouraging.…