Mission: Pass Certified Court of Masters Sommelier Exam

I really might have gone motivationally insane with this one, but I have signed up to take my Certified Court of Masters Sommelier Exam this July in Portland! What does this mean? I have two and a half months to read and memorize thousands of pages of wine history, varietals, winemaking practices, food and wine pairings, and international and domestic wine law! I also get to practice my deductive tasting methods and wine service over and over, because I will be tested on those as well.

Here is my initial reading list:

The Wine Bible by Karen MacNeil
The Oxford Companion to Wine by Jancis Robinson
Sales and Service for the Wine Professional by Brian K. Julyan
Wine Spectator
Wine Enthusiast
... and every study guide and set of flashcards I can get my hands on!

I am really looking forward to this intense process! I am very timid announcing this to the blogosphere, because what if I fail? Well, its all in the name of learning and I can always retake the exam! In addition, this blog will be a great tool for me to share my knowledge with you. Thanks for all the continued support!