On 13.6.2000 I got a letter where I was accepted for the sommelier education at the Turku Vocational Institute. The school started on the 1st August 2000 and we will have contact days approximately 4 times/month. Those days include lectures but also empirical studies like wine tastings.

 

On the left picture our first wine tasting with various Rieslings and on the right our teacher, sommelier Anu Elomaa with our first visiting lecturer Pentti Kamberg are looking at the "tabula rasa"

The first excursion and obligatory training trip was completed during 6.9. - 18.9.2000. We visited Caves Jaboulet and Vernay (Rhone);  Morin, Bouchard Pere et fils and Duboeuf (Bourgogne). We also worked 1 week pickin up Gamay-grapes in a small Beujolais village called Ste. Paul

 

On the left picture the big French boss speeds up the lazy Finns. On the right I found my first gamay grapes

On the second excursion we visited Spain from Penedes via Costes del Segre to Rioja during 12. - 19. March