Michael Jordan - All Comments

RE: Best Study Practices

Troy Tranzow — Tue, 30 Jul 2019 08:37:55 GMT

This is so incredibly timeless. So happy Guildsomm keeps these types of topics alive to revisit. Thank you MJ for helping me 9 years ago before I ever was interested in wine!

RE: Best Study Practices

Scott Barber — Wed, 21 Apr 2010 00:44:14 GMT

I liked Michael Engleman's suggestion of reading wine lists and I do it regularly myself. It's a great way to see how others are thinking and different formats can often be inspiring. Of course, it also helps to read the menu too to get a feel for the food. Before I went into service for Advanced I wrote down from memory a mini wine list with 3 examples of every type of wine I could imagine recommending. That way if they threw out two I'd have another. If i didn't have three producers in my pocket I wouldn't go to that wine. There's no need to have the most clever unusual pairing, just a good solid wine that works and strong reasoning behind it.

I'm a big fan of regional pairings which I also think plays into the tapestry approach of studying. If you think of the types of foods from a region it's easy to come up with a native pairing and it's harder for the Masters to reject a classic pairing (not that they wouldn't do it anyway but at least you can defend it better). At TopSomm, my N. Italy selection was booted so I used geography to suggest Styrian and Slovenian alternatives that brought the same things to bear as my original recommendation.

RE: Best Study Practices

PatrickOkubo363 — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 08:00:38 GMT

Did a BYOB dinner at my restaurant in the private room for David Castleberry practicing for the Advanced exam in April. It was a set 4 course menu (this way, I could at least guarantee that the average check wouldn't be hurt by the BYOB with no corkage). On the back of the menu I had a bunch of questions such as a cocktails, serving temeratures, intructions for guests to ask for a wine pairing and say they didn't like the grape or produer, etc. Each customer would ask the questions at some point through their dinner which was part of the fun, they knew this when they made the reservation. I would also take their bottles and rename some of them. i.e rather than the Fluer de Cap (I labeled it with a neck lable, Palmer 01 and had the table order Palmer 01). David decanted every bottle that evening. In the end I think he decanted at least 15 bottles, some of which were really old, and opened about 5 champagne bottles, one of which was a mag. We'll probably do another one, it was fun and good for the restaurant too.

RE: Best Study Practices

PatrickOkubo363 — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 04:35:33 GMT

I meant the '75 Sur Winston Churchill only in Magnum.

RE: Best Study Practices

PatrickOkubo363 — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 05:44:18 GMT

I didn't pass the service this past test but it at least helped me to identify my weaknesses to prepare for next time. I'm lucky I work at a place where I have full control so I can use the restaurant to help me. Cocktails are my weakness, and that's at least 3 points on the service exam. I'm going to change my late night happy hour program. Rather than doing the typical late night happy hour and offering $3 cocktails and the list being the typical stuff. I will make a 10 drink cocktail list of "classics" that I'm not familiar with. They will all be cheaper price to attract guest as well as entice them to order that as opposed to a regular vodka martini. I'll be the bartender during those last 2 hours of service so I can make the drinks over and over and hopefully remember them. This will also force me to buy a lot of the liquors I don't currently carry and therefore I will have them to blind taste (we did get to taste them at the exam).

For the Champagnes, I am making a theoretical list of many tete cuvees. I think seeing it as a wine list makes it easier to remember. I broke it up by category; MV, Blanc de Blanc, Blanc de Noir, Grower, Single Vineyard, Late Disgorge. There is a discription of the house and the tete cuvee highligting the special points about that Champagne; i.e. Noble Cuvee became the blanc de blanc in 1995 where before it was CH and PN about 50%; or La Grande Dame is Typically 62% PN in honor of its first vintage in 1962 with the exception of 90 and 96. Then under that it has the vintages made back to the 60's. This will help you keep track of what vintages were made, and also if there is both NV and Vintage such as Cuvee Rare or Grand Siecle. I put a 2 time mark up on them just to see a comparitive price, this helps you to remember special things about that particular wine was such as the 79 Dom Ruinart because of it's awards at the Millenium tasting or the Dom 90 because it was Geoffroy's first vintage, or Sir Winston Churchill only being available in Magnum.

RE: Best Study Practices

Michael Jordan — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 06:01:28 GMT

Let's keep this going. I am pretty sure there are several MS Candidates coming away from this last exam in Napa, with fresh impressions of where the bar is....that could help the rest of us to improve our skills get better.

Anybody out there..... please help our fellow candidates to find the BEST STUDY PRACTICES for service... please share your experience, stregnth and what you have done to prepare yourselves for service. .....if youve been challenged and succeeded , how?

RE: Best Study Practices

Anonymous — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 03:11:31 GMT

Hello Master Jordan,

Thank you for the valuable information and to others that have left notes on this blog. I am so thrilled and pleased to have found this, as I am preparing to take the Advanced test in Anaheim in less than 60 days, yes I am counting!

This will be my second go around so at least I have some idea of the pressure and knowledge needed.

I live in Dana Point, CA (The OC!). I am involved in a local study group every Monday night but need to join or start another. Does anyone have any interest in joining us on Monday evenings, starting another study group or adding a serious student to an existing group? Please and Thank you.

One thing that I think may be helpful for me, after reading your suggestions about verbal communication, especially during service, is to reconnect with my French teacher to pronounce the language a bit better. Any one interested?

Thank you sincerely,

Deborah Diamond

RE: Best Study Practices

Anonymous — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:21:42 GMT

Hello Michael!

Sounds like another successful Rudd round table. I was fortunate to glean so much perspective and encouragement at the first one. Thank you for continung to do what you do with the committment and enthusiasm you offer. Miss you brother!

ciao,

Julia

RE: Best Study Practices

Michael Jordan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 04:51:52 GMT

Ok gang,

We have pretty much covered Theory and most of our best study practices. Let's move on now to SERVICE! remembering that along with skills and proper techniques there is a ton of theory involved here. Simply stated, "you must have a strong working understanding of theory and the ability to reason and describe to do well in service." Before I give my "best of" study practices I would love to hear from YOU what you are doing to prepare yourselves for service..... how are you working on becoming a better sommelier? What are you doing to make yourself better each day/ .... better than you were yesterday.

Yes, a working sommelier with great skills and the ability to use them in any type of situation or business condition - to serve guests... that is what we are striving to teach, examine and certify... real, honest, intelligent, respectful, respectable, refined, friendly, service oriented, wine service professionals. Sommeliers. I would be remiss if I don't remind us all that one of our most important goals as a community is to HELP EACH OTHER, to be the best we can, to represent this honorable profession in its best light and to help others to be the very best they can be too. FOR THE GUEST!!!! Because without them we do not exist. So, the service aspect of our business and our development in this area is crucial to our continued growth as a group as well as individually. Please think about this frequently as you travel down that happy road of destiny! .... do not become fooled that you are a such a great and gifted individual that you become more important than your guests or the people you work with. Remember to be humble, that your guests do not care how much you know , they only want to know how much YOU Care !! This philosophy will serve you well in exams, in business and in life. If it sounds like a lecture here... it is. I think it is the part our parents may have forgot to tell us ... "no matter how good you get or how much you learn don't become an arrogant jerk, its not nice to be around you!"

So that all being said, tell us what are you all doing to be better in service, both philosophic and practical. Both theoretical and physical. Whats up with service?

RE: Best Study Practices

Eric Entrikin — Sat, 13 Feb 2010 22:19:46 GMT

Master Jordan,

One more big thanks for starting this blog. It was an amazing opportunity for learning at the Rudd Masters Round Table last month. I wish every Master Candidate could be so lucky. I wanted to thank Mr Rudd for an incredibly generous donation to fund the event through the Guild of Sommeliers. Also to Master Geoff Kruth and Blakesley Chappellet for their work in organizing the event and to all the Masters who donated their time.

I'm having trouble trying to think of anything that hasn't been mentioned about theory but here are some of the things that have worked for me.

Allocating enough time for study, you have to face facts, there is no way you'll know everything, but you need to try and get your mind around each region of the world and for me this took time, possible because of all the lost brain cells Master Jordan mentioned.

Forest through the trees: I think I focused so much on some areas that I didn't take the time with others, even though I passed the theory in July, I felt I could have done better had I taken the time to ask myself what are the important aspects or this region or subject. Although knowing some of the esoteric details can be really fun.

The tapestry approach really worked for me. As I studied and my mind wandered when it all started to become a blur it allowed me to follow tangents of information that were easier for me to recall when I was sitting in the verbal testing format. Like a grape variety with multiple synonyms, as the name changes per location you can explore aging requirements, wine styles, soil aspects and producers on a cross-regional basis. Creating this web of information also allowed me to better explain wines to the guests in the restaurant, which also helped reinforce my knowledge.

I hope this gives another angle to the discussion.

The Rudd Masters Event also pointed out how lucky we are to work in an industry with such fantastic people. I look forward to seeing all the new friends I've made through the event at future functions.

I want to also say that much of the education and trainiing that is being provided by the court may not have been possible without the long involvement of Master Fred Dame, he has truly shaped the court in a fantastic way.

I'm truly honored for the opportunity to be considered in this group.

RE: Best Study Practices

William Moss — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:37:56 GMT

I would like to thank all the Masters, Blakesley and Mr. Rudd for putting together the Rudd round table.

It was a such a great experience beeing there and sharing thoughts and ideas of how to study and prepare for the Masters exam.

These were some tips given to me that I thought will be helpfull for others too.

Practice asking and answering questions verbally, Mix the theme of the questions from diffrent topics and regions.

If there is conflict with information among books get to the sorce. (goverment web sites etc.)

At last, forming a study group with other candidates, pushing each other to study, ask questions, taste wines that are similar, like aromatic whites side by side and discuss the differences, practice service on one onother and give feedback. All of this has helped me become more effective at studing and comfortable in a "Exam setting".

Michael, Thank you for starting this blog, I have taken all the advice that you and others have posted and incorporated into my studies.

I hope this helps,

William Moss

RE: Best Study Practices

Rachael Lowe — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 23:13:28 GMT

I want to start by thanking everyone for their incredible generosity, knowledge and suggestions given at the Rudd Roundtable 2 weekends ago. It was such an amazing experience and certainly a great honor to be part of such an event. I am grateful to everyone there and to all that was shared; thank you so much to all involved, Leslie Rudd, Blakesley Chappellet, the Masters, as well as all the Masters candidates for making it all possible.

Since passing my Advanced exam I have been uncertain in regards to my approach in preparing for the Masters, but all that has been shared (thank you so much Michael for creating this blog) has steered me and I'm sure many others, in a much stronger and solidified direction. The notes I found particularly helpful and universal were as follows:

The thought of weaving a tapestry or web, and creating a story about regions and their various attributes, rather then simply regurgitating a memorized list of answers and questions somehow makes learning and retaining such extensive knowledge less daunting. Creating ones own questions will in effect deepen your knowledge, as these questions will spur further questions and ultimately round out ones own mastery of theory greatly.

Mentorship is one of the core values of the Court and not only is it inspirational to be exposed to the great knowledge of the Masters, but the importance of teaching what knowledge you have yourself is invaluable. The ability to explain oneself in a thorough and educational way not only helps others, but solidifies and deepens ones own knowledge.

Everyone has their own personal strategies that work best when applied to studying; flashcards have always worked best for me (an hour of cardio has never gone by faster or been more interesting), but I now look forward to broadening my approach to include voice recordings, map tracing and truly intertwining the notion of a tapestry. Every angle helps, particularly when preparing for and getting comfortable with the verbal theory portion. I would also add to this that I have come to have an entirely new appreciation for acronyms and find them an amazing tool for easier memorization and retention! Texting pop questions back and forth to a fellow candidate can be fun as well!

And ultimately, taste, explore and expose yourself to as much as possible. Tastings, wine stores and wine lists are all key, and allow one to more readily dissect and analyze varying approaches and formats. I also think it helps to go out to eat, and observe service from a different angle all together.

Lastly, as was repeated on several occasions as well, make your weaknesses your strengths.

I apologize if any of this seems redundant from previous posts, however the more I think through it all the more important I see all these notes. I am thankful for the creation of this blog and believe it will be a fundamental core for not only my future studies, but many others.

RE: Best Study Practices

Megan Yelenosky — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:16:52 GMT

I am a self admitted poor test taker. I have a hard time managing my stress levels. To help with this I try to put myself in testing environment as often as possible. I passed my Advanced last year and it could be well over a year before I get a seat at the Masters. So to help with my test taking phobias I am working through the Diploma program from WSET, I will be sitting exams every quarter at this rate. I also use maps; I have laminated then and use a dry erase marker to fill in regions, geography and varietal info. I have all of my flashcards in my phone so I can take advantage of all of the down time that I spend waiting for things in life. When composing a question for my flashcards I try to ask the question from several different angles so I don't just memorize one aspect and hope that I get asked that specific question. I was having a difficult time wrapping my brain around Germany and I found success with learning the producers and working my way backwards from there.

One thing that no one has mentioned that I found was the tipping point for me was when I got up the nerve to ask for help from others that have been down this path. I put aside my pride and asked if people would help me. I would do all the work and put in the time but I needed to be pushed, challenged and nervous, just like in a test. In turn I pay this forward by mentoring others that have chosen this path.

RE: Best Study Practices

Michael Jordan — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 18:18:31 GMT

Ok, I know you are out there.... give us some love here.

What do YOU do to prepare your self?

Did we miss something?

What are the tools that those of you that don't "test well" use? Some of us are much better in an examination setting, others of us get more stressed out, how do you recall information when your knees are shaking?

Some of us dinosaurs (like myself sat these exams many (many, many) years after college.. (so long ago - they didn't use calculators in school back then). We had to regain a system of study and recall long after we had not needed or used that sort of discipline. (Not to mention the passing away of numerous brain cells over the years- may they rest in peace...) So, what are some methods of this type of recall that work for you?

Let's discuss...

RE: Best Study Practices

Michael Engelmann — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 15:16:48 GMT

I forgot to say something, find whatever works best for you! But I truly think that the tapestry method is the best specially after hearing all the Masters saying so.

I'd like to add a couple of other points:

-make sure to know every facts back and forward. For example: it is one thing to know every wards from Stellenbosch but it is another story when you've been asked where Devon Valley is. You might remember that it is in South Africa, great, but where exactly?

-make sure that you understood the question properly! Give the right answer to the right question and don't hesitate to have them repeat it or spell it for you if needed! I had the case last week where I knew the answer to 4-5 questions but didn't understand the question/word or pronunciation... I was lucky enough that it wasn't a real exam because at this level you can't miss 4-5 points stupidly.

Michael