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TEXSOM 2026: The week, the work, and the wine!
TEXSOM 2026 has come and gone. Across seven days, I tasted wine, gabbed about wine, and learned more than I would have thought was possible. This was my second TEXSOM Conference–and although my assignments were more challenging this time around, I felt far more confident and more connected. Wine has been good to me this…
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How I score wines
How are wine scores calculated for The Wine Fairy blog? What do the different scores mean? I’m so glad you asked! Having published almost two hundred bottle reviews in the last 18 months, I realized this explanatory post is long overdue. In this article, I share some of my methodology and philosophy of grading wines.…
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TEXSOM Sommer Camp 2026: The most exciting week in wine
It’s a reunion that I’ve been awaiting for many months: TEXSOM 2026 and almost an entire week of Sommer Camp! Sommer Camp starts in Irving, Texas on August 20. In the summer of 2025, I was a raw beginner with stars in my eyes and a brand-new wine blog. I registered for five days of…
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Review: Granbazán “Etiqueta Ámbar” Albariño Rías Baixas (2023)
Albariño from Spain was on the screen and in my glass. I pulled a cold bottle from the wine fridge and settled in for a one-hour Zoom class hosted by New York-based importer Olé & Obrigado. “El Camino del Albariño” is their July-August virtual education and promotional tour. It’s an invitation to wine pros to…
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The Diploma decision: Why I took the WSET Level 4 plunge
“Are you going to do the Diploma?” my wine teacher asked me, only minutes after I handed in my Level 3 exam. “I dunno,” I remember saying. “It’s a lot of time and a lot of money.” Even as I spoke those words, though, there was a quieter voice in my head whispering: Yeah…probably. Today,…
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Slow night, blind flight! Wine-tasting practice from behind the bar
I’m constantly working on improving my tasting skills. It’s partly to become a better wine writer/critic, and partly to get more enjoyment from the wines I pour for myself and others. And because, as I’ve talked about on the blog recently, I’m thiiiiiiiss close to embarking on my WSET Level 4 Diploma journey. Blind-tasting competence…
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All roads lead to wine: On starting a wine career at 40
I’m 40 years old tomorrow, and I’m starting off my birthday weekend with a short pour of midlife angst. At first, I thought I’d celebrate with a special bottle. But there are no 1986 wines in stock at the local shop. (They laughed.) So instead of uncorking a birthday vintage tonight, I’m looking back at…
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Pinot Forum Dallas: Tasting the Russian River Valley
What could be better than traveling to your favorite wine regions? Not much–except having your favorite wine regions come to you! That’s what happened in April when I met up with the Russian River Valley Winegrowers in downtown Dallas. Located just north of the Bay Area and cooled by fog from the Petaluma Gap, Russian…
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Close calls: Three recent blind-tasting traps–and what I learned from them
Identifying mystery wines isn’t easy at the best of times. But when a wine is chosen specifically to trip up the taster, it adds another layer of difficulty. I’ve been doing a lot of blind tasting practice since earning my WSET Level 3 certificate in February. I’m trying to get an honest look at my…
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WSET Level 3: What it’s really like + tips for passing with Distinction
Are you studying for the daunting Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 Award in Wines? Is your hand about to fall off from writing flashcards? Are you talking about the sub-regions of Rioja in your sleep? If you’re taking the Level 3 exam soon–or thinking about enrolling–then this post is for you. I took…
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Wine Paris 2026: A trip to remember
“Mind-blowing.” “Insane.” That’s how Wine Paris was described to me before I went–and now that I’m back home, I’ve got to say that I agree. As a new-to-the-industry person, I’ve wasted no time jumping straight into the deep end. (If not now, then when?) The opportunity came to go to Paris. So I cashed in…
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Certified and bonafide! WSET Level 3 results are in.
My WSET Level 3 results just arrived by email! I’m excited (and more than a little relieved) to share that I passed both Tasting and Theory with Distinction. What does this green piece of paper mean? I’m now qualified to share wine opinions on the Internet, I guess! I can’t wait to start doing that.…