Good Wine Sommelier School

Kiev has "Good Wine" - one fantastic wine shop. I'm a loyal client from the moment I arrived to Kiev. Over years I became friendly with the sommeliers in the shop. In the spring one of sommeliers - Anton - told me few sommeliers will start a sommelier school and suggested I join. I was hesitant as all classes would be in Russian. But with Anton's encouragement I signed up. Since April to mid July I attended three to four classes a week. During the week evening classes started at 6.30 pm and frequently lasted until 11 pm. On Saturdays classes started at 10 am and usually finished at 3 pm. The group was small, full of humor and warmth. All dedicated to learn. But who would not be dedicated and enthusiastic when our amazing lecturers shared their knowledge in a truly enjoyable way. Spirits were also part of the course. This was the whole new world for me. One Saturday morning we sampled over 24 different grapas. Cognac, Armagnac and brandy tasting was equally comprehensive. A practical part of vodka lecture was to taste18 different vodkas - to learn a difference between western and eastern vodka style.
Spirits were mostly lectured by Ivan Bachurin whose passion is whisky. His passion about this noble drink meant that we (students) were not allowed to spit it. To my count we tasted over 35 different single malts while "touring" Scotland. Fortunatly Islay and Spey were two seperate lectuers. After the course I became thirsty to learn more. Or possibly I just look forward to more tasting. But now when I taste a wine or a spirit I appriciate more all the hard work and amazing skills needed to produce an enjoyable sip. Many thanks to all lecturers for opening my horizons and expanding my flavour and palate senses during last three months. I wish the school and the lecturers - Victor, Vitaly, Ivan, Anton, Evgeniy, Nadya and Julia - many happy students in their future wine courses. For those interested in the school the link is:
 http://goodwine.ua/ru/sommelier-school-school_info/
On above photo is the first class of Good Wine Sommelier School. 
Photos taken during classes: