🍷 A Day of Celebration, Certification & Community
A Moment To Remember
The last time we saw Annie, it was a day of triumph. A celebration. A moment where joy, laughter, and achievement filled the same glass!
Success!
That day, our fellow student and colleague, Luis, passed his Level 2 Certified Sommelier exam with the Court of Master Sommeliers. It was no small feat. He had studied for well over a year, worked tirelessly, and carried not only theory and tasting techniques but humility and presence—the very things Annie taught us to value.
We gathered in joy as every round of tastings drew him closer and closer to his exam. It feels like only a few months passed when we started this group, tasting before work, asking a bajillion questions and answers, watching as everyone got in their groove.
Luis and I saw one by one that everyone's path was not linear as we hoped but organic and unpredictable, and the groups’ achievements would ebb and flow over time.
I'm proud of him for staying true to the cause, for hitting the benchmark that would make the solid foundations of his next immediate years. Every day and every meeting there was tremendous growth, insatiable curiosity, and an unwavering passion to achieve his next pin đź“Ś We're all tremendously proud of him, and as the group has evolved I want to go back and highlight the achievements of Luis and our other members too as this blog has grown as a way for us to document our special moments!
More Success!!
Shortly after Luis, our friends Taylor and Kat followed suit, earning their Level 1 Introductory Sommelier certifications—a brilliant ripple effect of focus, passion, and shared support. I would like to highlight Taylor's path next as we have shared so much of that journey too!
Annie Was Our Tasting Host
There’s something quietly profound about Annie’s presence during her last tasting. She wasn’t a bystander. She was the greeter, the vibe-setter, the unspoken toastmaster. Every sniff of a glass, every cheer, every sip felt enhanced by her gentle gaze and joyful energy.
It felt right that her final memory with us was one of milestone and unity.
Why This Moment Matters
At Sip Studies, we talk about:
Learn. Engage. Teach.
This week we celebrate everyone in action:
Luis learned, deeply and diligently.
Taylor and Kat engaged, drawing from each other and the community to pursue their goals.
And through it all, Annie taught us—without a word—how to be present, how to celebrate others, and how to honor life through simple togetherness.
We Raise a Glass
To Luis, for setting the bar
To Taylor and Kat, for crossing thresholds
To Annie, for hosting one last celebration with grace and goldenness.
Memories cement the aromas and flavors of our future glasses of wine~
Cheers, Annie. You’ll always be our Top Dog.
– The Sip Studies Family
