Jason Wyatt, CS, CWE
Jason Wyatt, CWE, of Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, is the company’s Director of Wine Education for the state of Kentucky. Jason is a proud member of the Society of Wine Educators, and a newly-minted Certified Wine Educator (CWE).
In his new position as Director of Wine Education for Kentucky, Jason has retail and restaurant sales responsibilities throughout the state, and works with a number of sales teams on training, courses, and examinations. He also runs the SGWS Wine Club, which is an informal monthly meeting between SGWS employees and their customers that provides the opportunity to focus on a particular region, wine style, or producer.
Jason was born in Kentucky, and graduated from (go Hilltoppers!) Western Kentucky University. At the time, a career in wine and spirits was not on his radar. However, he soon moved to Louisville and made the acquaintance of someone who was in the trade. He got his first job in the industry at the famous Brown Hotel in Louisville and received his first significant introduction into the world of fine dining and wine. From there, though he took some time away, his interests blossomed.
Jason joined Southern Glazer’s in 2009, first responsible for selling to restaurants and later as the Fine Wine Portfolio Manager. Intentional about his studies, he received his Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW) credential in 2011, and continued his studies non-stop. Jason passed the Certified Sommelier (CS) exam in 2015, earned his Italian Wine Professional (IWP) and WSET (level 3) in 2016, and he completed the WSET Nominated Educator Program in 2017. In 2017, he also received his CWE.
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The CWE was a significant milestone for Jason, the culmination of much study and preparation. Has it changed him in any way? In a word: confidence. It is an imprimatur, an acknowledgement of his skills, knowledge, and talents, the recognition of achievement, and he is able to carry that confidence daily into the work that he now does. And, armed with that confidence, he continues to direct his attention to improvement and growth in his chosen profession.
What counsel might he give someone seeking a certification through the SWE? Take time with preparation, but do set a date for the exam to give yourself a goal and be able to work toward it; know the ins and outs of each region and have a great understanding of viniculture and viticulture; nourish the fire and passion you have for wine and spirits. Jason: “With SWE, its more than just memorization of facts. Its cause and effect, its historical and cultural, its ‘what’s new’ with innovation. The SWE exams are no joke. They are very difficult, and you need to be versed in all things wine. Ask for help, there are numerous tools available to you.”
The suite of his talents and accomplishments points toward Jason making significant contributions in the world of wine. He enjoys first of all options and varieties: there are so many wines from so many places, and the landscape of the wine industry is so continually changing and evolving, that there is always something new and wonderful to discover and enjoy. He also likes the fact that wine is so helpful in bringing people together from all walks of life; as Jason puts it: ‘When in a social situation and the ‘what do you do for a living’ conversation starts, I always enjoy telling people what I do. People love sharing their wine experiences and everyone seems to want to know more about wine. When you open a bottle, everyone gathers around.” He gets a particular thrill out of working with others who are learning about wine, and he relishes seeing people challenge themselves and pass their exams.
Jason Wyatt–one of a new generation of talented wine professionals whose work is helping shape the future of the wine trade.
Guest post written by Reverend Paul Bailey