An epic journey: Becoming an Italian Wine Expert

This past weekend marked a deeply meaningful milestone for me.

Seven years ago, I made the commitment to dive headfirst into the world of Italian wine—first by uprooting our lives and moving to Italy, where Paula Thomas and I spent two and a half transformative years while earning our Master’s degrees at the University of Gastronomic Sciences - Pollenzo (and in the vineyards of Chianti Classico - Monte Bernardi for LIFE!). We traveled the country, learned the language (albeit somewhat poorly), and were endlessly inspired by the people and the place. Those years shaped not only our understanding of food and wine, but also our perspective on culture, history, and the deep connection between land and tradition.

In 2022, I took the next step by enrolling in the Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador course. The level of education far exceeded every expectation. I passed the Ambassador level and immediately set my sights on the next two challenges—Certified Italian Wine Educator and the Italian Wine Expert level. I quickly passed the educator course giving me the tools to launch the Maestro program (now I offer our own Italian Wine Consultant course), and I tried for the expert in 2023 and fell slightly short (although I passed with highest marks). But this journey has never been about titles; it has always been about growth, understanding, and the ever-deepening appreciation for a wine culture that continues to inspire me.

Today, I’m honored and incredibly grateful to share that on my third attempt, I have now joined the ranks of just 18 Italian Wine Experts worldwide. This achievement would not have been possible without the unwavering support of the VIA team—Stevie Kim, Sarah Heller MW, Cynthia Chaplin—and the entire VIA community worldwide, who have become both mentors and friends along the way.

Italian wine is an intricate world—woven with history, shaped by native grapes, diverse landscapes, and passionate producers. I’ve been privileged to learn firsthand from winemakers in their cellars, through travel, countless hours of study, and organized tastings here in Denver and beyond.

I owe EVERYTHING to my brilliant wife and partner, Paula Thomas, whose encouragement has been my foundation, to the team at Restaurant Olivia, and to everyone I’ve met during my 20+ year wine career, worked alongside with slinging bottles, tasted with, or shared a glass with over the years…thank you.

And this is just the beginning. I’m excited to keep sharing the story of Italian wine through classes, events, and immersive travel at Grappolo Food & Wine School...stay tuned.

PS- if you are reading this, you are also part of this journey. Our industry friends and students give us the energy every day to learn more in order to be able to share more.

Grazie mille,

Scott Thomas, IWE