The Overcast – Fresh off the vine: Tracey Dobbin is back from France hoping you’ll give wine a chance

Tracy Dobbin was a young professional working as an occupational therapist, moving upwards in a safe, secure career that was relatively challenging and offered a solid future. It just wasn’t the future she wanted.

“I was looking at doing something different,” she says when asked how she decided to become a wine expert. “In 2008 I took the WSET [Wine and Spirit Educational Trust] Level 1 course, and In 2011 I moved to Bordeaux. They have an international wine school and I did my masters there, since I knew it would set me apart in terms of my education. Plus it was a chance to live in France.”

WSET® Certifications

WSET® represents the world reference for wine training. Spread over three successive levels, the course offered delivers internationally recognized diplomas at each stage. WSET® education is for everyone, amateurs and professionals alike.

» Learn more about WSET® certifications

Testimonials

  • Sitting in Switzerland by lake Geneva and sipping some local gamay, swirling and checking out red fruits and acidity :)) omg your class was soooo interesting and I am so impressed how knowledgeable you are! And inspiring!! You have a…

    Helga Natas
    Sovex Grands Chateaux - Export Manager -

  • Tracey's tutoring wine guided tastings are a combination of high standards and a practical, fun approach. The wines selected and tasted communicate her passion for discovering and presenting wines both for didactic reasons and for pleasure.

    Davide Agus
    Wine Consultant - Italy

  • I learned so much from you throughout the course. I since have been asked to train as a junior sommelier at Raymonds. I'm super motivated to learn more and hopefully start level 4 in the new year! Thank you for…

    Megan McDonald
    Raymonds Restaurant - Halifax, Canada

  • Tracey is the best teacher I have ever had. She is amazingly patient and she refuses to let go before she has found the proper way to explain to me the things I don't understand, using different metaphors, approaches and…

    Benedicte Helvershou
    Product Manager - Norway

  • Tastings guided by Tracey Dobbin, are always a complete experience. With deep and detailed information of the theme in matter, great wine selection chosen carefully to give a full vision of the theme, and caring so much about the satisfaction…

    Priscila Frausto Torres
    Project Manager Vinos y Vinos - Monterrey, Mexico

  • I met Tracey Dobbin at an educational weekend I ran in September 2013 at a vineyard near Bristol...Tracey and I decided to run a repeat course over one day in Bordeaux, to correspond with a scheduled MW course...Tracey capably managed…

    Dr. Richard Smart
    International viticulture scientist and consultant -

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