Why am I taking this Class? - Carlos Schechtmann

Whether out for dinner or at home with family, your significant other, or friends, I’ve found wine to be a nice way to relax and have conversations with others. Growing up, wine was frequently at the table or something ordered at dinner and although I didn’t really like the taste until much later, I found myself asking questions about what the vintage or varietal meant. As a consumer of a product, I think it’s important to know the story of where the product comes from and how it is made and while I’ve been interested in wine for some time, it’s candidly not one that I am well versed in. I had heard of the three-tier system that was in the case last week and a couple of the bigger wine producers that are in the syllabus but much of the remaining text in the case and in Around the World in 80 Sips was completely new knowledge that I found informative and interesting.

At its simplest level, I am taking this class because I enjoy drinking wine and would like to learn more about not only the history of wine but also the landscape and business of running a wine business. I think that there is much to be learned about how the industry came together, as well as the economics of the business, that are important lessons whether or not I’m working in the wine industry or another one after the GSB. I also would like to come away with a better understanding of what makes certain wines taste a certain way and what drives the economics of a bottle of wine, including price points and margins throughout the value chain. Compared to a few years ago, I’m much more likely to order a glass or bottle of wine today with meals than I was previously. I think that the person making the choice for a group has responsibility to make an informed choice and that is another one of the reasons why I am taking this class.