The Educator
Illawarra Mercury
Wednesday February 20, 2008
Swirling a glass of red and standing in her well-stocked cellar, wine educator Sherryl Sherson looks very much at home.
Talking about the wines as though they were old friends, Sherson explains why she adores them, and how they fascinate her still after all these years."One of the greatest experiences was about three years ago when I first started judging (at the Kiama Regional Wine Show), she says. "To have 35 glasses of chardonnay from the same region lined up - it was fantastic. I was just so gobsmacked the first time around."Sherson's experience in the wine industry is considerable - spanning more than 25 years. Aside from judging, she has been a wine wholesaler and wine educator, wine club president, and even a winemaker, on one occasion.From her modest beginnings in the industry, Sherson has built a reputation as one of the Illawarra's leading wine authorities, through owning The Wine Boutique and founding the Wests Wine Club.Last year Sherson obtained her Masters in Wine Technology and Management at Monash University, which involves a winemaking component.For more than 10 years she has been teaching wine subjects at Wollongong TAFE as a part of the hospitality course, recently embarking on a mentoring program for women wanting to enter the hospitality industry."Women in the industry took these girls under their wing and every girl reported that it was a very successful venture ... the program was just one part of creating the realisation that there are big spaces in the wine industry for women," Sherson says.Many women in the industry are dominating their field because they can adapt to the market's needs, she says."The female winemakers and wine distributors that I know approach the role with diligence; with a real heartfelt sense of knowledge and of quality," she says. "They tend to analyse first what the market requires."Sherson believes that both the market and the wine industry need to support lesser-known winemakers, to encourage a better range and quality of wines."I have a passion for the small boutique winemaker because they are making wines of an exemplary quality and they don't have the financial returns to put themselves in the big glossy magazines," she says. "These people need the support of restaurants and educational people. Just because the name isn't familiar, that's not to say it's not any good."FAVOURITE WINE:In summer a riesling or sauvignon blanc. In winter a nice bottle of shiraz.FAVOURITE FOOD/WINE COMBO:Crustaceans, oysters or fresh prawns with a riesling or a verdelho.YOU SHOULD NEVER ...Drink good wine on your own.
© 2008 Illawarra Mercury
