Ep. 2759 Part 2 – The VIA Educational Program & Italian Wine | Heart-to-Heart Conversation with Sarah Looper

Welcome to Episode 2759 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this bonus episode, Stevie Kim sits down for the second part of a heart-to-heart conversation with Sarah Looper, better known as LooperSomm. In Part 2, Sarah shares what motivated her to take the challenging Vinitaly International Academy exam and become a certified Italian Wine Ambassador. The conversation explores the wine education paths and her deep dive into the complexities of Italian wine, the styles she loves most, and the lesser-known Italian wines she believes deserve far more attention. More about the guest:  Professional sommelier and wine educator Sarah Looper has worked in the food and wine world for over twenty-five years. She is a graduate of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) Diploma program, an expert-level qualification covering all aspects of wine; a Certified Wine Educator through the Society of Wine Educators; and she is a candidate for the Master Sommelier Diploma, the highest distinction a professional can attain in fine wine and beverage service, with the Court of Master Sommeliers. Sarah has worked in several areas of the wine industry including journalism, retail, import and distribution, winery and cellar work, wine education, and she was a wine director in restaurants for many years running innovative wine and cocktail programs where she worked closely with the chefs and pastry chefs on food and wine pairings that would blow her customers’ minds . Sarah is a graduate of the University of Colorado at Boulder with a B.A in European History and she holds a Baking & Pastry Certificate from The Culinary Institute of America. Connect:  Website: https://loopersomm.com/  Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarah-looper-dipwset-9ab1577/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loopersomm  _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast  Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp  Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp    If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!