Wine Smarties Testimonials

"When our industry shifted overnight we quickly had to pivot to provide fun, engaging, creative, and unique virtual event offerings to our clients. We knew we needed to find and partner with suppliers who were knowledgeable, professional, engaging and fun…after all, translating an experience to virtual is no easy feat! We were lucky enough to find Lindsay who was all of these things and more. Not only has she been easy, flexible, and incredibly organized to work with, but her wine knowledge and skills on screen are simply unmatched. From the high end wine connoisseur groups to those groups that are newer to the world of wine and just want an opportunity for engagement, she nails it every single time and we couldn’t be more grateful to have her as a partner! We absolutely recommend her for your next virtual event."

“Short Story: I simply can't give a higher or more positive recommendation for Lindsay and Wine Smarties.  Call her.  Pronto.

Long Story: I was interested in organizing a private event for my wife's birthday, and thought a wine tasting might be a great way to both introduce her to new wines AND bring our friends and family together to celebrate.  After a little research, I gave Lindsay a call and she was immediately helpful in terms of how to approach the evening.  For the record, I know zero about wine and really appreciated Lindsay's guidance.  For example, although I had initially wanted to focus on Rose, Lindsay suggested including some alternatives to Sav Blanc upon learning that my wife was a fan of the grape/style.  She helped us think through price points for the wines, wisely advising us to focus on available/affordable options that we could drink more often (vs. blowing it out on pricier options).  We settled on a 6-wine tasting (3 Sav Blan alternatives, 3 Rose) with 2 affordable options and 1 special/pricier version for each style.  Lindsay also gave us some great suggestions in terms of food/snacks to have on hand for the tasting. Suffice it to say that having Lindsay walk us through each wine was like having a good friend with tons of wine smarts at the table.  She was great with the noobs (ahem, me) and non-noobs alike.  Just a really comfortable, casual and fun evening.  Here's a text I received from a friend the next morning: "Dude.  Home run last night."'Nuff said.””

“Lindsay is a fountain of knowledge. I’ve talked to her about everything from the grapes to the wine making process, she knows it all. I wanted to have a private event with more advanced wine topics. She was very flexible and worked with me to create exactly the kind of experience I wanted. I just wanted to say thanks. Thanks Lindsay.”

“When I began my research for where to receive the best education in wine, I thought I would have to drive up to L.A.. Luckily I came across The Wine Smarties and soon learned more about Lindsay, her approach to teaching and programs with the WSET. After taking Lindsay’s classes, I began my search for a job to accelerate my knowledge of wine and I entered the industry almost immediately. I was then better prepared to talk about, teach and sell wine. Lindsay is personable, helpful, very knowledgeable, and extremely passionate about helping people gain confidence in understanding the grand world of wine. Whether you are looking to join the industry or become an educated enthusiast, Lindsay is your best choice.”

“Where do I start?! I wanted to get into wine and make wine my career so I looked into Lindsay's WSET program called Wine Smarties. Best decision I ever made! Her classes were fun, super informative and taught me so much. After only a month since completing my level 2, I got a full time wine and beverage steward job where I also order all the retail product for a store that does $120k a week! Without this school and Lindsay's awesome guidance, I'd never be in this industry. She also has SO many connections and will help with job placement since she knows loads of industry people. Well worth the money and time invested to better my wine knowledge and career. Can't thank her enough for helping me get to where I want to be in my life!”

“When I decided to change my career path I knew I wanted to work in wine. I had read many books but formal training seemed necessary. Luckily, Wine Smarties is located in San Diego where I was living at the time. I studied with Lindsay Pomery for both the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Level 2 and 3. Both challenging programs, Lindsay brought a freshness to learning about wine, and what is extremely technical and educational is also entertaining when Lindsay is involved. I passed both levels and hope to move into the Diploma program - that is after my two year contract position with a internationally renowned winery in Mendoza, Argentina. Thanks to Lindsay I have the tools necessary to follow my career dream. Thank you, Lindsay and thank you Wine Smarties.”

“I came to the Wine Smarties with the goal of meeting some wine professionals in my new city of San Diego, and brushing up on global wine knowledge.  What I didn't bargain for  - an excellent Instructor, who I now call a friend. I found Lindsay's style to be prepared and intelligent, all the while keeping the classes engaging.  It's not an easy task when there is so much material to cover.  She has wicked funny opinions, too! Fast forward 1 year later, I accepted a great job offer which lists WSET as a primary qualification.  I really didn't expect the course to pay off that quickly, in such a direct way.  WSET Level 3 is a difficult course. Blind tasting is humbling and it takes dedication to learn the information.  I couldn't have chosen a better guide than Lindsay as mentor throughout this process. Just do what she tells you to, and you'll be golden!”

“The French Wine Society has done an excellent job of creating a study program that appeals to those interested in expanding their knowledge of France and its wine industry. In depth, comprehensive, specific, this course was more detail than anticipated and a lot of fun! If you are a wine professional looking to hone your “Franco-files” or an avid wine enthusiast who wants to geek out a bit, this course is highly recommended.”​

“I recently attended a Wine 101 Class put on by Wine Smarties, and was so impressed with the class. The owner and instructor, Lindsay, was absolutely fantastic, and really did a wonderful job of educating while making wine tasting approachable. I highly, highly, highly recommend going to one of her classes!”​

“The wine classes are great! Very informative, well organized and most of all FUN. I was amazed at the last class to meet people from Germany, Switzerland, Australia, and Turkey. Wow, that is some email list you have. I have learned a great deal of valuable information from the wine and food pairing classes. Looking forward to future events.”​

“After going wine tasting in Paso Robles I mentioned to my boyfriend that I would love to take a course on how to taste wine. I know I love wine, but I have never known what exactly to be looking for in a better wine. He took me the Basic Tasting 101 class that was held in a private room at 57 Degrees. I didn't know what to expect and was blown away. I was blown away not only by how knowledgable Lindsay is, but how much knowledge other people in the class had.  I could take this class a couple more times and learn something new every time. I really enjoyed Lindsay's approach to teaching, her demeanor, and overall knowledge on the wines she was speaking about.  We already have two classes on our calendars to come back and try. I would recommend this class to anyone that would like an opportunity to expand their knowledge of what wine is really all about, and wants to do so in a comfortable, and fun setting.  Way to go with providing us a 5 star experience.”​