The Literary Cellar: How Champions Think
A motivational read for sommeliers, athletes, and anyone looking for a great read on leadership and mental toughness.
When the temperature starts to dip and I start to impulse purchase bouquets of freshly sharpened pencils, I know it’s time to start hitting the books again. Back to school wine study!
The Master Sommelier exam is administered in the United States once a year in late August or early September. There are three sections to this test: theory, blind tasting, and service. MS candidates don’t have to pass all three sections in the same year - this feat is so rare that a separate award called the Krug Cup is given to anyone who accomplishes it. However, if a candidate doesn’t pass all three sections within three years, their scores “reset” and they must attempt the whole exam again.
It’s a daunting test that requires years of preparation and a whole lot of mental acuity. So how do these elite sommeliers handle the pressure of the test?
For the past few years, SevenFiftyDaily has interviewed the newly minted class of Master Sommeliers soon after they pass one of the hardest exams in the world. Over the last six years, one book has consistently been named by Master Sommeliers as an invaluable resource for the mental preparation required to sit for the exam: sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella’s invaluable resource How Champions Think: In Life and In Sports.
How Champions Think takes a look at the common habits of high performing professionals, from NBA Hall of Famers to PGA Championship winners to Grammy-winning musicians. When the standards are high, the stakes get higher. Nerves and self-doubt can distract even the most skilled performer, especially in key moments, but it’s possible to channel nerves into a hype routine if they’re an indication that performers care about what they’re about to do. It feels like every other page, Dr. Rotella is telling the reader to trust their training and embrace the process rather than the result.
When a wine student sits down to take an exam, they’ve spent an inordinate amount of time, money, and energy poring through textbooks, buying bottles of wine for blind tasting practice, and replacing old or broken decanters, wine keys, and glasses. There are so many flashcards (way too many flashcards), and a lot of time away from family and loved ones. For a lot of people who go through wine certifications and academic wine programs, an entire year of sacrifice can boil down to one hour of theory, six wines in 25 minutes, or one perfect service. It’s always heartening to hear that nerves are a natural part of the process, but the reminder that the process of studying actually helps the most has been the thing to push me back into hitting the books for more wine certifications.
If that’s not enough of an endorsement, here are some great words from Master Sommeliers:
MS Mark Guilladeau (2023):
“Bob Rotella’s How Champions Think is something I read just about every year ahead of my big event, whether it be an exam or a competition.”
MS Martin Beally (2022):
“When you only have one opportunity to sit the exam each year, you need to give yourself the best possible chance. The oral format of the theory exam is unlike anything that we encounter in the American educational system… I did not pass theory until… Jill Zimorski mentioned the book How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life by Dr. Bob Rotella and how it helped her pass. Dr. Rotella, who’s worked with PGA Hall-of-Famers and NBA stars like LeBron James, shows how to work through your fear and doubt, and reframe your mind to make you more resilient. Then, the very next time I took theory, I passed.”
MS Jill Zimorski (2018):
“One thing that helped me tremendously was the book How Champions Think: In Sports and in Life by sports psychologist Dr. Bob Rotella. He works with athletes—mostly professional golfers—but has counseled all kinds of folks, including LeBron James and Seal. The gist is that people attempting to do extraordinary things (like make the PGA Tour or, say, pass the Master Sommelier exam) often have the same kinds of doubts, fears, and anxieties.
He describes—very plainly with lots of anecdotes—his principles for helping these folks with these issues. It was so straightforward, and much of the advice he dispenses I’d heard before but not in this manner. It resonated deeply. My parents sent me the book, and I read it twice before the exam. I can’t recommend it enough.”
The Master Sommelier Exam will be administered in early September, and I’m looking forward to seeing this resource pop up on more MS reading lists in the near future. As of today, I’m busy preparing to take the Advanced Sommelier Exam within the next few years, so I’m taking the book’s wisdom to heart and trusting the study process to build the foundational knowledge I need to ace the test.
To those who are hitting the books extra hard in the last few weeks before an exam, those who are leveling up their wine study, and those who are just starting their wine education - may the odds be ever in your favor!
Unless I’m sitting down with a specific glass of wine to study tasting notes and blind tasting technique, I am usually drinking water or coffee as my study beverage of choice. (I know, womp womp.) That being said, I usually turn to Bulletproof beverages when I need an extra brain boost. The greens powder is a must have for blind tasting days, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the Pumpkin Spice creamer for morning study sessions!
You can purchase the book How Champions Think: In Sports and In Life by Dr. Bob Rotella here. The audiobook version is read by the author, and I can confirm that it makes for a great motivational soundtrack for hot girl walks and morning runs.
Please note: I am an affiliate of Bookshop.org, and I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase. Thank you for supporting your favorite independent book store AND your friendly neighborhood sommelier!