I opened the email this week while up in Normandy commemorating the 75th anniversary of D-Day (June 6), when Allied forces came together to turn the tide on World War II.
It had been my mission to complete my WSET Level 2 while in Portugal, taking advantage of the unique perspective that the training would take on, and giving me opportunity to work on my Portuguese–with an emphasis on wine.
Getting started on the well-defined WSET tasting methodology 
A crisp, fragrant Chablis that tuned our senses to the style
To cut to the punchline: I passed, and with a score I can be proud of. I credit a good instructor, Tiago Marques of Saber do Vinho, who encouraged me to continue on with the program, and many years of poring over issues of Wine Spectator, Wine Enthusiast, Decanter, and the efforts of so many other wine journalists and authors.
Our instructor had a specialty in sherry, and threw us off with a fino that didn’t follow expectations 
A Sauternes…that I really wanted to tuck into my bag to take with me
And I appreciate my father’s love of wine and good food, which set an example for me that this enjoyment is part of a healthy approach to a good life–and best shared with others.
No course in wine delivered in Portugal would be complete without Porto. 
The Instituto da Vinha e do Vinho in Lisboa off of the Avenida da Liberdade