Sarah (@sakestudies) is passionate about sharing her extensive knowledge and experience of tasting and pairing with all her students. In addition to her Academy of Cheese Certifications, she is also a graduate of the Guild of Fine Food Retail Cheese Course and the Stanford Continuing Studies ‘History, Culture and Science of Cheese’ course, and has taught the Level 1 Academy of Cheese course since 2022.

Sarah teaches on the West London Wine School Wine Scholar Guild courses and is also a top global sake expert, regularly invited to present at sake events in the UK, France and the USA. She is a judge for the International Wine Challenge Sake Division and the UK Great Taste Awards. Sarah completed the WSET Level 3 Award in Sake in 2019 and received the WSET IWC Sake Prize for the highest scoring paper worldwide that year. She was one of 15 participants selected for the annual Japan Sake & Shochu Brewers’ Association Annual Academy in 2019, held every February for five days in Tokyo at the headquarters of the National Research Institute of Brewing.

She is a sake judge for the International Wine Challenge and one of the only people in the UK to hold the Japan Sommelier Association Sake Diploma International qualification. She also helps organize sake events and tastings in London in her role as Membership & Events Officer at the British Sake Association.

Sarah lived in Japan for two years and has studied the Japanese Way of Tea (chanoyu) for the past 15 years, giving her hands-on experience in traditional Japanese methods of sake service and hospitality.

Sarah is also a long-time student of WLWS having completed her WSET Level 3 in Wine (Distinction) and all three Wine Scholar Guild qualifications. She is also a CSS (Certified Specialist of Spirits) and CSW (Certified Specialist of Wine) with the Society of Wine Educators and a Certified Sake Professional.