What’s up Festival Pass fans! The hottest live events podcast is back with another episode, and we’re taking you behind the curtains of a prestigious industry. This week, we had the pleasure of speaking with Certified Sommelier and Real Estate Broker, Ellyn Cook.

For those in our audience who aren’t familiar, a sommelier is someone who is a trained professional in the wine service. Just to put things in perspective for anyone looking to pursue a career in the wine industry, there are only 269 Master Sommeliers in the entire world! Ellyn’s love of wine was almost stumbled upon and wasn’t in her plans from the beginning. However, it took just one day for her to realize that she wanted to work towards education in wine.

After years of hard work and dedication, Ellyn became a Certified Sommelier; but this was only the beginning of a bright future in the wine business. Inspired by her studies, Ellyn had a vision. She decided to take a six-month sabbatical to travel around Europe, and get even more hands-on experience. She visited Italy, France, and other European wine hotspots. Ellyn describes this time as an amazing experience, different from the lifestyle in her current city of Chicago. She was able to work at a cafe on a beautiful island in Scotland, and at a vineyard in Bordeaux.

As COVID-19 vaccinations continue to roll out to the public, restrictions are starting to loosen once again; and hopefully this time for good. So many Americans have had to adjust during the pandemic, but unpredictable times can lead to something new and exciting. Sales is a skill that’s very important as a Sommelier. So, Ellyn decided to put them to use, not only in wine but in real estate as well. Ellyn loves to be busy, but also to have the freedom to explore her passion. Thinking back to her six-month stay in Europe, Ellyn decided to embark on a career as a real estate broker, to be able to live a more relaxed lifestyle in the long run. Wine continues to be her primary fascination.

Watching this episode really makes us miss wine festivals, remember those? Don’t worry, they’ll be back before you know it. Until we all get to raise a glass in person, enjoy being schooled by a professional. It’s funny, Ellyn totally disagrees with the movie, “Sideways”, so Merlot is cool again.

“That was my favorite part about being in restaurants. Going in, knowing people, trying things off the beaten path, having the chef whip something up for you…it’s an awesome community.” - Ellyn Cook

Catch the interview on Festival Pass Stories! https://festivalpass.com/stories

**You can find Ellyn on: **

Ellyn Cook’s Website- https://ellyncook.com

**Instagram- **https://www.instagram.com/ellyncook_chicago/

**Facebook- **https://www.facebook.com/EllynCookChicagoRealtor/

**LinkedIn- **https://www.linkedin.com/in/ellyn-cook-26887a10b/

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