Door County Gains a Certified Cicerone

Door County local Sophie Nelson has become the county’s first certified cicerone through a certification course that involves extensive tests about beer knowledge, tasting and brewing and offers accolades similar to those available to wine sommeliers.  

Passing this challenging course on the first attempt is an accomplishment achieved by only one out of every three exam participants, and there are fewer than 4,200 certified cicerones worldwide.

“I really enjoy learning about the role beer has played throughout the world’s history and cultures,” Nelson said. “Every glass is the creative product of several unique elements that have their own stories to tell. It’s really exciting.”Nelson is a native of Ephraim and a 2012 Gibraltar Schools graduate who earned her bachelor’s degree with honors from UW-La Crosse in 2016, majoring in international business and economics and minoring in sustainable business and Spanish. She’s spent several years traveling and working with beer in various capacities all over the world, and she currently works at Door County Brewing Company in Baileys Harbor.