Podcasts about spirits education trust

Great CEOs Are Lazy by Jim Schleckser Jimschleckser.com Theceoproject.com How do the really exceptional CEOs get more done in less time than everyone else? What is their technique for getting their work done while still having the time to spend pursuing hobbies and spending quality time with their friends and family? The truth is that great and lazy CEOs know a secret when it comes to time management. Rather than spending a little time on a lot of things, the best CEOs spend most of their time eliminating the single biggest constraint to the growth of their business. They spend a lot of time diagnosing this constraint before taking action. This process is similar to looking for the kink in a garden hose so you can get the flow going again. These is no use trying to unkink the hose until you find the actual problem. Depending on the nature of the constraint, they engage in fixing the kink in the hose using one of five different roles the Learner Architect Coach Engineer Player These form the archetype for great leadership. These are all high leverage roles that create a permanent improvement in the business. This insight isn't just some theory either; it s derived directly from working with thousands of CEOs running high growth companies. The trick to being great and lazy is to only work at the point of constraint and avoid all work that doesn't increase organizational capacity. Lazy CEOs have a series of well developed tools to properly avoid this non-value work. I choose a lazy person to do a hard job. Because a lazy person will find an easy way to do it. -Bill Gates. So, do you want to keep working hard? Or would you rather get busy being lazy? About the author Jim Schleckser is a Certified Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers, has an Advanced certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and is a businessperson with 30 years of professional drinking experience. As the CEO of the Inc. CEO Project, a firm that offers coaching and advising to CEOs of fast-growth companies, he has entertained business associates around the world. Jim Schleckser is the author of the best selling book, “Great CEOs are Lazy”, detailing the behaviors that make the difference in CEO performance. With 30 years of leadership in business, he brings experience in leading global organizations in both public and private environments across many functional areas to the table. He has been quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Time, and National Public Radio. His ideas have been translated into 9 languages and he has done business in over 26 countries. He is committed to helping professionals navigate wine, while keeping it fun. He has a popular blog that speaks to the same topics as this book at professionaldrinking.com, where you can learn more, including about hiring him as a speaker for your event. He is a soccer player, prolific reader and outdoorsman. He resides in Potomac, Maryland.

This episode features Sarah Hughes Bray, a wine educator, writer, and brand consultant who is the 6th generation of an Atlanta-based family and was recently named one of Wine Enthusiast's 2024 Future 40 innovators in wine. After a diverse career journey in publishing and the auction world, including stints at SAVEUR magazine and Sotheby's, she found her calling in the wine industry. Sarah is a co-founder of the women-in-wine organization Bâtonnage Forum and runs the Wine Writers' Symposium based in Napa, CA. Fluent in Italian and French, she served as European Director of VinConnect, building out DtC strategies for wineries, and Brand Ambassador for Vini Franchetti's Tenuta di Trinoro in Tuscany and Passopisciaro on Mt. Etna. She has completed her diploma with the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, and she helped build programming and curriculum for The Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley while also serving as a contributor to AFAR, GuildSomm, California Homes, VinePair, and other publications. In her spare time, she leads sales and marketing initiatives for T. Berkley Wines with her husband, winemaker Taylor Berkley Boydstun, a Loire-varietal project based in northern California. You can follow her @sarah.h.bray on Instagram, check out her “Life by the Glass” substack, and visit www.batonnageforum.com or www.winewriterssymposium.org to learn more about her initiatives. Recorded November 1, 2024 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/acorkintheroad/support

This episode features a conversation with the 2024 Champion of our "Unusual Suspects" Blind Tasting Competition that was hosted by the Oenophile Institute at the beginning of August in Atlanta, GA. This was the second annual session of this competition format where we have two rounds of blind tasting flights – 3 white wines followed by 3 red wines - and then the two highest scores from each round move on to a final round to crown a winner. The wines, however, are all just on the fringe or technically not typically testable in wine certification exams, so the wines can be from basically anywhere in the world. And this year, we had to have a second bonus final round because the top four competitors all scored so evenly on the first wine – but what happened in the "final final" round was truly impressive because our 2024 Champion, Joe Herrig, basically called that wine 100% correctly to walk away with the trophy and cash prize. On this episode, you'll hear from our winner, Joe, as he breaks down his thought process and logic for each of his calls from the competition. Joe was first on this podcast in June of 2022 (Episode 78) and he is still the Director of Education for Georiga Crown Distribution Company. He has since earned his Diploma through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, so he now holds one of the highest honors in the world of wine education. You'll hear how he approached the process of identifying these wines and how he connects his palate skills to his theory knowledge. You can follow him @suburbanwino on Instagram. Recorded August 25, 2024 --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/acorkintheroad/support

Anne McHale is well accomplished in the academia of wine. She has a Master of Wine (incredible study required to earn) and a WSET Diploma (the highest accolade for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust)...neither an easy feat by any stretch. But what is disarmning is her utter charm. First, her accent will confuse you until you understand the source, but her ability to articulate her ambition in wine is the clincher to fall head over heels for her. Each time I relisten to the show, I am reinspired by her wit, knowledge, and disposition. She resides in London and has won award after award for her wine education and wine writing. She is knowledgeable without the snobbery, inspiring without bragging and interesting without boorishness. Have a listen to Anne McHale.

Welcome to Episode 1637 Stevie Kim moderates Clubhouse's Ambassadors' Corner – In this episode, Matt Irwin interviews Luca Speri. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and replayed here on the Italian Wine Podcast! Listen in on this series as Italian Wine Ambassadors all over the world chat with Stevie and their chosen wine producer. Which producer would you interview if you had your pick? Co-Moderator Matt Irwin grew up in Brisbane Australia and graduated with a Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management before moving to Europe to work as a Tour Manager for Contiki Holidays. It was whilst living in Venice, Italy and leading tours throughout Europe that his love for wine began. Moving to Calgary, Canada in 2005 with his Canadian wife, he started selling some of Italy's greatest wines to Canada's best restaurants and wine shops. Returning to Australia in 2012 to Sydney, he spent 11 years working for Australia's best Italian Wine Importer, Trembath and Taylor where he championed many of Italy's greatest growers and winemakers. Recently taking a position as Business Development for Australia & New Zealand with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust to follow his passion for Wine Education. Currently studying to be a Master of Wine and most importantly, was awarded the Italian Wine Ambassador in April 2023. Connect: Instagram @sipwine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-irwin-dipwset-iwa-b-bus-hosp-mgt-8b057533/ Guest Bio Luca Speri together with his sisters Chiara and Laura and his cousins Alberto, Giampaolo and Giampietro represents the sixth generation of the Speri family. Beside them, there is also Giuseppe, Alberto's son, of the seventh generation. Luca is the “youngest” member of his generation at 43 years old but he has already a huge amount of experience. From 2002, he has started working full time in the winery and he has been involved in every activity of the cellar. After several years of mentoring from his father in and his cousins in production activities (viticulture, winemaking,packaging and sales & marketing. Naturally, being completely a family run company, Luca is involved in all parts of the the management and production in the winery. Luca understands all parts of the wine business and has shown his talent for sales exporting his families' wines to over 60 countries including U.S., Canada, Australia, Japan, Switzerland and many others. Beside the family winery Luca is also a founding Member of the board of Famiglie Storiche, the Association of Amarone Families who are the top wineries producing Amarone. PLUS, is past President & still a Director on the board of the Antica Bottega del Vino in Verona, the most historical restaurant in Verona with one of the top wine lists in the world and a must visit for any wine lover travelling through Verona but watch out during Vinitaly cause it is the hottest place in town. Connect: Website www.speri.com _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast Twitter www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast Tiktok www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! Follow Italian Wine Podcast for more great content - winery interviews from the Clubhouse sessions! Psssst…FYI, this show is our most popular show, find out why by tuning-in!

Welcome to Episode 1584 on Italian Wine Podcast, Masterclass US Wine Market With Juliana Colangelo. Today, she will be interviewing Chris Struck. More about today's guests Chris Struck credits his upbringing in a large, hybrid French-Deeply Southern U.S. family in the coastal city of Destin, Florida as what incited his passion for food and beverage at an early age. He began cooking in Chef Tim Creehan's fine dining restaurant group at the age of 14 and supplemented his formal restaurant apprenticeship with self-study trips to Europe, working in both kitchens and vineyards to gain greater knowledge of regional cuisines and wines. After completing undergraduate degrees in Culinary Arts & Food Service Management at Johnson & Wales University, Struck gained certifications from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, Society of Wine Educators, Court of Master Sommeliers, and Deutsche Wein und Sommelierschule in Germany. Struck holds an Executive MBA in Food Marketing from Saint Joseph's University. He is currently Beverage Director for ilili restaurant in New York City, Adjunct Lecturer at CUNY, and trade ambassador for both wines of Alto Adige and wines of Georgia. He formerly served as Program Director of the Sommelier Society of America. Connect: Instagram: @chris_struck LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-struck-74811b288/ More about Juliana Colangelo: Juliana Colangelo is a Vice President at Colangelo & Partners, the leading wine and spirits communications agency in the U.S. Juliana joined Colangelo & Partners in 2013 with previous experience in events, hospitality, and nonprofit development. During her tenure at C&P, Juliana has led the development of the California office, growing the agency's domestic presence to a dedicated office of 13 people with representation of leading wine companies such as Jackson Family Wines, Far Niente, Charles Krug Winery, Foley Family Wines and more. Juliana has completed her WSET Level 3 and her eMBA in Wine Business with Sonoma State University, allowing her to bring a strategic and sales-oriented approach to communications strategy for the agency. In 2021, Juliana was named one of PR News' Top Women in PR in the “Rising Stars” category. In 2022 Juliana became a Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador. Connect: Instagram: www.instagram.com/julezcolang/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/jules.colangelo/ Twitter: twitter.com/JulezColang LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliana-colangelo-mba-04345539/ Website: https://www.colangelopr.com/ _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast Twitter www.twitter.com/itawinepodcast Tiktok www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! Tune-in and hit the like! - Business, US Market advice, importing, exporting, business, personal stories and advice, plus she is very fun to listen to!

Welcome to Episode 1476 Stevie Kim moderates Clubhouse's Ambassadors' Corner – In this episode, Matt Irwin interviews Chiara Boschis. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and replayed here on the Italian Wine Podcast! Listen in on this series as Italian Wine Ambassadors all over the world chat with Stevie and their chosen wine producer. Which producer would you interview if you had your pick? Co-Moderator – Matt Irwin Matt grew up in Brisbane Australia and graduated with a Bachelor of Business in Hospitality Management before moving to Europe to work as a Tour Manager for Contiki Holidays. It was whilst living in Venice, Italy and leading tours throughout Europe that his love for wine began. Moving to Calgary, Canada in 2005 with his Canadian wife, he started selling some of Italian greatest wines to Canada's best restaurants and wine shops. Returning to Australia in 2012 to Sydney, he spent 11 years working for Australia's best Italian Wine Importer, Trembath and Taylor where he championed many of Italy's greatest growers and winemakers. Recently taking a position as Business Development for Australia & New Zealand with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust to follow his passion for Wine Education. Currently studying to be a Master of Wine and most importantly, was awarded the Italian Wine Ambassador in April 2023. To learn more visit: Instagram @sipwine LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-irwin-dipwset-iwa-b-bus-hosp-mgt-8b057533/ Guest Producer – Chiara Boschis Chiara is a superstar in the Italian wine world. A revolutionary who has worked incredibly hard to help grow both her winery and the entire region of Barolo. Growing up in Barolo, the young Chiara Boschis studied Economics at University before her family purchased E.Pira & Figli in 1981, propelling her into a role significantly different to what she intended. Becoming the only female oenologist working in Barolo at the time bringing her considerable determination, charm and confidence to raising the quality and profile of E. Pira. The only women in the legendary “Barolo boys” was a strong force in making the world start to notice the quality of wines from Barolo. Her philosophy is to craft wines that marry the extraordinary power of Barolo with approachability through strict vineyard management, careful selection and impeccable vinification techniques. All work on her vines is strictly manual and carried out with extreme care and respect for the environment and is certified organic since the 2014 harvest and is working to get all of Cannubi Hill to be organic. In 2010 Chiara's brother Giorgio, also a winemaker, joined the business and the two expanded their holdings to include Mosconi and Ravera in Monforte and Gabutti in Serralunga. In addition, Giorgio's daughter Beatrice has recently completed her enology degree so the future looks bright for a new generation at E.Pira. To learn more visit: Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EPiraFigliChiaraBoschis Twitter https://twitter.com/chiara_boschis Website www.pira-chiaraboschis.com/ _______________________________ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodcast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Follow Italian Wine Podcast for more great content - winery interviews from the Clubhouse sessions!

Adam, Joanna, and Zach assess whether wine certifications from groups like the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust are worthy pursuits for many in the wine industry, or whether they're not worth the time and money they require to obtain. Please remember to subscribe to, rate, and review VinePair on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, or wherever you get your episodes, and send any questions, comments, critiques, or suggestions to podcast@vinepair.com. Thanks for listening, and be well.Joanna is reading: When Beer Was BEERAdam is reading: The Future of Mark Brown's Industry NewsletterZach is reading: Bud Light Officially Surpassed by ModeloInstagram: @adamteeter, @jcsciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepairTwitter: @adamteeter @joannasciarrino, @zgeballe, @vinepair Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Join WineGuyTy in The Barrel Room LIVE at VIWF with renown 4th Generation Winemaker Dr. Laura Catena of Catena Zapata Winery & Luca Wine Brands in Mendoza, Argentina, as we delve into the latest happenings at the Pyramid; in the cellar; with a brand new book, and her recent appointment to WSET, the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.LINKS:VIWF: https://vanwinefest.caCatena Zapata Winery: https://catenazapata.comIG: @LauraCatenaMD**The best wines are those shared with friends. Let's share my next DROP together!Follow WineGuyTy's adventures! Head on over to IG: @WineGuyTy

Ciao, Sono Mihaela Cojocaru e ti do il benvenuto sul podcast “SoMe Wine”. Sono un appassionata di vino ed Educator per la Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Personalmente vivo il vino a 360 gradi. Questa bevanda meravigliosa è diventata il centro della mia vita. Pronto a scoprire insieme a me, ogni venerdi, storie di vini & vignaioli e non solo?

Welcome to Episode 1292; Who are the Top Wine Influencers in Poland? Welcome to Wine2Wine Business Forum 2021 Series. The sessions are recorded and uploaded on Italian Wine Podcast. wine2wine is an international wine business forum, held annually in Verona Italy since 2014. The event is a key reference point for wine producers and a diverse variety of wine professionals eager to develop and grow their wine business worldwide. About the Speaker Izabela Kamińska DipWSET Strong and recognizable female figure – one of the very few in the Polish World of Wine, Izabela created something very special – a YouTube wine show called “Ale wino” in which, together with the co-host, Tomasz Czudowski, they introduce the world of wine to the viewers by tasting, sharing the story behind the wines and winemakers, inviting special guests from various fields related to wine. Izabela worked for the wine magazine, “Winicjatywa” and two food magazines – “SMAK” and KUKBUK. She is also a passionate wine educator who teaches in the Polish department of the WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust). Izabela is a creator of two dinner clubs. She organises wine pairing dinners and cooperates with the best chefs and restaurants in Poland. Two clubs together gather more than 600 members! She also organises tastings, masterclasses and wine courses opened for the public in different cities of Poland. To find out more: Instagram: @unitedstatesoftaste About the Moderator: Katarzyna Kordaś IWA Over the last years, working in the position of manager and coordinator – Premium Italian and Franch wine import division of HoReCa. Katarzyna Kordaś has the opportunity to connect my personal passion with daily life and work. She has gained valuable experience in many areas of the wine selling industry. Those commitments resulted in the success in 2017 when her company, was awarded by “The Best Importer “ in Poland. This title not only reaffirmed the national recognition of her company but also motivated her to improve her skills. To find out more: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katarzyna.kordas.3 Instagram: @wines_ambassador Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, cin cin!

When producing a beverage for public consumption it is important to know beforehand that people even want it. When you get rolling, that consumer feedback is still so important. But so is market data, category trends, and what the media is saying. Jess Lander from the SF Chronicle joins me to share her story as a wine and travel writer and her perspective of the wine industry from in front of the tasting room bar. She has always had a passion for writing and focuses those skills on telling the stories of vintners, producers, little known wineries, and big news in the alcohol world.Special Mentions7x7 Bay AreaDecanterWine Enthusiast CatalogWine Enthusiast MagazineVinePair: Drinking in Culture - Learn about Wine, Beer & SpiritsSF Chronicle - Wine, Beer & Spirits PageSF Chronicle Wine CompetitionThe Essential Napa Valley CookbookCider House Blues: All of the Peninsula's hard cider makers have shuttered recently. Why? By Kate BradshawBay Area hard cider industry shaken by recent closures by Jass LanderWSET - Wine & Spirits Education Trust (classes, news, and events)Visit HERE for more about Jess Lander and her articles and wine writing. Have a suggestion for an article? Send her a note - jess.lander@sfchronicle.comFollow her! @willwrite4wineThank you to Tony Stuck for the awesome intro/outro music and to Mary Ann King for the amazing pod art that you see for every episode. If you've enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate, and review the podcast! 5 stars goes a long long way and I so appreciate your support. For more information about me and this podcast visit us online at othercwords.com or follow the podcast @othercwords. Talk to you soon! And thanks for joining me today!

Welcome to Episode 1203 in which Steve Raye interviews Vanessa Conlin MW, in this installment of Get US Market Ready With Italian Wine People, on the Italian Wine Podcast. About today's guest: Master of Wine Vanessa Conlin is the Chief Wine Officer for Wine Access, a national online wine provider. She is also co-creator of the new Napa wine called Pas de Cheval, a collaboration with winemaker Maayan Kochitzky. She has served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for several of Napa's most prestigious luxury estates including Arietta Wines and Dana Estates. Previously she was the wine buyer for two prominent Manhattan wine retailers and the Wine Director for a Manhattan-based wine bar. As an avid supporter of charitable causes, Vanessa is on the Board for Jameson Humane, a Napa Valley-based animal rescue and sanctuary, and has chaired the organization's annual charity wine auction four times, raising over 7 million dollars. Prior to falling in love with wine, Vanessa worked as a professional musician, performing internationally and on Broadway, and holds a Master's Degree in Music. She is an instructor for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa became a Master of Wine in 2020. Learn more: Website: www.vanessaconlinmw.com, www.wineaccess.com Instagram: @vanessaconlin Linkedin: Vanessa Conlin MW More about the host Steve Raye: Steve Raye of Bevology Inc originally joined our weekly lineup with narrations from his book “How to get US Market Ready” - but everyone just loved him so much, we brought him back with this series of interviews that informs and inspires! Each week he speaks to industry professionals; guests who have gained valuable experience in the Italian wine sector and have insightful tips and stories that can help anyone who wants to learn about getting US Market Ready! To learn more visit: Website: www.bevologyinc.com/ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodcast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!

Kala is the Founder of Five Senses Tastings, a Certified Women-Owned Business. Her philosophy of Sensory Wellness encourages guests to harness the energy, power, and play of their five senses using music, wine, and food, and sweet treats. Inspired by her childhood abroad, Kala believes that diversifying our own sensory ecosystems leads us to find beauty and inspiration not just in ourselves but in the world around us. She is a professional opera singer who has performed worldwide (including for three presidents), and now intentionally uses her voice to advocate for voting rights. She is a former federal government employee, bone marrow donor, a polyglot who speaks German, French, and Spanish, and is certified through the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. Kala lives in Los Angeles with her partner and two orange Bronx street cats, Ollie and Caspar. My gratitude goes out to Hannah Boissonneault who edits our Masterclass episodes and to Juanitos and Scott Holmes for the music featured in this episode. You can help support the creation of these episodes when you join the Sybaritic Camerata on Patreon. Get started at patreon.com/mezzoihnen. Be on the Studio Class Podcast Megan Ihnen is a professional mezzo-soprano, teacher, writer, and arts entrepreneur who is passionate about helping other musicians and creative professionals live their best lives. Studio Class is an outgrowth of her popular #29DaystoDiva series from The Sybaritic Singer. Let your emerging professionals be part of the podcast! Invite Megan to your studio class for a taping of an episode. Your students ask questions and informative, fun conversation ensues. Special Guest: Kala Maxym.

Welcome to Episode 1119 Cynthia Chaplin interviews Miguel de Leon, in this installment of Voices, on the Italian Wine Podcast. More about today's guest: He was born in Manila, grew up around tons of food and even more family, and was educated in one of the top schools in the country. He moved to the United States at ten years old, to Orange County, California, completing an American public education, he soon went to college at UC Berkeley, where he studied Linguistics and City Planning + Urban Studies. More importantly, he landed a reservationist position at a small neighborhood restaurant called Chez Panisse that would upend everything he knew about food politics and the restaurant industry. He moved to New York to pursue a restaurant career, landing stints in some of New York's toughest dining rooms, most notably at David Chang's radical East Village restaurant Momofuku, and at Andy Nusser's ode to Catalunya and tapas at Gramercy's Casa Mono. Along the way, he completed certifications with Cornell University, the Sake Education Council, and the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. In 2020, his writing about social justice, equity, and systemic inequalities in the wine space galvanized a personal and critical look at complicit wine systems and the complexities of intersectionality through the lens of wine in acclaimed publications like PUNCH (Penguin/Random House), Bon Appétit, and Wine + Spirits Magazine. He and his work have been featured in The New York Times, Food + Wine Magazine, Grubstreet (New York Magazine), Eater, Barron's PENTA, and Bloomberg, among others. Currently, Miguel serves as the wine director for SoHo's Pinch Chinese. He also sits at the resource council for the Hue Society, an organization that promotes and prioritizes BIPOC professionals in the wine industry, creating curriculum that focuses on decolonizing and recentering wine spaces and language. He edits and contributes to Disgorgeous, a podcast and zine about wine. He advises the UC Davis Viticulture and Enology Program for its seminar work in the field of Critical Wine Studies. In 2022, Miguel earned the prestigious James Beard Foundation Media Award for Personal Essay - Long Form for his work about intersecting identities and decolonization, and was named in the inaugural class of Wine Enthusiast's Future 40, tastemakers and innovators shaping the way we drink now. To learn more visit: https://www.miguel-deleon.com/pinch Instagram: migueld1 About today's Host: Cynthia Chaplin is a VIA certified Italian Wine Ambassador, a professional sommelier with FIS and the WSA, a member of Le Donne del Vino, and a Professor of Italian wine and culture. Born in the USA, she's lived in Europe since 1990. Italian wine, in particular rosé, is her passion. She works with embassies, corporations and private clients, creating and presenting tastings, events, seminars and in-depth courses. Cynthia is a wine writer, a judge at international wine and sake competitions, she consults with restaurants and enotecas developing comprehensive wine lists and food pairings, and she advises clients who want to curate an Italian wine collection. She currently works for Vinitaly International in Verona as a Project Manager, Educator, and the host of VOICES Series on The Italian Wine Podcast, focusing on diversity and inclusion in the global wine industry. To learn more visit: Facebook: Italian Wines in English Instagram: kiss_my_glassx Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cynthia-chaplin-190647179/ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodcast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!

Welcome to episode 1062 in which host Polly Hammond interviews Sally Evans of Chateau George 7, this week on Uncorked. In this episode, we are joined by Sally Evans, owner of Chateau George 7. Sally's story is inspiring and delightful -- At the time when many people are considering slowing down the pace of life, Sally took a decidedly different path, she bought a parcel of 35-year old vines in Fronsac and started a winery. Today, we talk about how her career in Business Strategy and Marketing informs her decisions, how those decisions have helped her build an award-winning winery, and the adventure of starting a new business after 50. Let's get into it! More about today's guest: After a career at a global consulting company in Paris then Nice, and with the family having flown the nest, Sally Evans felt that the time had come to have a new adventure. She started studying WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) wine courses and traveled to Bordeaux to explore the city and its appellations. Within months, she was destined to own a winery, and Chateau George 7 was born. By 2020, Sally had transformed a dilapidated tractor barn into a wine tourism venue to coincide with the bottling of her first vintage and by late 2021, Chateau George 7 was recognised with a Best of Wine Tourism Gold Award. To learn more visit: https://www.chateaugeorge7.com/ https://www.instagram.com/chateaugeorge7 More about the host: Polly is Founder and CEO of 5forests. She splits her time between Barcelona, Auckland, and Napa, consulting, writing, and speaking about the trends that impact today's wine businesses. She's an advisor to New Zealand Trade & Enterprise, host of Uncorked with the Italian Wine Podcast, cohost of the Real Business of Wine with Robert Joseph, and, occasionally, a knitter. Polly is a graduate of the University of Southern California, where she earned degrees in International Relations and French. Those studies led to a deep and abiding love affair with behavioral Economics, and her wine work is based on insights into all the crazy and irrational reasons consumers engage with brands. With over 20 years' experience in growing successful companies, Polly knows first-hand the challenges faced by independent businesses. She approaches each client experience with empathy and understanding for what it takes to adapt and thrive in the real world. To learn more visit: Twitter: @mme_hammond Instagram: @5forests website: https://5forests.com/ Let's keep in touch! Follow us on our social media channels: Instagram @italianwinepodcast Facebook @ItalianWinePodcast Twitter @itawinepodcast Tiktok @MammaJumboShrimp LinkedIn @ItalianWinePodcast If you feel like helping us, donate here www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin!

Julie Kuhlken, PhD is the Owner and CEO of Pedernales Cellars, a winery specializing in Texas-grown Spanish and Rhone-style wines. As a well-versed professional in the wine industry, she has earned the Level III award from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and has served as President of The Texas Hill Country Winery Association. Julie currently serves on the marketing committee of the Texas Wine and Grape Growers Association and the board of the Economic Development Commission for Gillespie County. She is the Author of Why Philosophers Take Artists Seriously and has published numerous essays on wine as well as ethical and environmental issues. In this episode with Julie Kuhlken When starting a winery, marketing can be overwhelming since there are many factors to consider. So, how can you market your brand to attract local consumers and tourists?  According to Julie Kuhlken, you must first evaluate your location to determine the best method to structure your winery. This ensures accessibility and allows you to determine your potential customer base. Another effective marketing strategy is to support and partner with local organizations and other wineries that will promote your initiatives in return.  Listen in to this episode of Legends Behind the Craft as Drew Thomas Hendricks sits down with Julie Kuhlken, Owner and CEO of Pedernales Cellars, to talk about leveraging your area to market your winery. Julie describes Texas Hill Country's growing environment, her strategic approach to marketing Pedernales Cellars, and how she executes Pedernales' tasting initiatives.

This episode features Joe Herrig, the Director of Education for Georgia Crown Distributing Company. He is a Certified Sommelier, a Certified Specialist of Wine, and a Diploma candidate with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. He has over a decade of experience in the Atlanta wine wholesale industry, and he talks about his own journey in wine education that has brought him to this point of his career. Joe was a finalist in the 2022 Atlanta “Somm Smackdown” Blind Tasting competition, and has been practicing the skill formally for the past nine years. We talk about the art of blind tasting, the exciting aspects of the Atlanta wine market, and the importance of inspiring customers to get excited about how much more there is to learn about wine. He also passes along insight from his current role in onboarding beverage professionals to the wholesale side of the business. You can follow his cooking, travel, and wine adventures at @suburbanwino on social media. Recorded June 12, 2022 This episode is sponsored by Diane Carpenter and Ross Knoll Vineyard: https://www.dianecarpenter.org/wines --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/acorkintheroad/support

MJ's Guest today is Joe Bembry, Owner of 56 Degree Wine. Joe came to the wine biz from a deep love of all things vinous. He graduated from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust's Advanced Certificate with Distinction in 2003 and subsequently began his wine career as the opening Wine Director of 56 Degree Wine in 2004. Joe has also worked on the wholesale side of the business, when in 2012 he left 56 Degree Wine and began representing the great portfolios of Juan Prieto Wines, BNP and Grand Cru Selections. Returning to 56 Degree Wine in 2014 as President & General manager, Joe has now become the outright owner of the store as of January 2021.Joe has been a consultant to hundreds of private clients and has been hired as a featured speaker for many corporations like Wells Fargo, JP Morgan, Sullivan & Cromwell, Bank of America and many others. Traveling to Europe over 30 times to visit various wine regions, he has made over 15 trips to Burgundy, his favorite region. An avid golfer and 30+ year professional musician, he is the father of two and husband to Kerin Auth Bembry of La Luz Selections.In this episode MJ and Joe discuss the early days of Joe's music career, his band Hyperactive, and his eventual foray into wine. From Joe's first glass of Pinot Noir (he used to only drink white) to owning 56 Degree Wine, Joe tells the story of his journey in the wine business. A huge thank you to Joe Bembry!Follow 56 Degree Wine on IG at: @56wineFollow Joe Bembry on IG at: @lemonstreduvin Check out 56 Degree Wine at: https://www.56degreewine.com/This episode's in studio wines:2012 Domaine Bzikot Bourgogne Blanc2010 Domaine Joseph Voillot Volnay 1er Cru Les Champans_____________________________________________________________Until next time, cheers to the mavericks, philosophers, deep thinkers, and wine drinkers! Don't forget to subscribe and be sure to give The Black Wine Guy Experience a five-star review on whichever platform you listen to.For insider info from MJ and exclusive content from the show sign up at Blackwineguy.comFollow MJ @blackwineguy Thank you to our sponsor: Taub Family Selections. Taub Family Selections is a dynamic fourth generation, family-owned wine import company with a truly enviable portfolio of fine wines from 11 countries. They are proud to represent an exceptional portfolio of high quality, terroir centric and historic producers from around the world, including Italy and France - where they have an exciting roster of burgeoning vignerons from Burgundy coming your way soon. Learn more at www.taubfamilyselections.comThank you to our sponsor: Independence Wine and Spirits - or IWS. IWS is one of the hot up and coming distributors of fine wines and spirits headquartered in New York City. Like Taub Family Selections, IWS is owned by the Taub family, who have re-entered the NY wholesale market, bringing the family back to its roots in distribution where they held court from 1951 – 2004. To learn more about IWS go to: https://independencewine.com Love this podcast? Love the cool content? Get a producer like mine by reaching out to the badass team at Necessary Media. www.necessarymediaproductions.com@necessary_media_ See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ilona House is a Wine Ambassador and owner of Ilona n Company Events. She works as a personal wine concierge providing curated wines delivered directly to you. Through virtual wine tastings, she helps you find your personal wine style and provides wine for personal consumption as well as custom-label wines, corporate gifting, and wine events. Ilona is a professional certified through Napa Valley Wine Academy and WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust)   In this episode, Ilona walks us through her wine journey and her ambassador program. And she also share with us her wine pics and pairings for this episode. Let's dive in!    [00:01 -10:03] Opening Segment  I introduce our guest for this episode  Ilona shares about her wine story Ilona talks about the ambassador program Curated wines only available through the ambassador program Fell in love with the story-telling aspect of wine Events that led her to falling in love with wine Finding family in the wine scene From wine enthusiast to wine entrepreneur Finding the joy and education with wine drinking   [10:04 - 19:19] Getting into the Ambassador Program    Being as entrepreneurial as you want How people can avail of the services Building relationships with wine lovers   Join my wine club and connect with other wine lovers!  See link below   [19:20  -27:26] Let's talk about Wine  2019 Mendocino County Chardonnay  Curated wine for the ambassador program Refreshing wine with hints of apple, peaches Food pairs: salad and shellfish  2018 Joy and Serenity  Cabernet-based blends, charitable wine Approachable wine Pairing: red meat and pasta  Wine kits Something that you can enjoy at home  [27:27 - 31:02] Closing Segment   Wind trends for 2022 Favorite Wine Got-to pairing Favorite wine resource Connect with Ilona See links below  Final words Tweetable Quotes: “And I thought to myself, you know, people shouldn't be afraid of wine, they shouldn't be afraid to have nice parties that this should just be a part of your life. And how can I do that?” - Ilona House    “Everybody can enjoy wine at many different levels. And everybody should feel comfortable with their style. You know, you can be a white wine drinker, you can be a red wine drinker, you can only want bubbles -- it all it doesn't matter. It's whatever you like. And we can always find fun ways to pair it with the right foods to make it even better.” - Ilona House Connect with Ilona through Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn! You can also check out here website at www.ilonancompany.com and my.boissetcollection.com/house.wine. Let's continue the Everyday Wine Conversations and connect with me through Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, or feel free to shoot me an email at kris@krislevy.co. You can also check out my website at ​www.​klevywineco.com.   TELL US WHAT YOU THINK! LEAVE A REVIEW + help us get the word out there! Share this podcast to someone who wants to join the wine conversations. Go ahead and take a screenshot, share this to your stories, and tag me on Instagram!    JOIN THE CLUB through this link and handpick wines every month, from up and coming wineries, winemaker owned brands and wineries with unique stories while supporting those wineries directly. You can also join our Facebook Group to connect with other wine lovers, get special tips and tricks, and take your wine knowledge to a whole new level.

Award winning International Wine Educator Tuanni Price is on a mission to make the complicated world of wine simple. In fact, that is the motto of her wine lifestyle business, Zuri Wine Tasting. The self-proclaimed wine enthusiast curates' wine-filled lifestyles from Southern California to the Southern-most part of the globe in Cape Town, South Africa. Tuanni uses her brand, Zuri Wine Tasting, to host private tastings, teach wine tasting classes and host wine tours. In addition, she produces small to large scale wine experiences for corporate and non-profit clients. Tuanni grew up in South Central Los Angeles and was not exposed to wine early in life. She was in her 30's when her interest in wine peaked. One evening while dining at a five star restaurant, she was snubbed by the Sommelier. From that moment on her goal was to learn and share as much as possible about wine and its accompanying lifestyle, enabling her to help others avoid that feeling of intimidation.Tuanni started a wine club with her friends, she studied with the Society of Wine Educators and North American Sommelier Associatio Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Tuanni has traveled the world sipping and learning about wine. Tuanni made a bold move in 2018 to expand her business to Cape Town South Africa, spending part of each year contributing to the vibrant and exciting wine industry there. Zuri Wine Tasting now offers its services to clients and wine lovers in both the US and South Africa. Today, aside from managing the day-to-day operations and event planning on behalf of Zuri Wine Tasting, Tuanni also host a podcast, aBroad Drinking Wine. She volunteers for PYDA (Pinotage Youth Development Academy), Blacc Cellar Club in Stellenbosch and the US-based AAAV (African American Vintners Association). She holds a B.A. in Liberal Arts from Grambling University.Follow Item 13 on social media: Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @item13podcastDon't forget to subscribe & leave us a review!Heritage Radio Network is a listener supported nonprofit podcast network. Support Item 13 by becoming a member!Item 13: An African Food Podcast is Powered by Simplecast.

Why are fruit wines becoming more popular and how do they differ from grape-based wines? What is Pét-Nat-style wine and which ones should you try? What are wines from Slovenia like, and which foods pair best with them? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer and educator, Nikki Goddard. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights Why are fruit wines becoming more popular? Which incredible fruit wines should you try? Why do these newer styles of wine attract lovers of other artisanal beverages? What is Pét-Nat-style wine? How does Nikki put a unique spin on colour descriptors for wines? What's it like to taste Kabaj Sivi Pinot? Which foods pair especially well with Kabaj Sivi Pinot? What do you need to know about Subject To Change "This is Not Wine"? How did Questions of Taste influence Nikki's wine career? Why does Nikki love her RBT decanter? Why does Dr. Konstantin Frank Winery hold special meaning for Nikki? What unique way did Nikki permanently commemorate her love of wine? Why does Nikki prefer Napa Cabernets from the 80s and 90s? What was it like for Nikki to meet Jancis Robinson? What are Nikki's top tips for getting comfortable with wine?   Key Takeaways Nikki gave us an excellent overview of why are fruit wines becoming more popular and how they differ from grape-based wines. She's made me thirsty to seek these out more often. I also thought she did a great job explaining the Pét-Nat-style bubbly and why it's so trendy these days. Adding that to my list as well. And finally, she sparked my interest in Slovenian wines. Even though I have tried several, and liked them immensely, I'm looking forward to drinking more of them and experimenting with food pairings.   Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I'll be live-streaming for the very first time on Zoom on Wednesday, August 18th at 7 pm eastern. You can save your spot for free right here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xmiuNNKRSwm2xEsOaew6Sg. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer?   Giveaway You can win an exclusive online tasting with Nikki Goddard. Of course, you can invite friends or family to attend. She'll select a theme that suits you and let you know which wines you can buy in advance.   How to Win All you need to do is comment on my post on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn before 7 pm EDT on August 18th. I'll select the winner randomly from those who participate. You get a bonus entry for every wine-loving friend you tag and if you re-share this post in your stories. Good luck!   About Nikki Goddard Nikki Goddard is a Bay Area wine writer and educator. With over 14 years of wine industry experience, Nikki has written for a wide range of companies and publications including JancisRobinson.com, Vivino, Delectable, Wine Folly, SommSelect, The Spruce Eats, Dry Farm Wines, Liquor.com, Foley Family Wines, Edible East Bay, Beverage Industry News, and more. She is certified through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust at the Diploma level and has taught courses for levels 2 and 3. Nikki worked for several years as a wine buyer and previously co-owned The Barrel Room, a wine bar in San Francisco. Nikki fell in love with wine while studying Textiles and Apparel at Cornell University. Beguiled by the wines of the Finger Lakes and realizing that she had a greater affinity for the laid-back, epicurean lifestyle of an oenophile than for the cut-throat fashion industry, she decided to make wine her life's career. The more Nikki shared her passion for wine with her friends, the more she became aware of a serious lack of approachable, engaging discussion around the subject—resulting in a lot of intimidation around what should be one of life's greatest pleasures. To make wine more accessible and fun for all, she has committed herself to bridging the gap between knowledge and enjoyment.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/141.

When can wine faults actually improve the taste of wine? Does learning about wine decrease your enjoyment of it? Can wine experts really distinguish between different types of wine? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with wine writer and educator, Nikki Goddard. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights How did Nikki end up recommending a wine that was a little too close to home for a customer? Which unusual query about palm wine did Nikki receive while working with wine.com? Why should the infamous study showing that wine experts can't distinguish between red and white wine be taken with a grain of salt? What did Nikki learn from a blind tasting experiment she did with her non-expert friends? Can learning about wine decrease your enjoyment of it? What makes the wine world seem so intimidating? When can wine faults actually improve the taste of wine? Which lesser-known wine regions should you try to experience?   Key Takeaways I like Nikki's fresh take on how some wine faults may be desirable, and even improve the taste of a wine, or at least, be part of its character rather than a flaw. I love her story about tasting Domaine de la Romanee-Conti as a way of showing how much our expectations and knowledge of wine influence our taste and perception of it. I have to thank Nikki for finally debunking those super annoying studies that say wine experts are easily fooled when the methodology behind is as misleading as the clickbait headlines.   Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I'll be live-streaming for the very first time on Zoom on Wednesday, August 11th at 7 pm eastern. You can save your spot for free right here: https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_AifT0HiBS_inZ8L8NToJ3A. I'll be jumping into the comments as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer?   Giveaway You can win an exclusive online tasting with Nikki Goddard. Of course, you can invite friends or family to attend. She'll select a theme that suits you and let you know which wines you can buy in advance.   How to Win All you need to do is comment on my post on Instagram, Facebook or LinkedIn before 7 pm EDT on August 18th. I'll select the winner randomly from those who participate. You get a bonus entry for every wine-loving friend you tag and if you re-share this post in your stories. Good luck!   About Nikki Goddard Nikki Goddard is a Bay Area wine writer and educator. With over 14 years of wine industry experience, Nikki has written for a wide range of companies and publications including JancisRobinson.com, Vivino, Delectable, Wine Folly, SommSelect, The Spruce Eats, Dry Farm Wines, Liquor.com, Foley Family Wines, Edible East Bay, Beverage Industry News, and more. She is certified through the Wine and Spirits Education Trust at the Diploma level and has taught courses for levels 2 and 3. Nikki worked for several years as a wine buyer and previously co-owned The Barrel Room, a wine bar in San Francisco. Nikki fell in love with wine while studying Textiles and Apparel at Cornell University. Beguiled by the wines of the Finger Lakes and realizing that she had a greater affinity for the laid-back, epicurean lifestyle of an oenophile than for the cut-throat fashion industry, she decided to make wine her life's career. The more Nikki shared her passion for wine with her friends, the more she became aware of a serious lack of approachable, engaging discussion around the subject—resulting in a lot of intimidation around what should be one of life's greatest pleasures. To make wine more accessible and fun for all, she has committed herself to bridging the gap between knowledge and enjoyment.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/140.

Why did I resist scoring wines for the first three years I wrote about them? How do you go from submitting an article to a local publication to publishing your first book? Why aren't press trips to wine regions all they're cracked up to be? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm being interviewed by Vanessa Conlin on the Wine Access Author Series. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights How did I go from writing an article for a local publication to publishing my first book? Why do stories make such a great medium for you to learn about wine? How did I get access to prestigious vineyards and wineries while researching my first book? What's it like to interview A-listers in the wine world like Robert Parker and Jancis Robinson? How can you choose the right wine critic for you to follow? What's it like working undercover in a wine store and as a restaurant sommelier? Which undercover moment transformed my understanding of service? Which wine regions am I looking forward to experiencing? Who are some of the most fun and interesting people I've interviewed so far? Why do I avoid going on press trips? What types of stories can you look forward to in my upcoming book? Which tip can you use to find great bargain wines? How can food and wine pairing help you to get more comfortable with wine? Which food is the most difficult to pair with wine? What type of wine is the easiest to pair with a wide range of foods? Do you need to be an expert to enjoy wine?   About Vanessa Conlin MW Vanessa Conlin MW is the Head of Wine for Wine Access, a national direct-to-consumer e-com wine retailer where she oversees all wine curation and wine content. Vanessa has served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for several of Napa's most prestigious luxury estates including Arietta Wines and Dana Estates. Previously she was the wine buyer for two prominent Manhattan wine retailers and the Wine Director for a Manhattan-based wine bar. As an avid supporter of charitable causes, Vanessa is the President of the Board for Jameson Humane, a Napa Valley-based animal rescue and sanctuary, and has chaired the organization's annual charity wine auction four times, raising over 7 million dollars. Prior to falling in love with wine, Vanessa worked as a professional musician, performing internationally and on Broadway, and holds a Master's Degree in Music. She is an instructor for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa became a Master of Wine in 2020.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/139.

Have you ever tasted a wine "blind"? Do you even know what that means?  Marika Vida, a longtime wine director for The Ritz-Cartlon in NYC and now known as The Mom Somm, explains how to taste wines "blind" and why doing so will help you understand why you like the wines you like, and empower you to explore beyond your comfort zone. You'll also learn how to host an incredibly fun blind wine tasting party for your friends. About Marika Vida For the past decade, Marika Vida has been one of the most in-demand, highly respected wine professionals in the business. She has served as Wine Director of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park; Sommelier of the top-rated Laurent Tourondel Bistro BLT Market; Sommelier for the Philadelphia Ritz Carlton with ‘Top Chef' Winner Kevin Sbraga. She also developed the opening wine program at 10Arts with Chef Eric Ripert and Chef de Cuisine Jennifer Carroll. Under the auspices of her new consulting firm Vida et Fils, she most recently consulted as the Wine Director of The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park. Her most recent project there was the critically acclaimed Phenomenal Femmes Program, which featured female winemakers from around the globe, including a popular dinner series. Marika also consults for Architectural Digest and Wines of Provence. She was recently the Consulting Sommelier for The Essex House JW Marriott New York. Marika is currently a Wine Educator for the famed Argentine Winery Catena Zapata and she is a member of the Full Circle Sommelier Network, working with Master Sommelier Evan Goldstein on projects for Wines of Argentina, Brazil, Portugal, Soave and Monterey programs. She has served on Eric Asimov's Tasting Panel for the New York Times and been featured on Barrons.com for romantic wine picks. Marika's work as Wine Director and Sommelier includes much more than simply developing, managing, and selling the wine programs. Her enthusiasm for wine, unique ability to convey knowledge to consumers, and background in broadcast journalism have lead to the creation of some of the most popular, enjoyable seasonal programs to which consumers have access. These include The Ritz Carlton's wine and chocolate pairing course “Chocolate Takes Flight with Marika Vida,” the Viking Culinary Center's “Pairing Wine with Tricky Ingredients,” and a number of charity events, notably a highly successful, 5-course pairing menu with Chef Laurent Tourondel for the charity “Autism Speaks to Wall Street: 4th Annual Celebrity Chef Gala.” She also has served as a judge for the Starchef Sommelier Competition and Wine Director for the James Beard Foundation Book Broadcast and Journalism Awards. She is a Member of Les Dames d'Escoffier New York. In addition to her hotel and restaurant work, Marika is passionate about enhancing the wine education of consumers and colleagues alike. To that end, she has instructed for the American Sommelier Association in New York and the French Wine Society. She holds titles of Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and the American Sommelier Association. She is a Certified Specialist of Wine with the Society of Wine Educators and holds the Advanced Certificate for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. She is currently enrolled the WSET Diploma program. Marika is that rare wine professional who has successfully worked in nearly all aspects of the business. She started her career in the competitive wine-auction world, honing her skills and knowledge as Marketing Director for prestigious Sotheby's and their then retail partner Alden Cellars and was Cellar Manager for premier New York retailer, Morrell & Company. She also works with corporate clients, aiding them in the development of menus and wine pairings for special events. Clients include Glaxo-Smith-Kline, NYSE, Prologis, IMG, Milbank Tweed Hadley & McCoy, R.R. Donnelley among many notable others. With her highly regarded reputation and unique ability to connect with everyone she encounters, Marika continues to work at the forefront of the wine industry, helping to shape it for other professionals and connect it more intimately to consumers. It's an all too rare combination in this highly competitive industry. Connect with Marika Websites: http://www.themomsomm.com/ | https://marikavida.com Instagram: @themomsomm (https://www.instagram.com/themomsomm/?hl=en) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marika.vida.9 Twitter: @Marika_Vida (https://twitter.com/@Marika_Vida/) Have a question, comment, or idea for an upcoming episode? Email me at joe@insidewinepodcast.com or leave a voicemail at 917-727-9242 You can also find more wine, food, and entertaining tips at the home of Inside Wine Podcast - https://Wine365.com Listen to Inside Wine Podcast on the Wine365 app, it's available in the iTunes store and on Google Play. If you enjoy this episode please be sure to subscribe (it's free!) and also pass along to a friend, thank you!

Jeff is a wine sommelier, travel advisor and co-owner of Coggin Travels, specialists in pairing wine with travel. In 2019, Jeff joined his wife Cindy's travel advisor business after retiring from Enterprise Holdings where he enjoyed a 35-year career. With Enterprise, Jeff and his sales team enjoyed a decade of prodigious growth culminating in his 2019 retirement. Market share in his channel grew from 31% to 47% with sales growing from $800 million to $1.25 billion. Jeff then turned to his new career as a travel advisor, using the pandemic travel slowdown as an opportunity to focus on education and training. In 2020, Jeff earned recognition as an Accredited Cruise Counselor from the Cruise Lines International Association, as a Certified North America Destination Specialist by the Travel Institute and as a Verified Travel Advisor by the American Society of Travel Advisors. Jeff developed an appreciation for wine over his lifetime of travels and his enthusiasm was amplified by a series of European wine cruises, with his wife Cindy, through wine regions such as Bordeaux, Rhone and Mosel. Inspired by what he had already learned from these trips, Jeff began training as a wine sommelier culminating in his earning a Level 2 Award in Wine from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust. If you love wine and travel, let Jeff and Coggin Travels guide you through the Rhone river valley to learn the different wine appellations of Northern Rhone and taste the fine Hermitage and Cote Rotie wines. Jeff can lead you along the Mosel, to learn about fine German Rieslings which carry the label Kabinett, Spatlese and Auslese. Jeff can even take you to Northern Italy, near Venice, to learn about the different Valpolicella wines and how the distinctive Amarone is made using the appassimento wine making method. If these trips sound like you, visit coggintravels.com to learn more about our hosted and featured small ship cruises and sign up for Coggin Travels mailing list to receive ongoing wine and travel inspiration. You can find out more about Jeff and the travel opportunities they have planned at the Coggin Travels website: http://coggintravels.com

GUEST'S NAME: Christopher StruckCULINARY SCHOOL AFFILIATION: Johnson & Wales University, North Miami, FLBIO: Chris Struck credits his upbringing in a large, hybrid French-Deeply Southern US family in the coastal city of Destin, Florida as what incited his passion for food and beverage at an early age.He began cooking professionally within Chef Tim Creehan's fine dining restaurant group at the age of 14 and supplemented his formal restaurant apprenticeship with self-study trips to Europe, working in both kitchens and vineyards to gain greater knowledge of regional cuisines and wines.After completing his undergraduate degrees in Culinary Arts & Food Service Management at Johnson & Wales University, Struck gained certifications from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust, the Society of Wine Educators, the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas, and the Deutsche Wein und Sommelierschule in Koblenz, Germany. Struck also holds an Executive MBA in Food Marketing from Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia.Restaurant experience has included opening 8 restaurants in both front and back of house capacities throughout his career, including being employed as the assistant sommelier at Racines NY and at Danny Meyer's flagship Union Square Café. Currently Chris is the Beverage Director at ilili Restaurant (www.iliIn.com) in New York City and is an Adjunct Lecturer in the Hospitality Management Department of the College of Technology at the City University of New York (CUNY) teaching beverage and marketing classes.INSTAGRAM: @chris_struckSign up for our email list / newsletter: https://chefroche.com/contact RATINGS / REVIEW: If you enjoy this episode or the podcast overall, please consider leaving a short review and ratings on Apple Podcasts / iTunes if you have an iPhone or iPad. It takes less than 30 seconds, and it really makes a difference in spreading the word, getting new listeners and guests, as well as sponsors!To do so, click HERE and then scroll down to the “Ratings & Reviews”; tap the amount of stars you want to give; tap on “Write a Review”; create a headline; write your review; click “Send”. SPONSORSHIP / SUPPORT:If you like the show, this episode, and/or the video clips, why not show your support by buying us a cup or two of coffee to help defray some of the out-of-pocket expenses at: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/chefroche. We truly appreciate the gesture!Individuals can also donate through Patreon! Please support the show at: https://www.patreon.com/DrProfessorChef. If you contribute just the price of a cup of coffee a week, you will be helping to support the hosting, purchasing, creation and production of our episodes and shows that we produce and give away for free.Companies & Businesses interested in advertising or sponsoring the podcast, please contact us at: culinaryschoolstories@gmail.comABOUT THE SHOW: Culinary SchoolStories is a weekly podcast with engaging interviews that shares the stories of people from around the world that have an association with a culinary school insome way. Each episode we bring you the best stories from people around the food service world whose lives have been influenced, impacted, touched and/or enriched, for good or for bad, from their culinary school experience. And this Podcast is dedicated to telling their story!From current students and alumni, to faculty and administrators, this interview style podcast allows for longer, more in-depth, open discussions about issues, stories and tales surrounding culinary school. We hope you will listen in and learn what each of our guests has to say as we talk to them about their relationship to culinary school, as well as their journey, the people who helped them, and their goals and dreams for the future. Join us as we ask and discover, “What's your culinary school story?”RESOURCES:Audience Response Hotline: (207) 835-1275 {Comments, Suggestions or Questions)CSS Podcast Website: http://www.culinaryschoolstories.comChef Educator Podcast Website: http://www.chefeducator.comMain Website: https://www.chefroche.comYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/DrChefColinFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrProfessorChefTwitter: https://twitter.com/ChefRocheInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/CulinarySchoolStoriesNOTE: If you want to share your culinary school story in a future episode, all you have to do is go to http://www.culinaryschoolstories.com and download the guest questionnaire at the bottom of that page. Once you fill it out, email it back to us. After we review it, we will be back in touch to set up a date and time to talk!MUSIC: "Family Montage" by Biz Baz Studio, YouTube Audio LibraryCulinary School Stories is a proud member of the Food Media Network!Copyright 2021Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/culinaryschoolstories/donations

Are trends like orange wine and natural wine here to stay? What are the benefits of joining a wine club? How do you get out of a wine rut? Have consumer wine choices changed during the pandemic? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast for part 2 of our two-part conversation. You can find the wines we discussed at www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights Why did Vanessa decide to pursue her MW qualification? What are the main differences between the MW and Master Sommelier qualifications? Why doesn’t Amanda think the orange wine trend is here to stay in the US? Why is there so much confusion for consumers when it comes to natural wines? How does Vanessa identify natural wines? Have consumer wine choices changed during the pandemic? What was the most expensive wine Amanda has ever sold? Why does Amanda have a special interest in unusual varieties of wine from the 1950s and 1960s? Where can you start when you want to try something new? What’s the experience like as a member of the Wine Access Wine Club? Does it matter where you buy your wine? Why did Vanessa do a tasting of high-altitude wines? Which type of wine glass does Amanda recommend for California wines? How is Wine Access working to help improve diversity in the wine industry?   Key Takeaways I loved the way Vanessa described the master of wine studies as a way to combine all of those pieces of her curiosity and feed her constant desire to keep learning. I feel that way when it comes to writing and researching guests and topics for this podcast. I agree with her that the wine community needs to do a better job of explaining what natural wine actually means and what people should look for. I love her advice to drink promiscuously! The people on the floor - whether it's a restaurant or retail - know better than anybody what's on that list or on the shelves. Talk to them and ask what's interesting. Take a risk, drink promiscuously. Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video on Wednesday, March 24th at 7 pm eastern. Click on the "Interested" or "Going" buttons below so that you'll be notified when we go live: https://www.facebook.com/events/483530695981204 I’ll be jumping into the comments on all three platforms as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?   Giveaway You can win one of two signed copies of my books, "Red, White, and Drunk All Over" and "Unquenchable"   How to Win All you have to do is just pick your favourite social media channel -- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn -- tag us and post a wine you love before March 24th. Make sure to use these handles and hashtags: Instagram - @vanessaconlin @sommvivant @nataliemacleanwine @wineaccess @wineaccessunfiltered Twitter - @wineaccess @nataliemaclean Facebook - @hello.wine.access @natdecants Hashtags: #wineaccess #natdecants   I’ll select the winner from those of you who participate before March 24th. I’ll also reshare your stories and posts with my followers whether you win or not so that you connect with more wine lovers. Good luck, and I can't wait to see (and share) what you post!   About Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin MW Amanda McCrossin is a sommelier, media personality, wine educator, host of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast, & creator/host of the Instagram and YouTube channel “SOMMVIVANT.” As the former Wine Director at PRESS Restaurant in Napa Valley, Amanda worked with the world’s largest, deepest restaurant collection of all Napa Valley wines in the world. Prior to being named Wine Director in 2018, Amanda worked as a sommelier with her mentors and predecessors Kelli White (author, Napa Valley Then & Now) and Scott Brenner to become one of the world’s leading experts in California wine. Today, Amanda focuses her efforts on producing wine “edutainment” and digital media content for her social media platforms geared toward both consumers and professionals alike. A frequent speaker, personality, and contributing writer, in 2018 she was named a Wine Enthusiast ‘Wine Star’ Nominee for Sommelier of the Year and has been featured by numerous publications and media outlets including SOMM TV, Food Network, Wine Enthusiast, Somm Journal, Food & Wine, World of Fine Wine, & Wine Spectator. Vanessa Conlin MW is the Head of Wine for Wine Access, a national direct-to-consumer e-com wine retailer where she oversees all wine curation and wine content. Vanessa has served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for several of Napa’s most prestigious luxury estates including Arietta Wines and Dana Estates. Previously she was the wine buyer for two prominent Manhattan wine retailers and the Wine Director for a Manhattan-based wine bar. As an avid supporter of charitable causes, Vanessa is the President of the Board for Jameson Humane, a Napa Valley-based animal rescue and sanctuary, and has chaired the organization’s annual charity wine auction four times, raising over 7 million dollars. Prior to falling in love with wine, Vanessa worked as a professional musician, performing internationally and on Broadway, and holds a Master’s Degree in Music. She is an instructor for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa became a Master of Wine in 2020.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/120.

Have you ever dreamed of ditching your day job and starting a career in wine? What do wine and music have in common? What's it like to share a bottle of wine with the famous wine critic Robert Parker? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast for part 1 of our two-part conversation. You can find the wines we discussed at www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks.   Highlights When did Vanessa recognize she had found her place in the world of wine? Why was moving to Napa Valley the best moment in Amanda’s wine career so far? How was Amanda impacted by the California wildfires in 2017 and 2020? Are Napa Valley wineries open for visitors? How did a class shift Vanessa’s career path from opera to wine? Why was wine an infrequent part of Vanessa’s life during her career as an opera singer? How did Amanda make the transition from the stage into her wine career? How are wine and music more similar than you might think? What’s behind the perceived barrier to entry for both wine and opera? How are Amanda and Vanessa making wine more accessible? Why did Amanda make the move to Napa Valley from New York? How did Vanessa end up moving to California on a leap of faith? How does Vanessa combine her passion for wine with her love of animals? What was the moment that Amanda knew it was time for her to go all-in on her wine career? What aspects of Vanessa’s transition to her wine career were the hardest? Why was working at Press Restaurant such an interesting experience for Amanda? Which first wine experience did Amanda share with Robert Parker? What close call did Vanessa have with sparkling wine?   Key Takeaways I love the parallels that they draw between wine and music: both enjoyed individually and evoke all the senses. You can share the same bottle of wine with others but have a very different experience of it from them. What you bring to that wine influences what you take away from it. I love the point about wine, like music, being the sum of art and science. You start with technical foundations, but it’s the artistic flourish on top that makes the experience magical. It was great to get an update on Napa Valley and I’m looking forward to visiting the region again. I believe that you can enjoy wine without being an expert, but also believe that you can have a richer, more layered experience with knowledge. That’s always optional of course. I agree that a great way to learn about wine is to surround yourself with people who know more about it than you do, whether that’s through friends or online courses.   Watch Party Join me for the debut Watch Party of the video of this conversation that I’ll be live-streaming for the very first time on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video on Wednesday, March 17th at 7 pm eastern. Click on the "Interested" or "Going" buttons below so that you'll be notified when we go live: https://www.facebook.com/events/465681857886314/ I’ll be jumping into the comments on all three platforms as we watch it together so that I can answer your questions in real-time. I want to hear from you! What’s your opinion of what we’re discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn’t answer?   Giveaway You can win one of two signed copies of my books, "Red, White, and Drunk All Over" and "Unquenchable"   How to Win All you have to do is just pick your favourite social media channel -- Instagram, Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn -- tag us and post a wine you love before March 24th. Make sure to use these handles and hashtags: Instagram - @vanessaconlin @sommvivant @nataliemacleanwine @wineaccess @wineaccessunfiltered Twitter - @wineaccess @nataliemaclean Facebook - @hello.wine.access @natdecants Hashtags: #wineaccess #natdecants   I’ll select the winner from those of you who participate before March 24th. I’ll also reshare your stories and posts with my followers whether you win or not so that you connect with more wine lovers. Good luck, and I can't wait to see (and share) what you post!   About Amanda McCrossin & Vanessa Conlin MW Amanda McCrossin is a sommelier, media personality, wine educator, host of the Wine Access Unfiltered Podcast, & creator/host of the Instagram and YouTube channel “SOMMVIVANT.” As the former Wine Director at PRESS Restaurant in Napa Valley, Amanda worked with the world’s largest, deepest restaurant collection of all Napa Valley wines in the world. Prior to being named Wine Director in 2018, Amanda worked as a sommelier with her mentors and predecessors Kelli White (author, Napa Valley Then & Now) and Scott Brenner to become one of the world’s leading experts in California wine. Today, Amanda focuses her efforts on producing wine “edutainment” and digital media content for her social media platforms geared toward both consumers and professionals alike. A frequent speaker, personality, and contributing writer, in 2018 she was named a Wine Enthusiast ‘Wine Star’ Nominee for Sommelier of the Year and has been featured by numerous publications and media outlets including SOMM TV, Food Network, Wine Enthusiast, Somm Journal, Food & Wine, World of Fine Wine, & Wine Spectator. Vanessa Conlin MW is the Head of Wine for Wine Access, a national direct-to-consumer e-com wine retailer where she oversees all wine curation and wine content. Vanessa has served as the Director of Sales and Marketing for several of Napa’s most prestigious luxury estates including Arietta Wines and Dana Estates. Previously she was the wine buyer for two prominent Manhattan wine retailers and the Wine Director for a Manhattan-based wine bar. As an avid supporter of charitable causes, Vanessa is the President of the Board for Jameson Humane, a Napa Valley-based animal rescue and sanctuary, and has chaired the organization’s annual charity wine auction four times, raising over 7 million dollars. Prior to falling in love with wine, Vanessa worked as a professional musician, performing internationally and on Broadway, and holds a Master’s Degree in Music. She is an instructor for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and was the recipient of the Niki Singer Memorial Scholarship from the International Wine Center. Vanessa became a Master of Wine in 2020.   To learn more about the resources mentioned in this episode, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/119.

Faith Koen has been in the procurement profession for over 20 years across multiple industries. She is currently the Procurement Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates and she is responsible for overseeing the procurement team and supporting the wineries and facilities that are located in Washington, California, and Oregon. Faith joined the Women of Wine (WoW) Employee Resource Group within Ste. Michelle in 2015 and she currently serves as the Chair of the organization. During her tenure with WoW, she has embraced the opportunity to collaborate and learn from other amazing women in the organization, which has allowed her to grow as a leader and more importantly, a supporter.  Christina Starr is a communications and public relations professional with 17 years of experience working with luxury brands from hospitality to tourism and wine. Currently, she's the Senior Communications Manager for Ste. Michelle Wine Estates' luxury and imported wine portfolio. She oversees the communications in the U.S. for Champagne and Villa Maria in New Zealand, along with several other domestic and important wine brands. She is also the Vice Chair of Ste. Michelle's Women of Wine (WoW), which supports events and programming to support professional development, collaboration and knowledge sharing within St. Michelle. Christina holds a level two certification from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust and is currently pursuing her level three certification. In this episode… Unlike men, most women avoid taking some actions because they feel that they do not know enough about certain subjects for them to make a move. They are unable to recognize themselves as leaders or experts in their fields and they often forget that even being a successful business owner is a continuous learning process that everyone goes through. This failure to see their own achievements and skills as enough puts a limit on them and the things that they can do, and these all stem from one thing: fear. Fear is a real thing but instead of embracing it and facing it head on, many women allow it to take over their lives. This reaction to fear prevents them from moving forward and learning from potential experiences that can elevate them and propel them towards success. So what can women do to help cope with their own fears and how can they get over their own limiting beliefs and imposter syndrome in order to unlock opportunities in their career and in their life? Join Andrea Heuston in this episode of the Lead Like a Woman Show as she interviews Faith Koen and Christina Starr of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates to talk about women in the wine industry and how they can assuage their own fears and realize that they are enough. They will also be discussing their company’s sustainability goals, what the Women of Wine Employee Resource Group in Ste. Michelle is all about, and how the wine industry has evolved through the years to be more inclusive of women. Stay tuned.

Join Howard Fletcher in Loudoun, Virginia, with Nate Walsh, the winegrower and one of the owners of Walsh Family Wine. In their company, Nate and his wife, Sarah, make a great team. They produce delicious, authentic Virginia premium wines. Learn more about their business, Nate’s experiences in the wine industry, and more. Enjoy the episode now!  In this episode, you’ll learn:  How Nate got into the wine industry even though he didn’t know a lot about wine.  You can make very different things out of kind of the same starting point.  Before Nate was drinking wine at home, he was drinking at work!  His wife Sarah has been an incredible help in his journey and career.  He worked as a head winemaker at the Sunset Hills Vineyard.  And much more!   ~  About Walsh Family Wine:  Nate Walsh is a career winegrower. Starting as a cellar rat at Horton Vineyards, in Central, Virginia, he went on to work in vineyards and wineries in the Willamette Valley and Central Otago before spending seven years as the winemaker and vineyard manager for Sunset Hills Vineyard, in Purcellville, Virginia, during a time of large expansion. During this time, he began searching for a site from which he knew one could create truly premium Virginia wine.  Sarah, conversely, comes from a background of fine dining, fine wine sales, and wine education. Beginning her career at restaurants in Chicago, Atlanta, and Northern Virginia, Sarah shifted into fine wine sales, working for a wholesaler/importer on the East Coast. She holds a Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust.   Sarah and Nate met in 2012, married in 2013, and founded Walsh Family Wine in 2014.   ~  You can find Walsh Family Wine on:  • Website: https://www.walshfamilywine.com/ (https://www.walshfamilywine.com/)  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/walshfamilywine/ (https://www.facebook.com/walshfamilywine/)  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/walshfamilywine/ (https://www.instagram.com/walshfamilywine/)  You can find Barrel Tasting with Howard Fletcher on:  • Website: https://barreltastingpod.com/ (https://barreltastingpod.com/)  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BarrelTastingPod (https://www.facebook.com/BarrelTastingPod)  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barreltastingpod (https://www.instagram.com/barreltastingpod)  • Twitter: https://twitter.com/fletchDC (https://twitter.com/fletchDC) 

Marcelo Vargas é professor e pesquisador em vinhos. Possui Mestrado em Wine Business pela Università di Camerino (Itália). MBA em Marketing e Negócios do Vinho (ESPM). Especialização em Sensory Analysis e Consumer Science pelo Centro Italiano di Analisi Sensoriale (Itália). Graduação superior em Comunicação e Marketing. Professor de pós-graduação da Università di Camerino (Itália) e PUCRS. Coordenador no MBA em Marketing do Vinho e Pós em Negócios de Alimentos e Bebidas da ESPM. Sommelier pela Associação Brasileira de Sommeliers. Certificado Avançado em Vinhos e Destilados WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust). Pesquisador do Centro Italiano di Analisi Sensoriale para projetos nas áreas de Análise Sensorial, Consumer Science e Neurociência Aplicada. Diretor Executivo da Associação Brasileira de Sommeliers (ABS-RS). Mais de 15 anos de experiência em multinacionais nas áreas de A&B. Docente nas áreas de vinhos, outras bebidas e alimentos no Brasil e no exterior.

As we learned in our interview with Tanisha Townsend, one shouldn’t invest in fine wine without some help from experts in the market. In our first mini-episode, we interview Alice Longhurst-Jones from wine brokerage firm Oeno. Alice details how a brokerage relationship works, the value of broker insights, and even shares the outlook on the growing market for wine crafted in the UK. Follow us, Instagram: @ialsopodcast, Twitter: @IAlsoPodcastSpeaker Bio: Alice Longhurst-Jones fell for wine on a month-long trip to Argentina which turned into a three-year love affair. After studying with the Wine & Spirits Education Trust and graduating with a BA in Liberal Arts, she worked for several London wine merchants as well as wine companies in Spain and Argentina, gaining wide-ranging experience in purchasing, sales, and marketing. In 2018 she joined fine wine investment company Oeno and now works as their Head of Marketing. With offices in London, Bordeaux and Tuscany, Oeno is Europe’s fastest-growing fine wine investment company and has helped hundreds of investors all over the globe enter this fascinating and highly-lucrative sector. Oeno has been twice selected as Fine Wine Investment Firm of the Year at the The European Global Business and Finance Awards in 2019 and 2020. Follow Oeno Group, Instagram: @oeno_official, Website: https://oenogroup.comFollow Alice Longhurst-Jones, Instagram: @bottleink

"Go for the weird and wonderful," Lydia Harrison told me, and it just may be the best wine advice I've ever heard! Lydia is a Master of Wine -- the incredibly rigorous qualification that less then 400 people have worldwide. She's also a teacher at the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, WSET, and she taught me when I took my Level 2 Awards.In this episode, I give you sense of what it's like taking a certification course at WSET (thanks to my seat mate Tom for chatting for the pod, too!), and Lydia and I have a more in-depth conversation about the world of wine, and also answering the questions you all sent me on Instagram that you wanted me to ask! We try not to get too nerdy on you (sometimes we succeed, sometimes we don't).To find out more about WSET's qualifications and where to study to go to www.wsetglobal.com.--WSET--Instagram & Twitter // @wsetglobal @wineducationweekWebsite // https://www.wsetglobal.com/Lydia Harrison on Instagram // @lydiaharrisonMW --Keep It Quirky--Instagram // @keepitquirkypodcastKatie Quinn on Insta & Twitter // @qkatiewww.youtube.com/TheQKatie Don’t forget to sign up for my e-newsletter! Go here: http://eepurl.com/dNtAx2 See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the spirit of Fall, the spirits made from apples deserve a little Glass in Session® Winecast corkdorkery treatment. So here's to Calvados, Applejack, and the hundreds of years of history that brought us this goodness, unfolded on a Friday night with a bottle of Calvados Pays d'Auge. Did your exuberant host cover federal codes, shipwrecks, the Revolutionary War, and the cartoon character, Shmoo? Yes, yes she did. Did she have way too much fun putting this together for you? It's pretty obvious. Resources from this episode: Books: Certified Specialist of Spirits Study Guide (Society of Wine Educators), Nickles [Kindle Version] (2019) Distilling Knowledge: A professional guide to spirits and liqueurs (Wine and Spirits Education Trust), Broom (2013) Websites: Charles Neal Selections http://www.charlesnealselections.com/calvados1.html Cornell Law School Legal Information Institute 27 § CFR 5.22 (d) Class 4; brandy https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/27/5.22 Discover Magazine (Shmoo) http://discovermagazine.com/2007/nov/stupid-science-word-of-the-month-shmoo Interprofession des Appellations Cidricoles http://www.idac-aoc.fr/index.php/fr/filiere-aoc-aop/cahiers-des-charges.html Laird & Company https://lairdandcompany.com/our-history/ Liquor.com https://www.liquor.com/articles/applejack-apple-brandy/ Popular Mechanics (Francine Maroukian) https://www.popularmechanics.com/home/a23956/how-to-make-applejack-whiskey/ Glass in session® is a registered trademark of Vino With Val, LLC. Music: Addict Sound - "Happy Acoustic" - (Jamendo.com cc_Standard License, Jamendo S.A.) Applejack segment music: ”Fife and Drum" Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) 
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License

Stephen FahySales Director and Senior Buyer at the Wine LibraryStephen C. Fahy, DWS is the Sales Director and Senior Buyer at the Wine Library, and is passionate about the business of direct-to-consumer wine education and the complete customer service experience. He has proven to be a specialist in finding and promoting a wide range of exciting wines from around the world, working directly with importers, distributors, and the wineries themselves. His palate is widely recognized by an ever-growing local, regional and national consumer base, due in large part to the extraordinary quality of the wines he selects to put on offer, and loves the excitement of the business, especially when his contagious enthusiasm spreads to others.For more than a decade prior to Stephen’s role at the Wine Library, he managed and ran the wine retail programs for other key, large scale wine merchants in both New Jersey and Manhattan. He also serviced and sold to some of Manhattan’s top restaurants and retailers while a Wine and Spirits Consultant with Winebow.Stephen has been an active Adjunct Professor teaching “Concepts of the Sommelier” at Montclair State University. This three credit University course grounds students in the principles of wine tasting, key varietal and regional knowledge, and the service expectations of the wine professional in both on and off premise settings. Stephen has also been actively consulting with the London-based research and business strategy firm, Wine Intelligence as a Research Associate specializing in the U.S. wine trade and consumer sector.In 2011, Stephen earned his Diploma in Wine & Spirits (DWS), with Merit, from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust in London. He is the proud father of three girls and with his wife, enjoys the hustle and bustle of the Garden State where he lives, in northern New Jersey.

In episode 172, Monty Waldin meets Chris Scott, the host of the UK Wine Show Podcast, one of the earliest podcast shows. Chris started in the early 2000s and his podcast currently broadcast on average once a week. Chris tells Monty about his beginnings and his passion for podcasting and wine education. Chris also manages a wine education business in the UK with his wife Jane—ThirtyFifty—a certified Wine & Spirits Education Trust course provider and organizer of various wine tasting events. Chris talks about his most recent podcast series on the UK Wine Show Podcast, which aims to support WSET Level 3 students in their studies. Tune in to learn about the fascinating world of wine podcasts with Monty Waldin and “podcaster extraordinaire” Chris Scott. You will also discover how Chris selects his wine in an Italian restaurant!

Host Jeff Cioletti gets schooled by Rob McCaughey of the Wine & Spirits Education Trust at BevCon in Los Angeles.

Optimizing the balance of your cost of goods, allocated expenses, the costs of doing business through sales channels options, distributor costs, and markups, and on- and off-premise licensee markups is imperative to maximize your profits. Knowing these industry benchmarks and best practices enable you to fine-tune your bulk wine financial plans and goals. ***About Tim Hanni*** Tim Hanni, one of the first two Americans to earn the title of Master of Wine. A professionally trained chef, and international consultant to the wine industry, Hanni is the author of “Why You Like the Wines You Like; Changing the way the world thinks about wine.” This paradigm-changing book focuses on expanding wine enjoyment by understanding the factors that influence personal wine preferences while eliminating counter-productive myths and misinformation. The Wine and Spirits Education Trust in London has recently adopted, and now teaches, his principles of Flavor Balancing and pairing wines to the diner, not the dinner. Hailed by the Wall Street Journal as “The Wine Anti-Snob,” Tim is an innovator, researcher, renegade and a relentless crusader against wine snobbery. Know more about Tim: https://ibwsshow.com/en/speakers/2018/tim-hanni-mw-665.htm Watch On Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/edit?video_id=2dGdjYBO520&video_referrer=watch ***Subscribe to our Channels for more: *** ► YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/BEVERAGETRADENETWORK ► iTunes: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/bevcast/ ► Stictcher: http://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=233919&refid=stpr ***About IBWSS SF*** Be part of the biggest gathering of Bulk Wine, Bulk Spirits and Private Label professionals in the US. No show offers buyers a greater opportunity to meet producers who offer private label wine, spirits, bulk wine, bulk spirits and contract manufacturing. IBWSS is the ONLY show in the US that will bring the world to you. Over the course of two days leading figures from the global and US wine industry will share their advice, insights, and experiences on how bulk wine and spirits can help grow your private label and branded product business. The event will include a combination of conference sessions and workshop-style sessions. Who Should Attend? IBWSS buyers are other wineries and distilleries looking to meet up their demand, Importers, Retailers, and Distributors looking for private label programs, negotiants who are looking to meet the growers and producers. Get your visitor pass today and meet the leading bulk and private label suppliers from all over the world. Know more about IBWSS SF: https://ibwsshow.com/ ***About the Organisers: Beverage Trade Network*** Beverage Trade Network is one of the world's leading networks for beverage, wine, spirits and beer importers, distributors, producers and related companies. Our database and directory listing of the world's leading beer, wine, spirit and non-alcoholic drink producers provides our importers and distributors an advantage to source and innovate their portfolios. Know more about BTN: https://beveragetradenetwork.com/

On the In Vino Fabulum (#InVinoFab) podcast, episode no. 14 we tantalize your taste buds with a wine pairing lesson from a certified sommelier and educator, Cheryl S. Stanley. We figure out how to best differentiate wine by color, taste, and learn how she wants to being a culture of care to restaurants and the service industry with her own consulting business.Cheryl is a lecturer in food and beverage management at The Hotel School, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business. She received her Master of Science degree from Texas Tech's College of Human Sciences in Hospitality and Retail Management and her Bachelor of Science degree from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration. Stanley's primary area of teaching is Beverage Management within food and beverage operations. She is also founding partner in a consulting company which focuses on beverage menu development, service standards, and employee training. Her previous work experience includes managing restaurants and beverage programs for Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts and independent restaurants, as well as a wine retail store in California. Stanley is a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, Level 3 with Honors from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, Bar Smarts Advanced from Bar Smarts, and a Certified Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educators. She is the faculty advisor for Cornell Cuvee, the blind wine tasting competition team, which has won first place at multiple international wine competitions. In 2017 she was selected as one of Wine Enthusiast Magazine's 40 under 40 Tastemakers.Website: https://sha.cornell.edu/faculty-research/faculty/css14 CU Article: Cheryl Stanley's winning Ways with wine https://sha.cornell.edu/businessfeed/2018/03/08/cheryl-stanley-winning-wine/ WineEnthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemakers of 2017 https://www.winemag.com/40under402017/ The Court of Master Sommeliers https://www.mastersommeliers.org/ Interested in becoming a Sommelier? Here's the Introductory Course & Examination https://www.mastersommeliers.org/courses/introductory-course-examination About the Cheryl's Course: HADM: 4300: Introduction to Wines https://sha.cornell.edu/admissions-programs/undergraduate/academics/courses/course.html?ps_course_id=351839  Reflection from a student: http://blogs.cornell.edu/lauren/2014/11/16/hadm-4300-intro-to-wines/  Test your own wine knowledge with this HADM 4300 Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/127819427/hadm-4300-intro-to-wines-prelim-1-flash-cards/  Follow the HADM 4300 on their social channels: Course Twitter handle: @cuha4300 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cuha4300/   The Hotel School https://twitter.com/CornellSHA  “I hope that [my students] leave my course with just an appreciation for life and food and wine.” ~ Cheryl StanleyHow to Gain Some Knowledge on Wine for Select & Discuss Wine for a Meal:-- Wine Folly https://winefolly.com/ and blog: https://winefolly.com/blog/ -- HADM 4300 Textbook: Wines for Dummies https://www.dummies.com/food-drink/drinks/wine/ & cheat sheet  https://www.dummies.com/food-drink/drinks/wine/wine-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/-- How to Order Wine When Meeting with Business Clientshttps://www.winemag.com/2015/07/15/the-business-of-wine-pairings/ -- How to Pick Wine for a Party http://guides.wsj.com/wine/entertaining-and-celebrating-with-wine/how-to-pick-wine-for-a-party/-- The Best 5 Wine Books for Beginners https://www.wsj.com/articles/the-five-best-wine-books-for-beginners-1449168856 -- BONUS LISTEN: #InVinoFab podcast episode no. 8 to learn about the world of viticulture and enology with Dr. Justine VandenHeuvel (a.k.a. @TheGrapeProf) https://3wedu.wordpress.com/2018/06/15/invinofab-podcast-no-8-learning-about-viticulture-with-thegrapeprof/ Wine Myth Busting: Q: Price of Wine - Is More Expensive Always Better?A: No. More expensive does not mean it is always better. People can be tricked into taste. Drink what you like -- that is Cheryl's rule. Here's more about the study she mentionedWhy expensive wine appears to taste better: It's the price tag https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2017/08/170814092949.htmHow context alters value: The brain's valuation and affective regulation system link price cues to experienced taste pleasantness. Scientific Reports, 2017; 7 (1) DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-08080-0BONUS READ: Cheryl's Master's Thesis: Alcoholic Beverage Costing Practicesin the Hospitality Industry from Texas Tech University [PDF] https://ttu-ir.tdl.org/ttu-ir/bitstream/handle/2346/47487/STANLEY-THESIS.pdf?sequence=2 Q: To decant or not decant wine? When and why do you decant wine?A: Yes IF:  it's a young red wine that is from a moderate to warm climate that would benefit from air in order to soften the mouth feel If the wine in unfined and unfiltered, it could have sediment if the wine is old -- it depends on the type of grape: cabernet sauvignon, nebbiolo, merlot, some syrahs, etc. or a pinot that is old might throw sediment so you can decanter to remove the bitter chunks. If the wine is young and their reds do well with decanting for air, e.g. local Cornell University alumni vineyard: Turley Wines: http://www.turleywinecellars.com/  How to Serve Wine 101: Why and When to Decant https://www.winespectator.com/webfeature/show/id/how-to-serve-wine-decanting Why and When Do We Decant Wine https://vinepair.com/wine-101/wine-decanting-guide/ Length of Time to Decant, suggestions from Wine Folly: https://winefolly.com/tutorial/how-long-to-decant-wine/ Q: Can you bring your own bottle of wine to a restaurant and just pay the corkage fee? A: It depends. Some restaurants allow this, whereas it may not be legal to bring your own alcohol due to local, state, provincial or regional laws. It's always best to ask the restaurant the following questions: (1) Do they allow corkage (if you bring your own bottle)? And (2): Are there any restrictions to corkage? Some might restrict you from bringing a bottle on the restaurant's wine list. Often you can do this in a number of wine regions and areas, but it's always good to ask when in a new area.  Some food places do this to enjoy the local wine countries, for example FLX Wienery https://flxwienery.com/ is one in IthacaSome of Cheryl's Favorites:WINE: Based on her own origins and the emotional connection, she likes California Zinfandel; 2015 "three" Zinfandel Old Vines Contra Costa County http://www.threewinecompany.com/zinfandeloldvines.html CURRENT WINE IN HAND: Cotes de Provence rosé http://www.domaine-des-tournels.com/en/cotes_de_provence/vignoble/cotes-de-provence-rose MOVIES: Sideways (2004) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375063/ Big Night (1996) https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0115678/ BOOKS: The Sign of the Grape and Eagle by Daniel Deckers http://www.frankfurt-academic-press.de/2018/04/18/daniel-deckers-the-sign-of-the-grape-and-eagle/Wine and War: The French, the Nazis and the Battle for France's Greatest Treasure https://www.amazon.com/Wine-War-Frances-Greatest-Treasure/dp/0767904486 Top Producers of Wine in the US: https://www.winesandvines.com/template.cfm?section=widc&widcDomain=wineries Core Winery http://www.corewine.com/ Finger Lakes Wine Country  http://www.fingerlakeswinecountry.com/ The Society of Wine Educators http://www.societyofwineeducators.org/ Interested in learning online about wine?eCornell Wine Course to be developed here soon: https://www.ecornell.com/ Is there something else you'd like to learn about wine? Do you have someone we should interview next for the pod? Let us know. We'd love to hear from you about whose story we should share on a future #InVinoFab episode. Send us love, suggestions, and comments to: invinofabulum@gmail.com Connect with the #InVinoFab Podcast: Hosts: Patrice (@profpatrice) & Laura (@laurapasquini); pronouns: she/her Twitter: https://twitter.com/invinofab Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/invinofab/ 

IWSA yani International Wine and Spirits Academy, Milli Eğitim Bakanlığı onaylı Fermente ve Distile İçecek Servis Elemanı yetiştirme programı yani sommelier yetiştirme programı eğitimlerini sürdüren, aynı zamanda Londra merkezli 1969’dan beri şarap ve yüksek alkollü içkiler konusunda tüm dünyaca kabul görmüş WSET yani Wine and Spirits Education Trust’ın temsilcisi olan, şarap ve yüksek alkollü içkiler üzerine eğitim veren bir kurumdur. Ayrıca her ay değişen temalarla şarap- yemek uyumu, rakı-yemek uyumu ve kokteyl workshop’ları da gerçekleştirmektedir.

Wine Work. Sometimes in my travels, I meet a person whose excitement and passion for what they do is so all-encompassing I decide I must talk with them immediately. Meet Erin Scala, sommelier at Petit Pois and Fleurie restaurants in Charlottesville, Virginia.  I met Erin during an incredible and completely unplanned experience at Fleurie during the Virginia Festival of the Book. Chef Nora Pouillion, Gail Hobbs-Page, and Martha Stafford invited me to dinner, so of course I said yes. When I observed Erin's enthusiasm for pairing wine with food, I asked her to be on the podcast right then and there. Erin came to the wine world unexpectedly when she started working in restaurants to support a burgeoning career as a drummer. Which ultimately brought her to Fleurie. One day she overheard the chef talking with the distributor about a wine that smelled of olives. This created a spark of interest. After tasting this wine paired with a tapenade, a passion was born. Soon after she was spending all of her extra time and money buying wine, reading about wine, learning and living the world of wine. Her approach to pairing is unique and fascinating. The Washington Post agrees. As a sommelier, Erin observes her customer closely. What do they order? Is it meats or a light salad? Are they trying to impress a date or client? Do they butter their bread heavily or not at all? Do they drink their water without ice? What cocktail are they enjoying? Only after gathering this information does she make her suggestions to give the diner perfect synergy between food and wine. She keeps records of what wine they ordered last time and whether or not they enjoyed it. This kind of attention to detail ensures excellent customer service. It's a challenging skill to create a wine list. You must choose ones that taste good, are a good value, but still meet your bottom line. How does she make her selections? By not padding it with popular selling varietals instead choosing carefully, making sure each wine pairs well with the food served in each restaurant. She pulls from her past experience as a musician to "compose" every pairing, using music-related words to describe the wines to folks who might be intimidated by the numerous choices. It's worth it to put your trust in the sommelier if the wine list looks good. They took the time to create it and know it better than anyone. Pro tip: doing a bit of research on the sommelier and learning what wines they're passionate about prior to visiting can enhance your dining experience. What is Erin's "passion point"? We talk about it. Above all, don't be intimidated by the sommelier. Talk to them frankly about your needs, likes, and dislikes. They are there to guide you, not make you look stupid. Trust them. Although you don't need certification to work as a sommelier, in the current era of booming demand the profession is becoming more academic by the minute.  An entire industry onto itself. New programs are springing up everywhere, a huge change from the past when this knowledge was passed down informally to each succeeding generation. What are the effects of the business becoming credentialed and maybe at times, dogmatic? We talk about that as well as the special challenges with regard to the drinking age in this country. Erin is currently working toward her Master of Wine (MW) degree. There are fewer than 300 of them in existence. Consider it a PhD in wine because as a pre-requisite she completed all three levels in The Wine and Spirits Education Trust and was awarded a Diploma of Wine & Spirits (DWS) degree. No small feat! We also talk about the Winemaker's Research Exchange in Charlottesville. The first group of its kind in the world! Wine makers, sellers, distributors, and sommeliers getting together to learn from each other doing research on grape varietals, experimenting with all sorts of different kinds of wine and comparing results. That's what I call a community connection! Why does riesling get a bad rap? Are wine consumers different in New York than they are here? How did the sommelier profession begin? How is the Fleurie name related to wine? What is orange wine and how is it made? Can we ever make grappa here in Virginia? Does she have unique challenges being a female in a male-dominated field? We discuss all of it. We also head down the rabbit hole and do a live wine tasting because I asked the question, "What is the ultimate good pairing?". Which of course meant we also had to experience the ultimate bad one. Such fun. Plus, I discovered my new favorite wine. What was in both pairings? Listen to find out! I recently dined at Fleurie again, where Erin's husband Joseph is a co-owner along with chef Brian Helleberg. The experience was extraordinary. I felt completely taken care of in every aspect. It got me thinking. How many restaurants out there are like that? Places where you feel you can totally relax the minute you step in the door because you can confidently put your trust in every person on staff. You don't even have to think, just sit down and say, "Order for me." Fleurie is definitely one of those places, and Erin's wine skills are a huge reason why. I love wine but don't know much about it. So I learned a ton during this episode and I know you will too. The biggest thing I learned? There are terrific wines in every category. So step outside of your comfort zone, don't order that sauvignon blanc you always do, and put your trust in a great sommelier like Erin Scala. Santé! SHOW NOTES – Links to resources talked about during the podcast: I'll Drink To That! - A terrific podcast all about the people doing the work of wine. Very similar to Edacious! Erin does the introductions to every podcast, offering up great stories and information about all things grape. Thinking-Drinking - Erin's blog, full of news, musings, stories, and tons of information about wine. Somm - Sommeliers compete for the ultimate title. Entertaining, but also kind of ridiculous in my opinion. What do you think? The Supersizers Go! - British personalities Giles Coren and Sue Perkins eat their way through almost every era in history. Ridiculously funny and entertaining. Charlottesville Pie Fest - Do you have what it takes? Register your pie at the link! Can't master pie crust yet? Then show up and eat a slice to benefit the Crozet United Methodist Church Food Pantry. October 9th at Crozet Mudhouse. We need sponsors! We need judges! We need prizes! Contact me for details, and don't miss my BONUS episode about the pie festival this Monday! Appalachian Food Summit - In its 3rd year, this summit started over a discussion on Facebook as to whether or not cornbread contains sugar. Its mission is to educate everyone on the valuable contributions Appalachia has made to food culture, and to celebrate its vibrant and thriving foodways. We're not living in the past people! Appalachian food is alive and well, growing and changing all the time. Experience it for yourself! Virginia Festival of the Book - Are you a restaurant owner willing to donate your space for a food event? Then VA Festival of the Book wants to talk to you! Contact me for more details. This episode is sponsored by MarieBette Café & Bakery.

This week on In the Drink, host Joe Campanale sits down with Jerusha Frost, New York Sommelier. Recommending wine to New York diners for almost 8 years now, her love for wine was discovered while living on a vineyard in Austria and was then fostered at Wallsé by Aldo Sohm. After working for him there and Le Bernardin, she had a brief stint at the then newly-opened RN74 in San Francisco, returning to NYC to open The Lion in the West Village. From there, she moved uptown, to work with Michael Madrigale at Bar Boulud and Boulud Sud. Currently, she is working with Chef Didier Elena and a roster of the world’s best chefs at Chefs Club by Food & Wine, where she has curated a list of fine and delicious wines from around the world. Jerusha holds an Advanced Sommelier Certificate from the Court of Master Sommeliers, a Diploma of Wine & Spirits from the WSET (Wine & Spirits Education Trust) and a B.A. from Macalester College. Tune in for a great show! This program was brought to you by Michter’s. “I’ve really learned how a wine that you wouldn’t necessarily gravitate to can be something you would love based on what you’re eating. It can make the food better!” [4:48] “Work with someone who has tasted so much more than you and knows more than you and can teach you. There’s so much to learn and I still have so much to learn.” [13:39] —Jerusha Frost on In the Drink

Irene Costello – Corporate Executive Turned Culinary Maven After 20 years in the world of financial services, Irene broke out to develop her passion for cooking. She earned a Master's of Liberal Arts in Gastronomy and a certificate in Culinary Arts from Boston University and a certificate in Wine Studies from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. Irene joined forces with Joan MacIsaac at Ruby Chard in 2005 bringing a unique combination of culinary and business experience. Irene earned her undergraduate degree from Georgetown University. Joan MacIsaac – Acclaimed Chef and Culinary Instructor With more than 20 years professional culinary experience, Joan is a well-known chef in the Boston area. She worked six years in the restaurant industry, culminating as executive chef at Dahlia Lounge in Seattle before returning to Boston to start her own business. She created Ruby Chard Catering in 1996 and later expanded the business to include cooking classes. Joan partnered with Irene in 2005 delving into corporate team building cooking classes.     On Today's show Irene will share: - What has been your biggest business mistake - What has been greatest business decision you made that changed everything for the better - How winning a sofi award can impact your business - The benefits of trade-shows and festivals - Plus much more...

James Christopher Tracy was exposed to great wines, wine regions and foods from an early age. After earning a BA in Performing Arts/Philosophy, he migrated to NYC to pursue graduate theatre training. In 1993, with wife Allison Dubin, he co-founded the Momentary Theatre, a not-for-profit organization that performed in California, New York, Texas, Connecticut and Hungary. After several years of writing restaurant reviews in NYC, on the side, Christopher attended the French Culinary Institute in Manhattan. He graduated first in his class and received a Grand Diplome. Christopher worked as the Pastry Sous Chef at March restaurant and then as Executive Sous Chef of Robbins Wolfe Eventeurs, both based in NYC. While working as a chef Christopher earned his Sommelier Certificate from the Sommelier Society of America as well as the Higher Certificate from the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. He was awarded the Diploma from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) which entitles him to the D.W.S. distinction. He also holds a certification from the CWE (Certified Wine Educators) and was for a time a student candidate for the Masters of Wine. Christopher’s initial involvement with Channing Daughters Winery was as a Wine Club Member, then as a Team Merlot member. In 2001 Christopher began developing several new products and prestige cuvees for the winery. Through the introduction of indigenous yeast fermentations, longer extraction periods, small batches, crop reduction, astute barrel control, and most importantly, blending, he believes Channing Daughters and the Long Island region will keep on growing and producing world-class wines. As Christopher says, “its just the magic of givin’ the wines some love.” He is now a partner in the company, as well as the winemaker. This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center. Today’s music provided by Four Lincolns. “We love to celebrate the specific.” [4:10] “Water is the be all end all of everything, no matter where you are.” [5:30] “We’ve gotten a little crazy…but we like that!” [27:15] –Christopher Tracy on In the Drink

Born and raised in the Detroit area of Michigan, Alexander took his first restaurant job nearby at Morels a Michigan Bistro in Bingham Farms. While his initial motivation was to pay for college, he found he was truly inspired by working alongside Morels’ Master Sommelier, Madeline Triffon. Yet another one of those opportunities came along as Dining Room Captain at Michael Mina’s Saltwater and Bourbon Steak in Detroit, MI. There Alexander met Michael Mina’s Wine Director, Rajat Parr, whose influence prompted him to take the next step in his career, and along with it, a move to the San Francisco Bay Area. When it comes to wine and food enjoyed together, Alexander believes the whole is greater than the sum of its parts. He favors an approach to wine that minimizes complexity, emphasizes pleasure and makes people comfortable with their own taste, knowledge and budget. That said, he happens to be a Master Sommelier candidate and is also reaching for the Wine & Spirits Education Trust diploma. Alexander is hesitant to commit to a favorite wine. From crisp whites to earthy reds and even dessert wines, he claims to have no bias but is a fan of grower-producers. If truly pressed he’ll confess a weakness for Champagne, low in alcohol, high in acidity, refreshing and delicious with just about anything! This program has been sponsored by The International Culinary Center. Today’s music provided by Four Lincolns. “One of the most important things to us was to be non-pretentious in everything that we were doing, because you don’t have to spend a lot of money to get good service or to get a great product.” [24:00] “I try to stay away from any dogma if I can. I believe in well made wine that’s well executed and delicious.” [28:30] Alex LaPratt on In The Drink

This week on In the Drink, Head Sommelier of DANIEL, Raj Vaidya, comes into the studio to speak with us about developing his early passion for fine cuisine, food, and of course, amazing wines. Growing up in Bombay, he began learning about wine well before he would have been legally permitted to drink in this country. He refined his knowledge at what he calls his first serious restaurant job, working at New Jersey’s Ryeland Inn, with a chef who had a natural affinity for pairing food and wine. That early experience evolved into a particular love of Burgundy and the Rhône Valley, making him right at home working with Daniel Boulud, a Rhône valley native with a love of that region’s wines. Raj Vaidya joined DANIEL in the Spring of 2009 with an impressive history of experience in fine dining restaurants that boast some of this country’s most celebrated wine lists and wine service. His stellar resume includes positions at restaurants such as New York City’s Cru and Per Se, as well as Gary Danko in San Francisco and Seeger’s in Atlanta. Raj also spent time in California working with Robert Sinskey Vineyards, a biodynamic estate in Napa. In addition, Raj has earned some of the wine world’s most respected diplomas, including the Certificate Course of The Sommelier Society of America (2004), the Wine and Spirits Education Trust’s Advanced Certificate (2004) and their Diploma Program (2008). Tune-in today to hear more about the inner workings of restaurant Daniel, and how being head sommelier requires Raj to work as a both a trader and salesperson when searching for the perfect bottle. This program has been sponsored by the International Culinary Center. “I work two jobs. During the day I am a trader, and at night, I’m a salesperson.” [22:50] “In a wine pairing, you’re getting a snapshot, but it’s such a short window, that you have to be exact.” [31:50] — Raj Vaidya on In the Drink