In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe speaks with the wine writer and educator Karen MacNeil about the state of wine education today. They cover trends, strategies, innovative approaches, the future of wine education, certifications, and much more. Karen MacNeil is a wine writer and educator who is best known for her a…

In our latest blind tasting episode, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe speaks with Cokie Ponikvar and Omar Lima. They discuss the importance of blind tasting, the challenges they've faced in their tasting journeys, and how they apply blind tasting skills. Cokie Ponikvar runs the wine education platform @cokiesworldofwine, which has 299,0…

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe speaks with Dr. P.J. Alaimo, a professor of chemistry and the chemistry department chair at Seattle University. Chris and P.J. dive deep into wine chemistry, discussing the chemical components of wine and why different wines taste, feel, and look the way they do. They also provide …

In our latest blind tasting episode, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe speaks with Marissa Kipp and MS Tyler Alden. They discuss their blind tasting journeys, the challenges they've faced while honing their tasting abilities, and the role of alcohol in blind tasting. Marissa Kipp is a sommelier at the retail shop Cru & Domaine in Portlan…

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe interviews Taylor Parsons of Whole Cluster Hospitality and MS Gareth Ferreira of Core by Clare Smyth. They discuss what constitutes good service, how service has changed over recent decades, and the logistics of running restaurants and wine programs that place a high value on servi…

In our first blind tasting episode of 2024, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe speaks with Clara Klein and Jeremy Schwartz, lead sommeliers with the Frasca Hospitality Group in Colorado. They talk about the role of blind tasting in their work and studies, then tackle the complex topic of minerality in wine. Clara is the lead sommelier at …

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, host MS Christopher Tanghe interviews Kelli A. White, director of education for the Wine Center at Meadowood in Napa Valley, author of Napa Valley, Then & Now, and accomplished wine writer. Kelli discusses the history of Napa Valley, its regions, trends, and much more. Prior to her role at Meadowood, Kelli was the s…

In the last GuildSomm podcast episode of 2023, Master Sommeliers Chris Tanghe and Jonathan Eichholz address myriad topics related to the past year, from the state of hard seltzer to how to make an interesting wine list for 2024. Jonathan lives and works in New York City. As an educator for GuildSomm, he maintains the Wine Law Compendium and teaches…

In our new tasting episode, host Christopher Tanghe speaks with fellow Master Sommeliers Mark Guillaudeu and Chris Gaither. They discuss their tasting journeys; how they recognize texture and, in particular, phenolic bitterness in wine; and the ways they apply blind tasting skills in their current roles. Mark Guillaudeu is a sommelier at the Wrigle…

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, host MS Christopher Tanghe interviews Annie Shi of King and Jupiter restaurants in New York City about her wine program philosophy. Annie discusses key considerations for bottle lists and by-the-glass offerings, how she thinks about pricing, creativity in spirits selection, and the importance of distributor relation…

We're back with a new tasting episode! This week, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe discusses blind tasting practices with MS Steven McDonald and Rachael Liggett-Draper. They explore their tasting challenges, how they have calibrated acid and tannin calls, and the ways they apply blind tasting skills in their everyday work. Steven McDonald is …

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe explores the importance of coffee in restaurant beverage programs by tracking it from farm to cup with special guests from the Washington coffee community. Scott Richardson, the co-owner of Herkimer Coffee, explains sourcing and quality, followed by a live roasting session with Herkimer'…

In our latest podcast, Seattle wine professionals Erin Lyman and James Lechner discuss blind tasting with host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe. They explore the value of blind tasting, their personal tasting challenges, and how they use blind tasting in their current positions. Erin Lyman is the owner of the long-standing Seattle wine shop …

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe interviews Steven Thompson, the cofounder of Analemma Wines. Chris and Steven discuss the history and approach of Analemma Wines and its home, the Columbia Gorge AVA, then dive into a conversation about the requirements, ideals, and challenges of Demeter Biodynamic Certification. S…

In our latest podcast, Advanced Sommeliers Matthew Crawford and Cara De Lavallade discuss blind tasting with host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe. They discuss whether blind tasting is useful outside of the exam setting, how they use this skill in their jobs, and the greatest challenges in their tasting journeys. Matthew Crawford is the dir…

In our latest podcast episode, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Fred Merwarth of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard in the Finger Lakes region of New York. Fred is the co-owner, head winemaker, and vineyard manager for the estate. Chris and Fred discuss the history of Hermann J. Wiemer Vineyard, the grapegrowing opportunities and challenges in the …

In our latest blind tasting episode, host MS Christopher Tanghe speaks with New York City sommeliers Andrea Morris and Jonathan Eichholz. Andrea and Jonathan share their blind tasting challenges and strategies before tasting the same red wine. Andrea Morris is the beverage director at Essential by Christophe. Before this role, she managed the bever…