GuildSomm Podcast
In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with newly minted Master of Wine Amanda Barnes about the state of the Chilean wine industry. They discuss how to understand Chile's geography and wine regions, the country's wine history, and grapes to know.
 

Amanda Barnes works as a freelance writer, covers South America for JancisRobinson.com, and consults for restaurants. She wrote The South America Wine Guide, which is one of the best guides to the wines of the continent. 

 

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

Learn more about this topic and read Amanda's bio on our site: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/podcasts/b/guild_podcasts/posts/chile-with-amanda-barnes-mw

 

 

GuildSomm members receive a discount on Amanda's book: https://www.guildsomm.com/about_us/member-discounts/

Not yet a member? Learn more here: https://www.guildsomm.com/recurly/v1/join

Direct download: GSI_podcast_5_13_2025_Chile_Amanda_Barnes.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 7:00am PDT

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours the always-tricky-to-parse Gamay and Pinot Noir comparative for Advanced Sommelier Max Goldberg. Max is based in Los Angeles and is currently the sommelier at Santa Monica's SELINE, a fine-dining restaurant from Chef Dave Beran that opened last year. Previously, Max curated the beverage programs at The Maybourne Beverly Hills and The Peninsula Beverly Hills. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America.

 

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

 

 

 

Dive into more blind tasting resources on the GuildSomm site: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/blind-tasting/

 

 

 
Explore GuildSomm membership: https://www.guildsomm.com/recurly/v1/join
Direct download: GSI_Podcast_4_29_2025_Tasting_with_Msx_Goldberg.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 8:36am PDT

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Seth Kitzke of Upsidedown Wine about all things Grenache. Seth and his family farm vineyards in Washington's Candy Mountain AVA, among other areas, and focus on Rhône varieties. Chris chats with Seth about Grenache's virtues, challenges, and future in Washington State and beyond.

 

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

 

 

Explore Upsidedown Wine: https://upsidedownwine.com/

 

For more resources, become a GuildSomm member: https://www.guildsomm.com/recurly/v1/join
Direct download: GSI_podcast_3_15_2025_Grenache_with_Seth_Kitzke.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:00am PDT

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours the dreaded so-called Bermuda Triangle of white wines for Texas sommelier Skyler Ring.
 
Skyler has quickly risen through the sommelier ranks and has passed both the theory and service portions of the Master Sommelier exam, with just the tasting portion remaining before he becomes Austin's next Master Sommelier. Skyler began his hospitality career in New York City managing restaurants, and his focus shifted exclusively to wine after moving to Texas, where he has worked at Jeffrey's in Austin and Mastro's Steakhouse in the Post Oak Hotel in Houston. He currently works for importer Wilson Daniels.
 
Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!
Direct download: GSI_Podcast_3_25_2025_Blind_Tasting_with_Skyler_Ring.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 6:31am PDT

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Los Angeles-based Lukas Dempsey, Assistant Vice President and Wine Specialist for Sotheby's wine division. They discuss how wines are acquired, valued, and authenticated for auction, as well as how restaurants can leverage auctions to create more dynamic beverage programs.

Prior to joining Sotheby's, Lukas was a floor sommelier at some of New York City's top restaurants, including The Modern, Masa, and Le Bernardin.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

Direct download: GSI_Podcast_3_11_2025_Auctions_with_Lukas_Dempsey.mp3
Category:Wine Business -- posted at: 6:00am PDT

In the latest episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe mixes up the format of the blind tasting series. This and upcoming episodes will feature single blind comparatives, which help tasters overcome common misidentifications of similar wines and develop a better understanding of the data points that drive cause and effect.
 
For this episode, three Chardonnays are poured for Advanced Sommelier Wendy Shoemaker, the Western Regional Sales Manager for Frog's Leap Winery in Napa Valley. Wendy, who has a chemistry background, has also worked in some of San Francisco's great restaurants, including Californios and the St. Francis Yacht Club.
 
Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!
Direct download: GSI_Podcast_2_24_2025_Blind_Tasting_Wendy_Shoemaker.mp3
Category:Blind Tasting -- posted at: 6:00am PDT

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Jean Trimbach, 12th generation of the iconic estate in the village of Ribeauvillé, Alsace. They review the history, climate, winemaking, and wines that define the Trimbach house along with a look at several grand cru sites, unpacking what makes them special. Jean and his brother, Pierre, run the estate with their children, who will carry the torch into the 400th year in 2026! 
 
Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!
Direct download: GSI_Podcast_2_11_2025_Alsace_with_Jean_Trimbach.mp3
Category:Regional Podcasts -- posted at: 6:00am PDT

In the latest episode of Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours a red wine for two Seattle sommeliers aspiring to achieve the Master Sommelier Diploma. Chris Lara has worked for top Seattle restaurants for the last 30 years, including Matt’s in the Market, Crush, John Howie Steak, and Metropolitan Grill, where he is currently the wine director. Seattle native Torrey Lewis got his start in the kitchen as a pastry cook before he fell for wine. He is now the wine director for Willows Lodge and Barking Frog restaurant in Woodinville, Washington.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

Direct download: GSI_podcast_1_21_2025_blind_tasting_with_Lara_and_Lewis.mp3
Category:Blind Tasting -- posted at: 8:34pm PDT

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Master of Wine Gus Zhu about the wines of China. They dive into the country's winemaking history, major regions, primary varieties, and iconic producers.
 
Gus is the first Chinese national Master of Wine and is currently a research and development scientist at Cork Supply and Tonnellerie Ô, where he is responsible for the chemical analysis of TCA in corks and sensory studies of aroma compounds in oak. He is the author of the newly published book Behind the Glass: The Chemical and Sensorial Terroir of Wine Tasting.
 
Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!
Direct download: GSI_Podcast_1_7_2025_China_with_Gus_Zhu.mp3
Category:general -- posted at: 10:35am PDT