GuildSomm Podcast

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Advanced Sommelier Alisha Blackwell-Calvert joins GuildSomm's director of education, Chris Tanghe, to blind taste three high-acid white wines. They discuss the differences between lees and oak aging as well as the evolution of typicity in classic winemaking regions.   Alisha is based in St. Louis and is currently the wine director for  Madrina . She pr...

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Holly Robinson on building a spirits brand. Holly worked in restaurants before cofounding Seattle-based Captive Spirits in 2011 with partner Ben Capdevielle. Together they developed Big Gin, a London Dry style that has won many awards since its inception, then expanded their bottlings to include Bourbon Barreled Big Gin and Peat Ba...

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews winemaker Santiago Deicas of Bodega Familia Deicas to explore the wines of Uruguay, one of South America's most exciting winemaking countries. Santiago lays the foundation for understanding the climate, geography, varieties, and viticultural specifics of this Atlantic-influenced growing area. Santiago is the third-generation winema...

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Master Sommelier Douglas Kim about managing beverage programs for multiple outlets, each with its own team. Douglas is the executive director of wine for MGM Resorts International and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada. Douglas started his career in the kitchen and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York,...

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Myles Trapp joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three red wines, identifying quality tiers within the Pinot Noir category. Chris and Myles also discuss how they focused their studies to accelerate their blind tasting skills. Myles currently works on partnerships and experience development for the Tastefuli app, a mobile platform...

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Master of Wine Melissa Saunders about progressive wine packaging. They discuss the use of bag-in-box (BIB) packaging for fine wine, dispelling the stereotype that these containers are only for cheap beverages. For Melissa's Master of Wine Research Paper, the final part of the certification process, she studied alternative wine pack...

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Maddy Jimerson joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three white wines. Before the tasting, she explains how she elevated her tasting game to prepare for various levels of certification.    Maddy is the wine director for the restaurant Casa Tua in Aspen, Colorado, and cofounder of Winomad Productions, which makes short films about...

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, we chat with Kevin Smith and Nelson Daquip of Beast & Cleaver in Seattle about beef, butchery, and non-classic wine pairings. Kevin Smith is originally from London, where he discovered the joy of cooking early in life. He found his way to butchery and in 2019 opened Beast & Cleaver with his wife, Polly. Their latest venture is Little Beast, which is fo...

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, newly minted Master Sommelier David Reuss joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three red wines. Before David starts tasting, they discuss the experience of passing the exam, the preparation and best practices that helped David reach that milestone, and what he plans to do next. David is the national education director for Jackson Family Wines. He...

In the latest episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommeliers Chris Tanghe and Jonathan Eichholz reflect on the past year in wine. They cover the trends, major events, challenges, and highlights of 2025 and look ahead to 2026.   Jonathan lives and works in New York City. As an educator for GuildSomm, he maintains the Wine Law Compendium, teaches on a range of subjects, and supports the dev...

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Master of Wine Natasha Hughes about the modern winemaking landscape in Beaujolais. Tune in to hear them discuss winemaking techniques, generational turnover, stylistic shifts, and more.   Natasha passed her Master of Wine exam in 2014 and writes for Decanter, World of Fine Wine, Jancis Robinson, Imbibe, and other publications. Her...

This week on GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Jesse Becker joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three red wines. Before he starts tasting, Jesse discusses his career and tasting journeys, including the challenges he faced as he was honing his blind tasting skills prior to passing the Master Sommelier exam. Jesse is the US sales manager for Veritable Wines & Estates, an importer of...

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with David Pearson of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. They discuss the history of the winery, its role in Napa Valley's development, and the origins and future of the brand's flagship wine, Insignia. David is the executive chairman of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Prior to this role, he served as the CEO of Opus One for 16 years. He has also...

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, sommelier Tori Testa discusses her tasting journey with host MS Chris Tanghe before blind tasting three red Italian wines. Tori is a beverage manager at Grill 23 & Bar in Boston. She graduated from the Culinary Institute of America, holds the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines, and is working toward her Advanced Sommelier certification thr...

In the latest episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe chats with MW Sarah Jane Evans about what’s new and exciting in central and southern Spain. They discuss trends in Spanish wine, developments in Jerez, improvements in Spain’s sparkling wines, and more. Sarah Jane recently released a new book on central and southern Spain, a follow-up to her previous book on...

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe chats with Erica Orr, a Washington winemaker and enologist. Erica crafts the wines for her own label, Orr, and also has a lab service providing wine analysis and consulting for other Washington wineries. Chris pours her a white, a rosé, and a red. After Erica tastes the wines blind, she and Chr...

In the latest episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe chats with Benjamin Spencer, an American journalist and winemaker who now lives on Mount Etna in Sicily. Benjamin is the director of Etna Wine School and the author of  The New Wines of Mount Etna . Chris and Benjamin discuss the history of winemaking on Mount Etna and cover grapes, styles, and producers to...

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe takes a different approach to the study of blind tasting with a close look at Grüner Veltliner. He discusses the typicity of Grüner Veltliner and demystifies some misunderstood characteristics of the variety. Be sure to check out all the resources on GuildSomm.com, including our tasting materials and ou...

In the latest episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe chats with the one and only John Alban of Alban Vineyards in the Edna Valley of California. John has been a champion of Rhône varieties through his entire winemaking career, and he was a pioneer in bringing Rhône vine material to the US in the 1980s. He is the founding director for Hospice du Rhône and has b...

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours a flight of three red wines for Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Doug Frost and Master Sommelier Jonathan Eichholz. Doug is a partner in Echolands Winery, located in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington, and he also helps run the American chapter of the Association de la Sommellerie Internation...

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. S...

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 a...

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 ep...

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 Ma...

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 somme...