In our latest episode of the GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Lauren McPhate about her journey through the IMW to become a Master of Wine, discussing what worked and what didn't in her approach to studying and examining. Lauren found wine through a career in accounting and finance that brought her to Hong Kong, where she…

In our latest blind tasting episode of the GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Master of Wine Bree Stock about her approach to blind tasting. They discuss why it's an important career skill to continually develop, even after achieving certification goals. Bree became a Master of Wine in 2016 and has worked as a consultant a…

In our latest episode of the GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Kevin Pike about distilling eaux-de-vie and spirits, and managing a farm to cultivate the materials to make it all happen. Kevin owns Schatzi, a New York–based importing company that started off by specializing in German and Austrian wines but has expanded its…

In our latest blind tasting podcast, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe chats with Jonathan Eichholz,MS, about proven study methods that have helped both of them develop the skill to not only pass the Master Sommelier exam but also continue to improve their tasting ability and adapt to evolving wine typicity. Working with the GuildSomm team, Jo…

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe connects with Greg Lambrecht, the founder of Coravin, to discuss how the Coravin came to be, the science behind it, and how to maximize its efficiency. Greg has a background in medical device design and developed the Coravin prototype while drinking solo when expecting his first child. H…

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe connects with Sother Teague, a bartender and a founding partner of Overthrow Hospitality, in New York City, to discuss all things bitter and the current state of cocktails. The conversation explores the differences between tinctures and potable bitters, the espresso martini phenomenon, a…

In our latest blind tasting podcast, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with two Seattle sommeliers, each working in a different sector of the business, about how they apply blind tasting skills to their daily routines. They taste a white wine that tends to be a bit tricky! Ally Lanoue is the assistant wine director at the Canlis restaur…

In our latest podcast, the host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe explores the diverse wine styles of Hungary, including the iconic and incredibly complex sweet wines of Tokaj as well as lesser-known dry wines from multiple regions. Our guest this month is Hungary’s first Master Sommelier, Tamás Czinki, from Budapest, who is the wine director of th…

In our latest blind tasting episode, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe speaks with two talented Canadian wine professionals, Barbara Philip and Élyse Lambert. They taste a red wine blind and discuss how they apply blind tasting in their work and why it’s okay to be wrong from time to time. Barbara Philip is a Master of Wine and is curren…

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe broaches the complexities of pairing wine with cheese, as it’s often assumed that the two are easily matched, in an interview with Bronwen and Francis Percival. Bronwen selected four cheeses and tasked Chris and Francis with choosing pairings that they thought would elevate the eat…

In our latest blind tasting episode, host and Master Sommelier Christopher Tanghe speaks with Braithe Tidwell and Sam Bortugno of Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans, Louisiana. They talk about their experiences with blind tasting and how they employ blind tasting skills in their current roles. Braithe Tidwell is the corporate beverage director for…

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 …