Guides

Articles

Media

E-Learning

Resources

Community

Explore

  • Guild of Sommeliers: Savoie & Switzerland: Guild of Sommeliers Report 2014

    Victoria James

    In June 2014, Liz Dowty (New Orleans), Ryan Totman (Corkbuzz, NYC), Victoria James (Marea, NYC) and Master Sommeliers Laura Maniec and Geoff Kruth traveled to Switzerland and the Savoie. Following is a report on the region from Victoria James.

    “I’m not leaving this country until I taste some Vin de Glacier,” Liz announced.

    Ryan’s eyes widened as he described this “unicorn” wine of Switzerland that we…

  • Rick Bakas: Understanding Beverage Management Software

    Rick Bakas

    When it comes to managing beverage inventory at a restaurant, many have opted to manage their inventory manually over the years with a handwritten list or printed Excel spreadsheet. Every time a bottle is sold, the Excel spreadsheet gets updated (or not, depending on how busy it is), so inventory is up to date—in theory. Finding the right way to manage beverage program data can be complicated for both small, independent…

  • Romana Echensperger: In Search of Silvaner

    Romana Echensperger

    There is a reason why most indigenous grape varieties will never became international successes. Some of those hyped varieties are niche products and will never reach a wider audience. But there are a few Cinderella varieties, waiting for their grand entrance—and one of them could be Silvaner. Silvaner is one of the most underrated grape varieties in the world; however, it is not a victim—there are reasons why it is…

  • Matt Stamp: Lodi, Looking Forward

    Matt Stamp

    The mere mention of Lodi may conjure up images of massive wine factories, Woodbridge, Delicato, and 7 Deadly Zins, but there’s a hidden world of viticultural history and old-vine treasure chests out there—and winemakers throughout California have been sniffing around. Turley was one of the first premium “outsider” wineries to bottle a Lodi AVA wine (1996 Spenker Zinfandel), but in recent years others have followed, attracted…

  • State of the Industry: Spotlight on Hong Kong: Leading the Way in Asia

    GuildSomm Admin

    I recently returned from my second trip in the last year to Hong Kong. This time it was combined with a visit to Shanghai, further emphasizing the dichotomy between what we think of as “The China Market" and the established scene in Hong Kong. Lumped together, Asia is the Wild West for wine—and globalization as a whole. Laws, import tariffs, distribution, prices, and quality are inconsistent, but the mindset is rapidly…

  • A Year in The Vineyard: Disease Management: The Big Three

    Steve Matthiasson

    Like death and taxes, battling diseases of grapevines can’t be avoided. Managing grapevine diseases is an integral part of tending vineyards; the challenge is due to one simple, modern predicament: many of the diseases are from the New World, and Vitis vinifera is from the Old World, so it didn’t evolve any natural resistance to them. European grapevines and grapevines of European origin have to contend with North…

  • State of the Industry: Spotlight: North Carolina's Triangle

    GuildSomm Admin

    Come with me and you’ll be in a world of Pure Imagination. Take a look and you’ll see into your imagination. – Willy Wonka

    Twenty years ago, the Triangle wine scene had everything that I could ever possibly imagine. It’s as if I were Charlie Bucket seeing the candy and chocolate room for the first time and Wine was the great Willy Wonka. All that I started to read about wine—Bordeaux, the Rhône, Napa…

  • Morgan Harris: South Africa: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb

    Morgan Harris
    "What are the nine wards of Robertson?" This was, for some years, among the most loathsome of theory questions. Why so many? Had anyone ever seen a wine labeled with any of these wards? Did anyone care??

    As many of us stare down the barrel of...

  • Guild of Sommeliers: Italy Video Series

    GuildSomm Admin

    We have posted these individually in the forums, but here are our recent documentaries on three regions of Italy. Keep an eye out for a French series around the end of the year.

    https://vimeo.com/88372900

    https://vimeo.com/87250296

    https://vimeo.com/87745403

  • James Tidwell: Buyers and Sellers: Building a Working Relationship that Works

    James Tidwell

    The power of buying wine and the politics of managing a beverage program make for odd business relationships. Sometimes these relationships can become contentious. Eleven years managing a complex on-premise wine account has caused me to realize that a...

App Store Google Play
© 2025 GuildSomm

Join to continue reading.

GuildSomm members enjoy exclusive access to educational content, classes, and a robust professional network. If you're a wine professional, GuildSomm is for you! Our members represent every facet of the industry and stage of a beverage career.

Join now