GuildSomm Podcast

GuildSomm

  • 56 minutes 38 seconds
    Beaujolais with Natasha Hughes MW
    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 new book on Beaujolais was published this fall by Académie du Vin Library.

     

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

    Read the latest article on GuildSomm, Natasha's in-depth explanation of winemaking techniques in Beaujolais, excerpted from her new book: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/natasha-hughes-mw/posts/winemaking-complexities-beaujolais

     

    GuildSomm members receive a discount on Académie du Vin Library books: https://www.guildsomm.com/about_us/member-discounts/
    25 November 2025, 7:07 pm
  • 36 minutes 53 seconds
    Tasting with MS Jesse Becker

    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 premium German and Austrian wines, and brand owner at ROCKWERK Grüner Veltliner. Over the last two decades, he has worked in nearly every facet of the wine and hospitality industries.

    Listen in and guess the wines along with Jesse!

    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!

    Check out our tasting study guide to brush up on the basics of tasting: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/study/w/study-wiki/2683/tasting

    Discover more tasting resources: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/blind-tasting/

    Learn more about ROCKWERK Grüner Veltliner: https://veritable-usa.com/rockwerkwine

    11 November 2025, 1:30 pm
  • 47 minutes 37 seconds
    Joseph Phelps Insignia with David Pearson

    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 held leadership roles at Robert Mondavi and Meadowood Estate. David has a BS in fermentation science and enology from UC Davis and an MBA in international business from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

    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!

    Learn more about Joseph Phelps Vineyards: https://www.josephphelps.com/

    Read our Joseph Phelps Producer Profile: https://www.guildsomm.com/research/wiki/ca/i/cabernet/joseph_phelps

    28 October 2025, 7:23 pm
  • 45 minutes 54 seconds
    Tasting with Tori Testa

    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 through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas.

    Listen in as Tori shares her tasting challenges and tips, then guess along with her as she tastes blind!

    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!

    Read our Tasting Study Guide: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/study/w/study-wiki/2683/tasting

    Explore more tasting resources: https://www.guildsomm.com/explore/w/tasting 

    14 October 2025, 7:22 pm
  • 1 hour 3 minutes
    Spain with Sarah Jane Evans MW

    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 Spain’s northern regions. She is a contributing editor for Decanter magazine and resides in the UK.

    Keep an eye on the GuildSomm website for an excerpt from Sarah Jane’s book, coming later this week!

    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!

    GuildSomm members receive 25% off Académie du Vin Library publications, including both of Sarah Jane’s books on Spain, using the discount code on our Member Discounts page: https://www.guildsomm.com/about_us/member-discounts/

    Preview The Wines of Central and Southern Spain: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/products/the-wines-of-central-and-southern-spain-from-catalunya-to-cadiz-sarah-jane-evans-mw

    Preview The Wines of Northern Spain: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/products/the-wines-of-northern-spain

    Explore all Classic Wine Library books from Académie du Vin Library: https://academieduvinlibrary.com/collections/classic-wine-library

    Read Sarah Jane’s work in Decanter: https://www.decanter.com/author/sarahjaneevans/

    16 September 2025, 8:58 pm
  • 32 minutes 46 seconds
    Tasting with Winemaker Erica Orr

    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 Chris discuss winemaking cause and effect.

    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!

    Erica ran analysis on the wines that she and Chris tasted, which you can find on our website. Click over only when you're ready for the wines to be revealed! https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/podcasts/b/guild_podcasts/posts/tasting-with-winemaker-erica-orr 

    Find out more about Erica's wine lab: https://www.orrwinelab.com

    Learn about Orr Wines: https://ericaorrwines.com

    Read our Tasting Study Guide: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/study/w/study-wiki/2683/tasting

    Discover more GuildSomm blind tasting resources: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/blind-tasting/

    26 August 2025, 12:20 pm
  • 54 minutes 42 seconds
    Mount Etna with Benjamin Spencer

    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 know. Be sure to listen all the way to the end for a blind tasting bonus!

    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!

    Learn more about Etna Wine School: https://etnawineschool.com

    Read Benjamin's book: https://etnawineschool.com/shop/the-new-wines-of-mount-etna/

    Dive into our Southern Italy expert guide to keep learning: https://www.guildsomm.com/research/expert_guides/w/expert-guides/2647/italy-part-iv-southern-italy

    12 August 2025, 5:54 pm
  • 9 minutes 53 seconds
    Tasting: Grüner Veltliner Profile

    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 our new infographics on the typicity of classic grape varieties. Start here: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/staff-training/b/new/posts/tasting-la-cata 

    If you're not yet a GuildSomm member, check out our summer membership opportunity! Stay sharp this summer with full access to GuildSomm for three months at the discounted rate of US$35. Sign up by August 31: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/b/announcements/posts/summer-membership-offer

    Our latest article is a spotlight on the London wine industry, featuring an impressive group of London wine professionals: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/spotlight/posts/london-spotlight 

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

    29 July 2025, 7:40 pm
  • 40 minutes 17 seconds
    Rhône Varieties with John Alban

    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 been made an honorary citizen of Condrieu and Côte Rôtie for his remarkable accomplishments.

     

    Listen in to learn about John's wine journey, the Rhône Valley, and the success of Rhône grapes in California.

     

    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!

     

    Learn more about Alban Vineyards: https://www.albanvineyards.com

     

    Read our Rhône Valley study guide: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/study/w/study-wiki/155/rhone-valley-and-southern-france

     

    Don't miss your chance to explore all of GuildSomm's offerings at a reduced rate this summer! Sign up for our summer membership before August 31: https://www.guildsomm.com/recurly/v1/join

    1 July 2025, 7:01 pm
  • 54 minutes 56 seconds
    Blind Tasting with Doug Frost and Jonathan Eichholz
    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 Internationale.

     

    Learn more about Doug: https://www.mastersofwine.org/doug-frost-mw

     

    Explore our new staff training on tasting, perfect for beginning your tasting journey or training your team: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/staff-training/b/new/posts/tasting-la-cata

     

    If you're an intermediate taster, don't miss our study guide on tasting: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/study/w/study-wiki/2683/tasting

    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!

    28 May 2025, 10:29 pm
  • 48 minutes 35 seconds
    Chile with Amanda Barnes
    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

     

    Listen to our interview with Amanda on Argentinian wine: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/podcasts/b/guild_podcasts/posts/argentina-with-amanda-barnes

     

    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

    13 May 2025, 2:00 pm
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