IntroductionIn the world of wine, sommeliers are the gatekeepers of taste, with their expert knowledge and finely tuned palates shaping what we sip and savor. But how are these wine professionals trained, certified, and evaluated? SOMM, a leading authority on sommelier education, has released its annual review of sommelier education with insights from top sommeliers, wine educators, and winemakers nationwide. In 2023, SOMM received an overwhelming response from America’s top wine professionals, with 1148 experts serving as sommelier judges for the report. This comprehensive and rare view of the sommelier trade in the 21st century reveals some surprising trends and challenges. Sommelier Certification and EmploymentOur judges are from a cross-section of the wine trade. Most work as either sommeliers or beverage managers (Over 46%). However, over 20% are restaurant owners, and nearly 7% are professional winemakers or winery owners. The rest are consultants, wine school owners, and sommelier students. The Top Three Sommelier ProgramsThe Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) has been the dominant sommelier certification agency for two decades, but its reign may be in jeopardy. In 2023, CMS remains the preferred sommelier program with over 35% of respondents, but the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is gaining ground with an over 29% preference ranking. The National Wine School comes in third with a 17.5% market share. Other sommelier programs, such as the International Wine Guild, the North American Sommelier Association, and the International Sommelier Guild, combined control less than 18% of the market. The End of Trade Organizations?Interestingly, when asked what type of certification they prefer, most respondents (over 47%) favored a federally accredited program, while the least favored certification was from a trade organization. This is a significant result since the two largest sommelier agencies, WSET and CMS, are trade organizations. As of this writing, there is no federally accredited sommelier certification. The Elephant in the RoomFor the first time, SOMM asked our judges whether their opinion of the Court of Master Sommeliers had been affected by recent negative reporting aimed at the Court. While most judges admitted those reports had impacted their view of CMS, over 30% of respondents stated that the reports of racism and unfair grading had no effect whatsoever. Why Get a Sommelier Certification?The report also highlights the motivations behind embarking on a sommelier education. Nearly 36% of respondents said validation of wine knowledge was their main motivator, followed by enhanced credibility (25%) and competitive advantage in the job market (26%). Statistically, zero respondents said there was a limited or no benefit to sommelier certification. The Sommelier Survey 2023With nearly two thousand sommeliers involved, this is the largest survey ever done on the sommelier field. The following is the complete, unfiltered results. Feel free to leave your observations and questions in the comment section below. What is your preferred Sommelier Certification?Wine & Spirit Education Trust
29.18%
National Wine School
17.51%
Court of Master Sommeliers
35.54%
International Wine Guild
3.45%
North American Sommelier Association
6.63%
International Sommelier Guild
7.69%
What type of sommelier certification is most valuable?State-Recognized Credential
28.17%
Trade Organization Credential
23.94%
Federally Accredited Credential
47.89%
Have the recent news reports about the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) affected your view of the organization? If so, which of the criticisms most influenced your opinion?Yes, the cheating scandal and reports of unfair grading.
31.79%
Yes, the lack of diversity and reports of racism.
37.75%
No, the reporting has not affected my views.
30.46%
What is your relationship to the wine trade?Consultant
8.37%
Winery Owner
2.96%
Sommelier or Beverage Manager
46.31%
Professional Winemaker
3.94%
Wine School Student
15.76%
Wine School Owner
1.97%
Restaurant Owner
20.69%
In your mind, what is the core benefit of sommelier certification, if any?Competitive advantage when job-seeking
26.12%
Validation of wine knowledge
35.82%
Improved reputation amoung peers
2.99%
Increased earning potential
4.48%
Increased marketability
4.48%
Enhanced credibility
25.37%
There is a limited or no benefit
0.75%
Overall, the SOMM report provides a unique and insightful view into the world of sommeliers, their education, and certification. As the wine industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether CMS will maintain its dominance or whether challengers like WSET will continue to gain traction. Press ReleaseSOMM Releases Annual Review of Sommelier Education, Revealing Surprising Trends and Challenges in the 21st Century New York, NY – SOMM, a leading authority on sommelier education, has released its annual review of sommelier education, featuring insights from top sommeliers, wine educators, and winemakers nationwide. The comprehensive and rare view of the sommelier trade in the 21st century reveals some surprising trends and challenges. In 2023, SOMM received an overwhelming response from America’s top wine professionals, with 1148 experts serving as sommelier judges for the report. Our judges are from a cross-section of the wine trade. Most work as either sommeliers or beverage managers (Over 46%). However, over 20% are restaurant owners, and nearly 7% are professional winemakers or winery owners. The rest are consultants, wine school owners, and sommelier students. The report reveals that the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) has been the dominant sommelier certification agency for two decades, but its reign may be in jeopardy. In 2023, CMS remains the preferred sommelier program with over 35% of respondents, but the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) is gaining ground with an over 29% preference ranking. The National Wine School comes in third with a 17.5% market share. Other sommelier programs, such as the International Wine Guild, the North American Sommelier Association, and the International Sommelier Guild, combined control less than 18% of the market. Interestingly, when asked what type of certification they prefer, most respondents (over 47%) favored a federally accredited program, while the least favored certification was from a trade organization. This is a significant result since the two largest sommelier agencies, WSET and CMS, are trade organizations. As of this writing, there is no federally accredited sommelier certification. For the first time, SOMM asked our judges whether their opinion of the Court of Master Sommeliers had been affected by recent negative reporting aimed at the Court. While most judges admitted those reports had impacted their view of CMS, over 30% of respondents stated that the reports of racism and unfair grading had no effect whatsoever. The report also highlights the motivations behind embarking on a sommelier education. Nearly 36% of respondents said validation of wine knowledge was their main motivator, followed by enhanced credibility (25%) and competitive advantage in the job market (26%). Statistically, zero respondents said there was a limited or no benefit to sommelier certification. The SOMM report provides a unique and insightful view into the world of sommeliers, their education, and certification. With nearly two thousand sommeliers involved, this is the largest survey ever done on the sommelier field. As the wine industry continues to evolve, it remains to be seen whether CMS will maintain its dominance or whether challengers like WSET will continue to gain traction. The complete, unfiltered results of the SOMM report are available for review. from https://somm.us/sommelier-education-2023/
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We appreciate your contribution to the world of wine education. This survey will take less than 10 minutes, but your input is invaluable to us and our readership. Thank you! We will send you the results of the survey once they are compiled. Start Survey:As the wine industry continues to evolve, sommeliers play a crucial role in shaping the world of wine. To better understand the current state of sommelier education and training, we are thrilled to announce the upcoming Annual Sommelier School Survey for 2023, conducted by SOMM. The Annual Sommelier School Survey is a comprehensive study that aims to gather insights and opinions from sommelier schools worldwide. Whether you are a sommelier educator, student, or alumni, your participation in this survey will contribute to a holistic view of the industry and help identify areas of opportunity and growth. As a wine professional, your input is invaluable in shaping the future of sommelier education. By sharing your experiences and perspectives, you can help elevate the standards of the wine profession and contribute to the ongoing development of sommelier training programs worldwide. The survey will cover a range of topics, including curriculum, certifications, industry trends, and more. Your participation is entirely voluntary and confidential. The survey will take approximately 10 minutes to complete, and your responses will be anonymized and aggregated for analysis. We highly encourage you to participate in this important survey and share your valuable insights. Your feedback will help us gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities facing sommelier education today and enable us to advocate for positive changes in the industry. The survey will be open until May 1st. We appreciate your time and contribution, and we look forward to sharing the survey results with you later this year. Thank you for your support in advancing sommelier education, and we eagerly await your participation in the Annual Sommelier School Survey for 2023! Cheers, Greg Osborne, SOMM from https://somm.us/2023survey/ American Sommelier
With all the bad press the court of master sommeliers is getting, I wanted a somm program that ...
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National Wine School
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from https://www.somm.us/top-wine-schools-in-new-york-city/ Have you ever had a loss of smell and taste? You certainly might have had flu in which this happens. Often, we don’t appreciate our sense of taste or smell much until we lose it. This article will talk about anosmia, its causes, signs and symptoms, and treatment options. What Is Anosmia?Anosmia is a condition that involves a complete loss of smell. While some individuals get anosmia by birth, others may gradually lose the sensation to smell. It is suggested that anosmia affects approximately 3–20% of people. Also called smell blindness by some people, anosmia can be temporary or permanent. The process of smell involves nervous messaging to and from the brain and nose. When you sniff on something, air entering your nose containing the odor molecules comes in contact with the olfactory nerve endings responsible for the sense of smell. These nerves are found on the nasal epithelium internally. When stimulated by odor molecules, these nerves send signals to the brain. Upon arrival in the brain, it processes this olfactory information and translates it into an odor that you can identify. What Are the Causes of Anosmia?One of the most prevalent causes of anosmia is nasal congestion that commonly occurs due to a cold, sinus infection, allergy, or bad air quality. There are other causes of anosmia too, which include:
The Signs and Symptoms of AnosmiaThe fundamental symptom of anosmia is the loss of smell. Individuals born with anosmia may not even realize they have it. This is because they had never appreciated the sense of smell. On the other hand, the loss of smell can be an initial sign of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease. If you notice an inability to smell, you should see a doctor right away. A lack of sense of smell can be dangerous as it does not allow a person to smell the warning odors in foods and the environment like the smell of smoke from a fire, a smell of a toxic chemical, etc. Besides, individuals suffering from anosmia are predisposed to a low quality of life and feelings of well-being. Diagnosis and TreatmentAnosmia is generally detected when a patient self-report a loss of or alteration in their ability to smell. The self-reported olfactory function index of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) serves as a dependable approach to diagnose anosmia. As for the treatment, your doctor will first identify your cause of anosmia and then prescribe the appropriate treatment. There are, however, cell modification and genetic therapeutic options for individuals with a genetic cause. For anosmia due to any infection or head injury, your doctor may suggest supplementation of zinc gluconate or scent training. Corticosteroid drugs or surgery may be the options for those having anosmia due to sinonasal disorders. However, some cases might also resolve on their own without medical treatment. As of this writing, scent training is the preferred therapy for most patients who suffer a loss of smell. References:
from https://www.somm.us/anosmia/ With the arrival of the Coronavirus in 2019, its symptoms weren’t specific and were discovered after it affected more and more people with time. CDC then listed loss of taste and smell as a symptom of COVID after observing many patients infected by Corona. (1) They weren’t sure about how long it would linger as many infected patients struggled even after recovery. Studies then confirmed that around 85-90% of people lose their sense of taste and smell after contracting the virus. (2) In the medical world, this infliction is known as Anosmia. What is Anosmia?Anosmia is a medical term for the loss of ability to smell. The patients often experience both Anosmia and Ageusia, which is the loss of taste. These senses are closely linked to each other hence, loss of one can have an impact on the other. (1) Our body can smell things due to the presence of olfactory sensory neurons, which are located high inside our nose. These neurons send messages to your brain, which then identifies what you are smelling. We experience Anosmia and Ageusia when the channels that let the smell travel up to the olfactory sensory cells get blocked. Loss of Taste and Smell After COVID-19As Corona is a novel virus, scientists have not been able to find the clear cause behind the inability to smell and taste when infected by COVID-19. It is known as a common symptom after contracting the disease (1). Some researchers say that it might be due to damage to nerves in the nasal cavity but the damage is reversible as epithelium regrows the nerves that are damaged. This is when the patients regain their senses. When does the sense of smell come back?According to studies, some people regain their sense of smell after 10 days. 27% of patients will recover some sense of smell within seven days. But, this isn’t the case for everyone. Anosmia due to a viral infection can tend to linger far longer than doctors thought possible. There are some cases when the patients never recover fully from Anosmia and Ageusia. There also have been cases where the patients started smelling and tasting things again after a year or more. The exact time of recovery is not predictable and can be from a few months to years. The only proven way to recover from long-term anosmia is scent therapy. Treatment for Loss of Taste and SmellThere are no medicines that could bring back the sense of smell or taste but smell training can be done for a positive impact. (3) Under the guidance of a therapist, scent therapy is the only scientifically proven way to recover faster from Anosmia. REFERENCES1. Miller K. How Long Does a Loss of Taste and Smell Last After Coronavirus? Doctors Say It Varies [Internet]. Prevention. 2020 [cited 2021 Jan 4]. Available from: https://www.prevention.com/health/a32893550/how-long-does-loss-of-smell-taste-last-coronavirus/ 2. COVID-19: Loss of Smell, Taste Might Be Long-Term [Internet]. WebMD. [cited 2021 Jan 4]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200604/covid19-loss-of-smell-taste-might-be-long-term 3. Mullol J, Alobid I, Mariño-Sánchez F, Izquierdo-Domínguez A, Marin C, Klimek L, et al. The Loss of Smell and Taste in the COVID-19 Outbreak: a Tale of Many Countries. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020 Aug 3;20(10):61. from https://www.somm.us/loss-of-taste-and-smell/ With the arrival of the Coronavirus in 2019, its symptoms weren’t specific and were discovered after it affected more and more people with time. CDC then listed loss of smell and taste as a symptom of COVID after observing many patients infected by Corona. (1) They weren’t sure how long it would linger as many infected patients struggled even after recovery. Studies then confirmed that around 85-90% of people lose their sense of taste and smell after contracting the virus. (2) This infliction is known as anosmia in the medical world. What is Anosmia?Anosmia is a medical term for the loss of ability to smell. The patients often experience Anosmia and Ageusia, which is the loss of taste. These senses are closely linked to each other hence, the loss of one can impact the other. (1) Our body can smell things due to the presence of olfactory sensory neurons located high inside our noses. These neurons send messages to your brain, identifying what you are smelling. We experience Anosmia and Ageusia when the channels that let the smell travel up to the olfactory sensory cells get blocked. How does COVID-19 cause a loss of smell and taste?As Corona is a novel virus, scientists have not been able to find the clear cause behind the inability to smell and taste when infected by COVID-19. However, it is a common symptom after contracting the disease (1). Some researchers say it might be due to nerve damage in the nasal cavity, but the damage is reversible as epithelium regrows the damaged nerves. This is when the patients regain their senses. When does the sense of smell come back?According to studies, some people regain their sense of smell after ten days. 27% of patients will recover some sense of smell within seven days. But, this isn’t the case for everyone. Anosmia due to a viral infection can linger far longer than doctors thought possible. There are some cases when the patients never recover fully from Anosmia and Ageusia. There also have been cases where the patients started smelling and tasting things again after a year or more. The exact recovery time is not predictable and can be from a few months to years. The only proven way to recover from long-term anosmia is scent therapy. Can medicine treat COVID-induced anosmia?No medicines could bring back the sense of smell or taste, but aroma training can be done for a positive impact. (3) Under the guidance of a therapist, scent training is the only scientifically proven way to recover faster from anosmia. REFERENCES
2. COVID-19: Loss of Smell, Taste Might Be Long-Term [Internet]. WebMD. [cited 2021 Jan 4]. Available from: https://www.webmd.com/lung/news/20200604/covid19-loss-of-smell-taste-might-be-long-term 3. Mullol J, Alobid I, Mariño-Sánchez F, Izquierdo-Domínguez A, Marin C, Klimek L, et al. The Loss of Smell and Taste in the COVID-19 Outbreak: a Tale of Many Countries. Curr Allergy Asthma Rep. 2020 Aug 3;20(10):61. from https://www.somm.us/covid-19-and-the-loss-of-smell-and-taste/ Have you ever wondered what your life would be like when you would not be able to smell? Yet, we always take the sense of smell for granted until we can’t smell every day scents of cooking or perfumes. When your sense of smell is compromised or altogether lost – a condition called anosmia – you will not only lose the enjoyment of life, but also it will affect your health and safety. Your sense of smell not just helps you with detecting odors; it is also a warning system to avert a dangerous situation. For example, without the ability to smell, you wouldn’t smell a gas leak or sour milk. This article involves common questions about anosmia that can help you understand the condition. Read on to find more. What Is Anosmia & How to Pronounce It?Anosmia is a condition that results in the complete loss of sensation of smell. With anosmia, the inability to smell can be temporary or permanent. Anosmia is pronounced as “a-NOZ-mee-uh,” affecting a person’s quality of life. You can experience temporary anosmia when the mucous membranes in your nose are obstructed or irritated, such as when you have a sinus infection, allergies, or a severe cold. But if your ability to sense the smell doesn’t return after a cold, it could be a symptom of a more severe condition [1]. Anosmia is estimated to affect 2-30% of the population and may result in the loss of interest in eating, leading to malnutrition or weight loss. Your ability to smell or taste pleasurable foods can also lead to depression. How To Cure Anosmia?How you should cure anosmia depends on the underlying cause you have. There is currently no cure for congenital anosmia – a lifelong loss of sense of smell. If the loss of smell is due to a sinus infection, allergy, or cold, it returns within a few days or weeks. If anosmia occurs due to nasal irritation, it can be cured in the following ways:
If the nasal obstruction is the cause of your loss of sense of smell, then it can be cured by surgically removing whatever is causing nasal obstruction. For example, surgery can remove nasal polyps, clear out the sinuses, and straighten the nasal septum. The sinuses are usually cleared out by endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS). You cannot treat anosmia if the cause of loss of smell is age (older adults are more prone to having permanent anosmia) and congenital. If you have a partial loss of sense of smell, you can improve your enjoyment of eating by adding concentrated flavoring agents to food. The best avenue of recovery is to undergo scent therapy. People with anosmia are also recommended to use caution before using natural gas for cooking or consuming stored food: they cannot detect odors of gas leaks or food spoilage. What Causes Anosmia?A swelling or blocking in the nose may contribute to anosmia, but sometimes, an issue with the system that sends signals from the nose to the brain may also cause anosmia. Frequent causes of anosmia include: Blockage of the Nasal Passages:When the passage of air into the nose is physically blocked, it results in the loss of smell. Nasal passages can be blocked by:
Irritation to the Nasal Lining:The following conditions irritate the mucous membranes of the nose [4]:
Brain or Nerve Damage:When the pathways through which receptors present inside the nose send signals through the nerves to the brain are damaged, they cause loss of sense of smell. The following conditions can cause this damage:
In rare cases, a genetic condition causes people to be born without a sense of smell. This is known as congenital anosmia. How Long Does Anosmia Last?Anosmia typically lasts for two to three weeks if you’re recovering from the COVID-19 infection. After this period, you may start regaining the sense of smell. For example, if a sinus infection, allergy, or cold is causing your loss of smell, you regain your sense of smell when the infection clears out the nasal passage within a few days. If anosmia lingers longer even after the infection has been cleared out, you should seek medical attention. Unfortunately, a significant number of COVID patients never fully recover their full sense of smell without scent therapy. How To Treat Anosmia At Home?Since the treatment for anosmia depends on the underlying cause, you can follow at-home treatments along with medical interventions. You can treat anosmia at home in the following ways: Scent TherapyThe best option is to use a professional scent therapy program. However, they are not always available. Although the recovery will probably not be as effective, you can undergo this therapy at home. You need a minimum of four strong odors, which you will smell in a series during scent therapy. Each scent is gently inhaled for about 20 seconds. The training should be repeated for over a month, three times a day [6]. You will see improvements through smell training when you will fully concentrate on the scents. You can try smell training on these scents:
GingerWhether raw or powdered, you can use ginger to retain the loss of smell. It is usually recommended to drink ginger tea because it reduces mucus from nasal passages and tames down inflammation of the nasal airways. Castor OilThe ricinoleic acid present in castor oil has been long used to regain the sense of smell. Castor oil restores your sense of smell by reducing swelling of the nasal passage and fighting infections. Ayurvedic practitioners also use castor oil for retaining the sense of smell as a treatment of nasal passages. To use castor oil for anosmia:
References:
from https://www.somm.us/five-questions-about-anosmia/ You’ll find fantastic wine coming from every grape-growing country in the world, but French wine is on another level. It’s not that French wine is better than the rest (sometimes it is), but you just can’t beat the tradition, lore, and history behind every French wine style and grape. France has influenced every other wine-producing country on the planet. So much that the most planted grapes globally are French. Did someone say Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay? French wine, though, is a bit complicated. It’s easy to get lost with over three hundred appellations spread between a dozen wine regions. And although no one becomes an expert in French wine in a day, here’s a handy sommelier guide to the country’s provinces and their wines. The Appellation SystemTo understand French wine, one must first know the county’s appellation system, now used in almost every wine-producing country globally. Every town that makes wine in France specializes in a few wine styles made with specific grapes and methods. These wine styles are sometimes prevalent in broader areas, covering several towns. Well, each of these wine styles is protected by law against counterfeit and, at the same time, guarantees its quality. In France, the appellations are named after the town or region that makes that particular wine, and consumers are supposed to know what’s in the bottle with that information alone. If you read ‘Bordeaux’ in a label, you’re supposed to know it contains a red blend of Cabernet, Merlot, and perhaps a few others. Mastering every appellation takes years, but it’s gratifying! Let’s talk about the most remarkable French wine regions and their trendiest appellations. BordeauxBordeaux is a well-known region on France’s Atlantic Coast. Here, the Gironde Estuary divides the area into left and right banks. This is the home of the world’s most popular red grape, Cabernet Sauvignon, and its noble stablemates, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, and others. In Bordeaux, the art of blending grapes to achieve robust, age-worthy wines is the norm, so every bottle of wine contains at least two grapes. Merlot and Cabernet dominate the blends on the left bank, and the wines are pretty structured. On the right bank, winemakers blend Merlot with Cabernet Franc, and they’re a bit rounder. The region also produces white wines, often blends Sauvignon Blanc and Semillon. And Bordeaux’s sweet wines, particularly those from the Sauternes appellation, are life-changing. BurgundyBurgundy is as prominent as Bordeaux, and you’ll find it inland — this is home to wines made with Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. This is a complex region, subdivided into subregions specializing in a wine style. For example, Chablis is up north and produces crisp and mineral cold-climate Chardonnay. The Côte d’Or or Golden Slope makes superb Pinots and Chardonnays at various quality levels: regional, communal, Premier, and Grand Crus. The latter are amongst the most coveted wines on earth. Travel south, and you’ll find the less famous but equally charming subregions of Chalon and Macon. You’ll find excellent value in Chardonnay and Pinot Noir here. Then, finally, the odd one in the Burgundian family — Beaujolais, where winemakers make fruit-forward red wines with Gamay. The Rhône ValleyThe Rhône Valley lies south of Burgundy, and the region is noticeably warmer. Here, rustic grape varieties dominate the Mediterranean-influenced area. Syrah is king in the Northern Rhône, but the south is about blends made with Grenache, Syrah, Mourvedre, and others. Some of the most exciting Rhône appellations include Côte-Rôtie and Hermitage for Shiraz and Côtes du Rhône and Châteauneuf-du-Pape for blends, but there are many (many) others. White wines are also lovely in the Rhône Valley, and they’re often made with Viognier, Marsanne and Roussanne. The Loire ValleyThe Loire Valley runs east to west along with Northern France. Often called the Garden of France, this area is home to splendid castles and palaces along the Loire River. The Valley is also home to superb wine. Here, the wine styles vary as you explore the region inland. The Atlantic coast is home to the crisp Muscadet wines, white wines that are the perfect partners for seafood. The central Valley is dominated by Chenin Blanc, a noble varietal that can make still wine, sparkling wine, and even pretty sweet dessert wines. The prevalent red grape here is Cabernet Franc, and it produces big and bold wines with lovely acidity. Noteworthy appellations include Vouvray for whites and Chinon for reds. Further inland, the vineyards shift to Sauvignon Blanc and Pinot Noir. Some of the best appellations here include Pouilly Fumé and Sancerre. ChampagneOf course, Champagne is one of the best-known appellations in France, and it specializes in sparkling wine of the highest level. Only wines produced in the region with local grapes and traditional methods can be labeled as Champagne. The grapes of choice? Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. What makes Champagne unique is the time-consuming and labor-intensive winemaking process. The wine is fermented twice, once in a tank and the other in a bottle, which is much more complicated than it sounds. The leading Maisons de Champagne also specialize in blending wines from their vast wine libraries to produce signature styles, often with fans worldwide. AlsaceAlsace borders Germany, and you can tell. The food, traditions, and even the architecture are distinctively German-inspired. The wines look a lot like the wines produced on the other side of the Rhine. We’re talking about extraordinary white wines made with Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and a few others. Only Pinot Noir can withstand Alsace’s chilly weather in the red wine category. Don’t expect flabby white wines in Alsace; they have structure and weight and are excellent with food. Although most Alsatian whites are dry, there are a few sweet specialties, and the best wines in the region’s catalog come from the prestigious Grand Cru vineyards. ProvenceSunny Provence covers the French Riviera overlooking the Mediterranean. This is the ultimate foodie destination and authentic heaven for lovers of the good life. Marseille, Cannes, Saint Tropez, Nice, and others are the rich and famous hotspots. But, of course, the region makes splendid wine as well. Provence is a synonym for rosé, often made by blending local red and white grapes. Mineral, elegant, and subtly fruity, this is arguably the best pink wine in the world, and it’s the perfect match for the area’s Mediterranean seafood specialties. Languedoc-RoussillonLast but not least. Southern France is home to many appellations, most of them under the broader Languedoc-Roussillon regional term. This is the source of most of the inexpensive table wine in France, but a few gems are scattered in the vast area. Fine wine exists in Languedoc-Roussillon if you know where to look. The grapes here are commonly Syrah, Grenache, Mourvedre, and Cinsault, but you’ll also find lots of Cabernet, Merlot, and Chardonnay. Appellations worth seeking out include La Clape, Corbieres, Rivesaltes, and Fitou. French Wine Is Not As Complicated As You Think!Sure, it takes years of study to learn all about the hundreds of appellations in France and the dozens of grapes produced in the country. However, what matters most is the people, so find a bottle of wine you like and learn more about the family behind it. Every bottle of wine has a story, and it’s those stories that make wine so enjoyable! You don’t have to know all about French wine to enjoy it; you only need to find suitable wine styles. The only thing we know for sure is that French winemakers make wine for all tastes and palates. So find your favorite French wine! It will be quite an adventure! The post A Sommelier’s Guide to French Wine appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/a-sommeliers-guide-to-french-wine/ |
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