![]() When you get bitten by the wine bug, you can’t stop thinking of the precious buzzy liquid. Wine is just so complex and satisfying because it’s about learning and learning some more; the more you know about wine and its nuances, the more you can enjoy each glass. If you think about it, wine is everywhere, from hotels to restaurants, from the supermarket to the Academy Awards. Wine is prominently featured in literature and also plays big parts on screen. Wine TV shows might not dominate prime time, but there are plenty of great shows around. It’s movies that have taken the interest in wine to new heights. These are some movies to satisfy your insatiable thirst for the stuff.
Bottle Shock (2008)This historical movie with hints of comedy portrays perhaps the most crucial event in modern wine history: The Judgement of Paris in 1976. We all know the story, so there are no spoilers here, but the Californian wines defeated the French in a blind tasting for the first time in history. This broke the paradigm of French supremacy opening the wine market not only for American wines but to the rest of the new-world wine-producing countries. To know wine, you must know history, and what a better way to study than with a proper film. This movie is so much fun that even your beer lover friends will have a good time and learn something too.
Sideways (2004)
The comedy-drama is based on Rex Pickett’s novel of the same name. The story follows Miles, a serious wine enthusiast, and his friend Jack on a trip to Santa Barbara wine country. We won’t tell you much more, but this movie makes you laugh and cry in so many ways. Wine pushes the story forward, and while it’s a fun movie for mature audiences, it has plenty of Easter eggs for wine connoisseurs; see how many legendary wines you can spot!
A Good Year (2006)
A romantic comedy that actually appeals to wine lovers. The story follows Max Skinner (Russell Crowe), a stockbroker that inherits a Chateau in southern France from his grandfather. The calm life in the wine country, the bright characters, the scenery, this film is soothing and inspirational. Sunny vineyards and damp cellars, a night out in a picturesque town, this movie is simply evocative.
Somm (2012)
This documentary follows candidates in their path to the prestigious Master Sommelier Diploma. See them study, face frustration, help each other, and ultimately present the most challenging wine exam in the world. The movie handles anticipation well, slowly building suspense and anxiety. A deep insight into the vastness of the study field and the three-part exam that everybody wants to pass. This is the first of three movies in the Somm series, produced and directed by Jason Wise. Somm 2 and Somm 3 are great movies, but nothing beats the original film, the one that started the somm craze that we live today.
Sour Grapes (2016)
Fine wine can carry hefty price tags; some collectible bottles can cost as much as a small house. Wine collectors and the lucky few that have fat-enough wallets to enjoy ultra-premium wines lost their sleep overnight with the news of fake wine being passed around. This documentary, based on the story of Rudy Kurniawan, a masterful forger of counterfeit wine that fooled even the most refined noses in the business. There’s a lesson to be learned here: if something looks too good to be true, it probably is.
A Year in Burgundy (2013)
Wine is all about the people behind it. Visit the Cote d’Or and the prestigious vineyards in Burgundy and get to know the people that make some of the most important domains in the region. From grape to bottle, learn about the challenges the vignerons face every season, and appreciate the different approaches to what is considered one of the best wines in the world. The post Somm to Sideways: Our Favorite Wine Movies appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/somm-to-sideways/
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Enjoying wine is all about knowing the most you can about it. There are very few things in life that require as much attention as tasting fine wine. The more you know about grape varieties, regions, producers, climate, soils and vintages, the more you find when you stick your nose in a wine glass. Many of us love wine because it is an alcoholic drink, yes, but also because every drop of wine holds a secret. For those trained in the arts of wine tasting, finding those secret aromas and scents is a real treat! Tasting wine is a multi-sensory endeavor and requires lots of practice. The best way to polish your tasting skills is by taking a class or enrolling in a specialized course. There are dozens of ways to do this, but these are our picks to start you on a beautiful journey, the never-ending path to wine knowledge. Wine Classes Near YouThe best way to learn about wine is to attend wine classes at a local wine school. There are top-notch schools in nearly every state of the union. From Maine to Oregon, the US is awash in wine education! We offer a list of all the top wine schools, each one rated for the quality of their programming. Many offer one-night classes and even programs that will earn you a sommelier certification! However, if you are not near an accredited wine school, don’t worry. You still have options. The following is a list of some of the best options, no matter where you are. ![]() Wine Spectator School
The famous wine magazine is well-positioned both in print and online. Its mobile app has also climbed the ladder in the wine lovers’ category with insight and wine reviews. Wine Spectator also offers a comprehensive catalog of wine courses that cover everything from wine regions to basic wine theory. Both, their ABCs of Wine Tasting course and their Sensory Evaluation course are great ways to fine-tune your senses and appreciate wine better. The courses are not free per se, they’re part of the benefits of owning a membership to winespectator.com
Jancis Robinson’s Udemy course
Udemy has proven to be a reliable source of online learning material for all topics, from marketing to engineering. Wine is extensively covered, and quality all around is outstanding. Students reviews help you identify time-worthy courses from unreliable once, and a five-star system adds to the consumer confidence. There’s one Udemy wine course you don’t want to miss: Mastering Wine – Jancis Robinson’s Shortcuts to Success. Three and a half hours of wine knowledge from the best in the industry. Wine tasting is extensively covered in a very thorough but casual learning experience.
WSET Level 1 Award in Wines![]()
When it comes to wine tasting, few courses are as complete as the Wine and Spirits Education Trust program. Designed to start you in a career as a wine professional, the first stages are pretty accessible and straightforward. Analyzing wine with their on-point tasting sheet will separate you from other wine amateurs. The WSET has a serious approach to wine evaluation, and its trademark Systematic Approach to Tasting comes with basic but insightful knowledge about the wine world. You’ll refine your tasting skills for sure, and chances are you’ll be looking into advanced WSET levels. We might be looking at the next Master of Wine, why not?
Wine tasting books
Courses, both face-to-face and online, are not for everyone. Many people learn best in their own rhythm. Many wine-tasting books will help you develop your analytic skills without spending a minute in class. If we had to choose just one, we’d go for the best seller Wine Folly’s The Essential Guide To Wine. This colorful book teaches you to taste wine and reveals different grape profiles in a graphic, easy-to-understand way. Wine Folly might look overly simplified, but it’s backed by some of the most respected wine professionals in the industry.
Other wine tasting experiencesIf you’re lucky enough to leave in or close to a winemaking region, you’ll easily find professionals and enthusiasts teaching wine around you. An excellent way to find wine tasting classes is by enrolling in Airbnb experiences. Whether you find wine tasting classes in your community or are planning a wine trip abroad, these classes are often personal and insightful. It’s a nice way to learn about wine while you make new friends. Wine retailers like Total Wine & More schedule wine tasting classes in their stores regularly. This might not be the most academic of environments, but the staff and their wine tasters often have a good resume. These experiences are also great ways to try out new wines and wine styles you’d typically won’t buy yourself. This is by no means an exhaustive list of wine resources, but it gives you an idea. There are many ways to polish your wine tasting skills if you have the patience and passion for it. Remember that tasting wine is a social activity, and as long as there are two wine lovers around, there will be plenty of opportunities to taste and learn. The post Wine Classes Everywhere appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/wine-classes/ Wine has been a hot topic for millennia; it has entwined with our culture like no other drink. Wine is fun, interesting, desirable, and posh; it’s the one drink for which you actually need to hit the books to fully understand. The complexity of its many faces, whether we talk provenance or grape varieties, wine producers or vintage variations, the wine universe is immense. It’s no surprise that wine education is mainstream, especially online. Wine blogs abound, and many of them have been running for decades. Both wine enthusiasts and experts share their wine reviews, experience and wine knowledge in many formats and styles, from videos to infographics. These are our favorite wine blogs online today, but we’re well aware that they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Tell us if we missed your favorite blogs in the comments below.
Wine Folly
Wine Folly is THE best wine blog for the inexperienced and intermediate wine enthusiasts on the web. When Madeline Puckette, a graphic designer and certified sommelier merged her talents, she began publishing the most beautiful graphics, maps and charts the world had ever seen, and above all, they were spot-on accurate. The blog began selling its maps and charts on print, and the vast material eventually became a New York Times Best-Selling book rewarding Madeleine with a James Beard award. You can browse Wine Folly for hours, learning something new every time. All with beautiful illustrations and comprehensive visual aids. Wine Folly has no competition for her visual, straightforward, wine knowledge material.
Fernando Beteta
Fernando Beteta is one of the most respected wine professionals in the industry. He earned the title of Master Sommelier in 2009 after a long history in the hospitality industry. Reaching the highest honor in the wine world didn’t stop Fernando to continue studying, and he shares his knowledge in his blog. Fernando’s blog is not for the faint-hearted; it’s focused on high-level wine expertise and digs deep in complex subjects like soils and blind tasting skills. Seasoned professionals and serious wine students will find Fernando’s blog a valuable resource. Do you want to assess your wine knowledge? Fernando share’s tests and quizzes regularly, but don’t get frustrated if they’re out of your league, these questions are tough!
The Wine Wankers
Two Australians run the Wine Wankers blog with a spirited sense of humor. The blog has half a million followers globally because of their casual, relaxed tone. There are no pretentious takes on wine here; it’s all about personal experiences. Both Conrad and Drew write their separate blog posts giving the website a refreshing duality that can keep you browsing around for hours. Wine Wankers will review pretty spectacular wines, and it’s not all mainstream. Buying advice and just fun stories around the two friends traveling to wine country, this blog is famous for a reason.
Vine Pair
Vine Pair has taken a business approach to blogging. They’re a self-proclaimed “digital media company delivering accessible, entertaining, and inspiring content about drinks and the experiences you have with a glass in hand,” and they do it very well. A dozen contributors create daily content at all levels of expertise, from wine regions explained to opinion pieces about rosé. A set of beautiful wine maps and an extensive list of wine reviews complete the picture. Vine Pair is firmly positioned in all social media channels. Vine Pair sets a standard for serious media platforms, and their expansion to other beverages guarantees that their continuous growth has no limit.
Wine Library
If you’re into wine, you’ve probably browsed wine related videos on YouTube; if you have, you already know Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary hosts one of the first video blogs on the web, Wine Library TV. Founded in 2006, Wine Library is a great way to learn about wine and have fun while at it. Gary’s explosive personality and energy makes his wine tastings and reviews fun to watch. Wine Library’s YouTube channel has over 1000 episodes in which Gary has tasted it all. His wine store has become a 60 million business, but Gary still keeps it real. Do you want to know what wine pairs well with cereal? Gary’s got your back. The post Top Wine Blogs for Aspiring Sommeliers appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/top-wine-blogs/ ![]() France has one of the broadest cuisines on earth. Its influence on western food is undeniable. It has been the inspiration and starting point of many food trends and styles for generations. Classic French cuisine, as interpreted by talented chefs like Escoffier and Bocuse, will never go out of fashion. Distinct regions divide France, each with deeply rooted cooking traditions that revolve around one cornerstone of French culinary tradition: wine. Whether we’re talking about the alpine highlands, the Atlantic shores, or the warm Mediterranean basin, food is always remarkable, and pairs heavenly with local wine. These are some of the most representative French wine and food pairings. True classics to know and love. Muscadet and OystersStrong, humid winds hit the Atlantic coast of North-eastern France; home to one of the most underrated classic wine styles: Muscadet. The neutral, acidic, simple-is-beautiful wine pairs well with the oceanic produce of the region. Crustaceans, herring, scallops and sole are typical of the area. They all work well with the citric, mouthwatering whites like Muscadet. Tourists and locals classically enjoy oysters, raw on their shell, always with a glass of the cool white made with the Melon de Bourgogne grape. Sauvignon Blanc and Soft CheeseFollow the Loire river into continental France to find vast extensions of Sauvignon Blanc vineyards; the weather is cold enough to produce wines with piercing acidity and enticing sharp flavors. These wines are perfect for the goat cheeses made in the region like Valençay and Chavignol. Craftsmen also produce Brie and Camembert close by, styles that work nicely with the aromatic Sauvignon too. The French make goat’s cheese all around the country, this is the original chèvre. Shaped as a crottin, pyramid, or cylinder, either powdery white or covered in ash, styles are limitless. Harder and weightier examples of goat cheese exist, but it’s the fresh, soft examples that shine best with Sauvignon Blanc. Alsace and ChoucrouteAlsace is a magical region dosed with a German spirit. You can see it in the architecture, and also in the food. Pork sausages, ham, it all mirrors the typical Germanic table. Their famous mixed platter of charcuterie with sauerkraut called choucroute garnie is a great example of the region’s culinary tradition. Alsatian white wine, whether it’s Riesling, Pinot Blanc, Gewurztraminer or Muscat, goes well with the uncomplicated Alsatian dishes. A pizza-like dish called tarte flambé, baked flatbread topped with cheese and onion, or the ubiquitous quiche are other classic examples of white food that works great with white wine. Alsatians make excellent beer too, another classic pairing to discuss another time. Burgundy and Boeuf BourguignonHundreds of years of political, religious and merchant activity have made from the quiet hills of Burgundy a gourmand’s utopia. From escargot to coq au vin, the province has plenty of inspiriting dishes to offer alongside their world-famous wine. Boeuf bourguignon is a classic beef stew. This one-pot dish might seem like peasant food, but it’s a regal example of the typical French food. Carrots, onions and local herbs give flavor to this dish, but the secret ingredient is wine, from which the recipe gets its second name. A good example of Burgundian red, especially sturdier Pommard or Gevrey-Chambertin have the weight, acidity, and matching flavors to tame the substantial dish. Bordeaux and CanardRed Bordeaux is almost always a merger of several local grapes, Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot leading the way. The structured wine is a well-known match with beef and lamb, but locals love pairing it with another local speciality: duck. Confit de Canard consists of flavorful duck meat cooked in its fat. The result is an intense dish matched only by the tannic grip, and generous bouquet of the red Bordeaux wines. Acidity is vital to cut the fatty meat too. The result is a heavenly pairing like no other. Beaujolais and AndouilletteBeaujolais is both a wine region and a wine style. The young, lively Beaujolais Nouveau is surely the first thing to pop up on your mind, but dedicated producers make age-worthy examples in the best sites, all from the misunderstood Gamay grape. Lyon is the gateway to the Mediterranean basin, still influenced by the intellectual Burgundian cuisine, this city has a rich culinary history. The Andouillette sausage, a regional favorite, is made of pork and veal offal. This delicacy is strongly flavored, especially when grilled. It has a wild profile that goes very well with the light-bodied red Beaujolais. The uncomplicated wine plays a secondary role, but a crucial one reviving the palate and boosting a whole array of ripe fruit aromas to the pairing. Provence Rosé and BouillabaisseThere’s no better seafood stew than the Provençal Bouillabaisse. Fresh, local ingredients and Mediterranean seasoning makes this flavorful soup an ideal dish to pair with warm sunny days. Ask anybody, and you’ll see that the dry, precise rosé from the region is not just the right way to go, but the only one. French rosé has crisp acidity and addictive subtle red fruit flavors that work well with any Mediterranean dish and sea produce. Sipping rosé in the Côte d’Azur should be on everyone’s bucket list, and enjoying a warm Bouillabaisse while at it, simply makes it better. The list goes on and on; French cuisine was born alongside winemaking tradition. Local pairings have been fine-tuned by time, and recipes transcend generations. The result: Gastronomic heaven. The post French Food and Wine Pairings appeared first on SOMM • Reviews of Sommelier Courses and Wine Schools. from https://www.somm.us/french-food-and-wine-pairings/ |
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