Fill your glass to the brim with the latest knowledge from the masters in the industry.
December 31 • New year
If next year proves lucky number 21, it will be because we are able to meet its fortunes or misfortunes with our best intentions intact, with the clarity to make the best choice whenever we have a choice.
November 28 • certification
A sommelier’s ultimate mission is for people to share your love and passion for wine. One sommelier’s nose and mouth are completely different from the next, so individual smell and taste will differ greatly from one expert to the next.
December 23 • christmas
Some last minute gift ideas for wine and alcohol lovers
Any type of spirit is usually a good present for someone who enjoys a glass or two, and after the year we’ve had, we all deserve a drink.
If you’re still looking for a gift that will not only quench their palate, but also teach them something and even lead them to start a collection, we have some suggestions. They include games, unique whiskies and subscriptions services.
December 11 • christmas
Spice up your ‘nog. A favorite of US presidents, there are several ways to make eggnog a little merrier this Christmas
As temperature drops, pine trees are lit and fireplaces are aflame, it can only mean one thing: Christmas is right around the corner and with it comes one of the most popular beverages to accompany the holidays.
November 12 • Chile
Todo lo que tienes que saber sobre los nuevos vinos chilenos: nuevas regiones, nuevas variedades y aclamados productores de moda, una SommClass de la experta en vinos Loreto Ruiz.
November 09 • Best Bars
What makes a great bar? Is it the ambience, the signature cocktails, the music, the history?
From classic to modern, the list of the best 50 bars around the world ...
November 04 • Pisco
***CLASS IN SPANISH***
Aprenderás sobre la historia y el origen del Pisco, uno de los aguardientes de uva más famosos del mundo.
November 03 • singani
It was only made for domestic consumption, as it had for hundreds of years. Produced only in the Bolivian high valleys, singani has been distilled since the 16th century when the Spanish arrived in South America. Initially, it was made from grapevines brought by monks who needed sacramental wine. The name for the drink is believed to come from a village near the mission that first distilled it.
October 22 • fermentation & pickling
Somm Simon Kistenfeger teaches us about fermentation & pickling at home.
October 22 • Uncategorized
Homes around the U.S. are being decorated with pumpkins, ghouls and witches in anticipation of Halloween, but in Mexico, the date coincides with the start of a more ancient tradition that has nothing to do with fright and much to do with culture, food and drinks.
October 20 • Bolivia
Bertil Tøttenborg, Sommelier at renowned GUSTU Restaurant - The magnificence of Bolivian wines
October 17 • Tequila
(Virtual SommClass) Learn the differences between tequilas from Los Altos highlands and Jalisco valley from tequila expert, Carlos Andrés Ramírez.
October 08 • Bordeaux
Discover why Bordeaux-Style Wines are so unique.
Produced in the Bordeaux region of the southwest of France, these wines are famous for their consistent excellence.
October 03 • Cacao
It’s the most delicious, rich, and savory treat, protects against heart disease and a number of other ailments, and it’s one of Latin American contributions to the U.S. and the world.
September 29 • Bolivian Wine
Bolivia may not instantly come to mind when one thinks of wine, but the South American country has a long and rich viticulture history that dates back to the arrival of the Spanish missionaries, who first planted vines around the wealthy silver-mining city of Potosi in the mid-16th century.
September 25 • Coffee Producers
The best part of waking up? Well, it’s coffee, of course.
Humanity truly runs on this beverage that helps millions of people around the world wake up, work and function. And if it’s of the Arabica variety, its delicious ‘kick’ will keep you going strong all day long.
September 25 • cocktails
Indigenous people called the area where New Orleans now sits as “Balbancha” (land of many tongues).
It’s still an apt name for the Crescent City.
Anyone who’s visited this Southern gem is immediately struck by the confluence of cultures there.
September 15 • Latino Heritage Month
The Empire State Building kicked off Latino Heritage Month by shining red, white and green colors onto the New York skylight on September 15 in honor of the Mexican flag.
September 01 • chocolates
(Live Virtual SommClass) Award winning Chocolatier, Alejandro Campos, brings us one of Mexico's greatest gift to the world; Chocolate.
August 25 • Marketing
Smart appliances, smart clothing and now smart wines, ciders, and beers.
In a crowded shelf of wines, ciders and beers, all promoting how good they are, how can they stand out among the rest? In an increasingly connected world, the way to go is with the label, smart labels, that is.
August 15 • Marketing
Companies are looking for sustainable packaging
Spirits companies have always touted the flavor, sophistication and quality of their drinks. Now they’re promoting not only that, but also how sustainable they are.
August 05 • Rose
Legendary music icon Jon Bon Jovi Brings Puts His Talent to a Good Cause
Rock music and wine may not seem an obvious pairing at first glance, but singer, songwriter and rock star Jon Bon Jovi makes it so. Two years ago, music icon and his son, Jesse Bongiovi, paired with French winemaker Gerard Bertrand to launch their own rosé, Hampton Water.
August 02 • Uncategorized
Online wine tastings bring renewed sparkle amid the pandemic
July 29 • Caipirinha
Brazil has given the world many wonderful contributions: Pele, the greatest football player in the history of the planet; samba music that sets the tone every year in the colorful, happy and decadent carnival, and caipirinha, its national drink and now a bar staple around the globe.
May 31 • Civil rights
It’s safe to say we would all agree Hennessy and Hip-Hop are associated with each other in a special way. We would even go as far to say, Hennessy has reached global iconic status thanks to that fact. That being said, while the cognac of hip-hop was catapulted to its iconic stature thanks to the help of artist like Tupac and Nas, what we don’t know by looking at the surface is that Hennessy has a long standing tradition of supporting people of African decent.
May 11 • Music
The garage kings are out there and we wanted to let you know you’re not alone. While you’re playing your instruments for the whole neighborhood to hear, it might seem like you’ll never be heard on the radio. You’re cooped up in your parent’s garage sweating your asses off finding your own unique sound. You might even be practicing for your upcoming coffeeshop gig. If you’re one of these garage bands just now that you’re in good company. And if you’re one of their neighbors quick to complain, you should take a moment and listen. You might just be listening to the next Ramones or Nirvana.
May 11 • Gatinara
Alessia and Cinzia Travaglini have a shared charisma in their smiles, a look that makes you want to strike up a conversation. Together, they lead the winery, Travaglini Wines, into the future. Alessia is the fourth generation to come into the family business, and is a certified sommelier. Presently, she is earning a degree in Economics and Business Management, to equip her with the skills needed to carry on the family legacy. Under the mentorship of her mother, Cinzia Travaglini, she is positioned to continue on the tradition of excellence firmly established by the winery.
May 04 • Vinely Live Events
Sommtable Live - this Thursday May 14th, is proud to have to Michael Jordan (Master Sommelier) and Fred Scherrer (Winemaker Russian River Valley and Sonoma Coast) - the dynamic duo in both the world of wine and music. In the realm of viticulture, they’re perfect complements. Both are incredibly enthusiastic about wine, though in somewhat different ways. Jordan is a sommelier, while Scherrer is a winemaker. Together, they can create and appreciate wine at a topflight level. In addition to working in wine together, they also team up to make music. In fact, Sommtable is involved with one of their concerts.
April 19 • Cognac
It’s safe to say we would all agree Hennessy and Hip-Hop are associated with each other in a special way. We would even go as far to say, Hennessy has reached global iconic status thanks to that fact. That being said, while the cognac of hip-hop was catapulted to its iconic stature thanks to the help of artist like Tupac and Nas, what we don’t know by looking at the surface is that Hennessy has a long standing tradition of supporting people of African decent.
April 19 • Hollywood
Here at vine.ly, we love a lot of things — and great cinema is surely one of them. We wanted to hit the pause button and take a second to take a look at Once Upon A Time In Hollywood; let’s have some fun pairing some of the film’s main characters to their embodied spirits. Pull up a seat and pour up your favorite cocktail.
April 11 • Sommeliers
Amanda McCrossin is a sommelier & YouTube vlogger in Napa Valley, CA
Having previously worked as a sommelier in New York City, Amanda moved to the west coast in July 2015 where she joined the wine team at PRESS restaurant in St. Helena. Known as the "sommvivant" to her instagram followers and YouTube subscribers for being a "Sommelier" with a "Bon Vivant" lifestyle, Amanda documents her life as a somm in the Napa Valley on a daily basis.
April 11 • Distillers
Melkon Khosrovian and Litty Mathew, Greenbar Distillery Founders and Spirit Makers
April 11 • moldova
Hidden Giants; Exploring the World of Moldovan Wine
While France, Italy and Spain may hold the lion’s share of an industry which is over 35 billion bottles strong, there are many other players in the game. The world of Moldovan wine may be lesser known than other European countries, but that makes it somewhat of a hidden gem for those who seek something off the beaten path.
April 11 • Winemaker
Caminhos Cruzados, or “Crossed Paths” in English, was a project Lijia, her father Paulo Santos, and the entire Santos family began in order to return to its origins and invest in the world of wine.
April 11 • Distillers
For us, it was a simple one—take no shortcuts. That meant using honest ingredients grown across the region, supporting the natural and agricultural resources of Alentejo.
April 10 • Education
Wine writer. Author: The Battle for Wine and Love or how I saved the world from Parkerization. Naked Wine. For the Love of Wine, the Dirty Guide to Wine. She also publishes a natural wine newsletter, The Feiring Line
April 10 • Education
Before her career as a sommelier and acclaimed author, Kelli A. White was a very straight and narrow kind of kid. She had a gift for maths and sciences and won a Howard Hughes Fellowship in Neurogenetics while at Brandeis. As the stars would have it, Kelli’s life was about to change in a big way.
April 10 • Winemaker
Diego Sepúlveda (enologist) of Casa Santos Lima, is a bullfighter that brought passion and perseverance to winemaking.
April 10 • Craft Beer
It all started when father and son, a chemical engineer and the other a electrical engineer, decided to launch themselves in the home brewing production.
April 10 • Sommeliers
An extensive wine list, vibrant kitchen, and outstanding music; if Sommtable were a restaurant, it would be Nobelhart Schmutzig
May 26 • Portuguese Wine
Portugal has a long history of wine making and an endless varietal of wine grapes with enough distinctive personalities to satisfy the most demanding oenophile. The different regions of this small nation that welcomes Western travelers as they head into continental Europe grow characteristically different grapes that produce singular wines, each uniquely suited to different palates.
May 06 • Uncategorized
As timeless as barrel-aging is, it is relatively new in the field of craft beer. This is hard to believe, as the new trends in barrel-aged craft beers are creating some of the best flavors on the market. But the beers we now know and love had a long journey to get where they are. The good news is that it seems that the journey has only begun!
December 03 • cooperative
There are enough wineries out there to keep us happy for a long time – but I want to be more than happy. I want to be ecstatic and feel like I’m entering a magical place that can’t be compared to anything I’ve seen before.
December 02 • Winemaker
We've had a few innovative wines come out over the last decade or so. Wait, maybe they've been around forever, and it's just me that's been around the last decade or so. Either way, I highly doubt you've heard of ghost wine.
December 01 • Sommeliers
Wine reveals itself gradually. Over the last seventeen years, I have worked, travelled, learned, competed, met countless winemakers, experienced many outstanding wines and appreciated the subtlety of their flavor nuances and the amazing diversity of the world of wine.
November 17 • New Zealand
When you’ve got a lake, picture perfect scenery, and the world’s southern-most grown grapes, you’ve got a recipe for success.
November 11 • Winemaker
When it comes to wine, aroma is pretty important. If you’re someone like me who doesn’t even wait for the pour to be in the glass, then you may miss out on this part of the wine-tasting experience. However, I’m here to tell you to pace yourself and include your nose in the big event, too.
November 02 • Education
Before her career as a sommelier and acclaimed author, Kelli A. White was a very straight and narrow kind of kid. She had a gift for maths and sciences and won a Howard Hughes Fellowship in Neurogenetics while at Brandeis. As the stars would have it, Kelli’s life was about to change in a big way.
October 28 • Winemaker
Just when you thought you had the wine thing down, it's blown up in your face. There's nothing simple about growing grapes and making wine – and why should there be? When you've got an opportunity given by Mother Nature herself to create an entirely new type of wine, why wouldn't you?
October 28 • Winemaker
When it comes to wine, the more, the merrier. You could stick to the standard single vineyard and have half an aneurysm every year when the weather starts to turn on you. Or, you could back yourself up a bit and give your wines an even better chance of being brilliant.
October 14 • Winemaker
There are a lot of things that Idaho is known for – Yellowstone, Boise, and Sun Valley Ski Resort. What you won’t usually see on this list is wine.
October 13 • Winemaker
While there are the lucky few of us who can afford to cough up excessive amounts of sophisticated drops, the rest of us mere mortals down here on earth don’t have this type of luxury.
October 03 • Master of Port
When searching for words to describe the journey of Ms. Julia Scavo, impressive is the first thing that comes to mind.
September 30 • Soil & Minerals
Let's talk sensitive farming – and no, it's not a bunch of cows that have had it up to here. It's a twist on the modern take on agriculture. Up to date technological practices in farming mean that the soil and eco-system take a back seat.
September 29 • New Zealand
Are you ready for a wine trip – mentally and geographically? If you’re a fan of French blends but don’t want to go all the way to France for them, try this corner of the world. Church Road Winery is famous in New Zealand for being the first winery to craft Bordeaux wine.
September 22 • Winemaker
Sometimes it’s a struggle to know where to start when painting a picture of an award-winning vineyard. Maybe we could begin with the outstanding restaurant – if you’re picky about what you eat with your wine, you’ll want to make sure you don’t miss lunch.
September 15 • Winemaker
There are two things to get clear when talking about the Brown Brothers.
The first is that there are many Browns, not just the brothers. The second is that there is a tradition here – but they don't want to be known as traditional.
August 25 • Winemaker
When you look for wine, you want a personalized touch.
You want to know the rich, deep history behind it – how they make the wine, why they make it and who makes it. Learning the intricate details that weave themselves into each bottle of wine making it that much more meaningful, adding new layers to the overall experience.
August 20 • Winemaker
There’s really no other way to explain it. Blood, sweat, boundless patience and tears have gone into the cultivation and production of Georgian wine. This is because Georgian wine is steeped in tradition. 8000 years of tradition, to be exact. The history of Georgia runs parallel to the culture of Georgian winemaking. These two factors are inseparable and inherent in one another's identity.
August 12 • New Zealand
Growing excellent wines off the beaten track in one of New Zealand’s most beautiful, unspoiled coastlines.
January 27 • Culture
Let’s admit it, pairing wine with sandwiches is not the typical combination on the menu in our mind. Maybe it should be! It is a great way to expand both the mind and palate while searching for flavor combinations. Here are a few things to consider when searching for a wine to go with your sandwich.
January 26 • Barrel-Aged
As timeless as barrel-aging is, it is relatively new in the field of craft beer. This is hard to believe, as the new trends in barrel-aged craft beers are creating some of the best flavors on the market. But the beers we now know and love had a long journey to get where they are. The good news is that it seems that the journey has only begun!
November 09 • Alentejo
The best way to really learn about wine is to think for yourself. Don’t be a parrot! Make your own judgments. Get into a tasting group. Those who know less usually gets it right.
November 03 • Sommeliers
If there is one thing the life of a sommelier is filled with, it is passion. Passion pours from them in every smile, cork, sip, and savor they experience, and it shows in the wonderful insight they have to offer.
November 02 • Sommeliers
When we look back on our time with wine, most of us want to see a life well-lived, vintages well-tasted; leaving no curious bottle uncorked. David Biraud may have the edge on us here.
November 01 • Sommeliers
An extensive wine list, vibrant kitchen, and outstanding music; if Sommtable were a restaurant, it would be Nobelhart Schmutzig
October 29 • Sommeliers
Somm Willi Schlögl, owner of "Cordobar" in Berlin, awaits with nearly 1,000 top wines and rarities from Austria and Germany. Because wine needs good good to pair with it, you can also get spoiled with their avant-garde dishes such as "Tafelspitz-Wrap" or "Blutwurst-Pizza".
October 12 • Uncategorized
The tragic wildfires in Northern California in early October 2017 left chaos in their wake. Entire towns, farms and forests engulfed in flames. As we still search the rubble to quantify the damage, many wine lovers want to know just how much was destroyed — and what that means for the industry.
July 13 • Uncategorized
Corks have been the closure for wine bottles for hundreds of years, so why change a good relationship? Understanding how corks affect wine may be the key to understanding why some companies are moving away from cork in favor of newer methods.
April 19 • Indie Bands
The music industry has undergone some intricate changes in the past two decades. Arguably, no industry has changed more when we consider the way we listen, digest and purchase music. It began with live shows, jukeboxes and record players, then to cassette tapes, CDs, and now finally, streaming. With all this change there has really only been one constant: and that’s radio.
November 16 • Sommeliers
Amanda McCrossin is a sommelier & YouTube vlogger in Napa Valley, CA
Having previously worked as a sommelier in New York City, Amanda moved to the west coast in July 2015 where she joined the wine team at PRESS restaurant in St. Helena. Known as the "sommvivant" to her instagram followers and YouTube subscribers for being a "Sommelier" with a "Bon Vivant" lifestyle, Amanda documents her life as a somm in the Napa Valley on a daily basis.
October 05 • Travelling
Enotourism, Vinitourism, or simply just wine tourism; whatever you call it, tourism with the purpose of getting the best wines directly from the source is a blossoming industry...
September 26 • Culture
Traditionally known as a wine waiter, the world of the sommelier is much larger than this. While sommeliers are largely the keepers to the secrets of wine...
August 12 • Soil & Minerals
Does chardonnay really taste like a river rock? The term minerality has been tossed around quite a bit in the sommelier’s vocabulary. In fact, it pervades all aspects of wine; found in wine descriptions and on the lips of winemakers...
August 11 • Cork
If it isn’t broke, don’t fix it. We often hear this for things that are the industry standard...
April 06 • Oenologist
No, this is not the setup to a joke. There is a lot of confusion as to the actual difference between a sommelier, and winemaker or oenologist. Though they all work closely with the world of wine, they play separate roles that are often intertwined – hence the confusion. Let’s lay it all out here.