Tag Archives: Master Sommelier

Become a Certified Sommelier in One Week: Wine School of Philadelphia Launches Summer Wine School 2025

PHILADELPHIA, Pa., July 17, 2025 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — The Wine School of Philadelphia today announced the return of Summer Wine School, offering students across the country the opportunity to earn their sommelier certification in just one week. With flexible evening classes and a hands-on curriculum, the program has become a go-to for aspiring wine professionals and serious enthusiasts alike.

Photo caption: Sommelier Graduates at the Wine School of Philadelphia.

The Accelerated Core Sommelier Program prepares students for certification through intensive training in wine tasting, theory, and professional service. Offered in the evenings over one week, the course is ideal for working adults, hospitality staff, and anyone looking to transition into the wine trade.

The school is also offering the Advanced Italian Wine Specialist Certification, a nationally recognized credential through the National Wine School, delivered in a one-week immersion format. Students explore Italy’s key wine regions, grapes, and traditions in a rigorous but accessible setting.

In addition to certification programs, Summer Wine School features public tasting classes and member-exclusive events designed to foster community, deepen wine knowledge, and support professional growth.

“This isn’t a stuffy wine seminar,” said Keith Wallace, founder of the Wine School of Philadelphia. “We train people to taste like pros, think like educators, and thrive in the wine world — whether you’re switching careers or building on a lifelong passion.”

Seats are limited, and demand for in-person certification is high. To secure a spot in Summer Wine School 2025, visit: https://www.vinology.com/summer-wine-school/

About the Wine School of Philadelphia:

Founded in 2001, the Wine School of Philadelphia is one of the leading independent wine education centers in the country. Its certification programs, offered through the National Wine School, are recognized by restaurants, distributors, and hospitality groups across the U.S.

MULTIMEDIA:

Photo link for media: https://www.Send2Press.com/300dpi/25-0717-s2p-winephilly-300dpi.jpg

Photo caption: Sommelier Graduates at the Wine School of Philadelphia.

NEWS SOURCE: Wine School of Philadelphia

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Wine School of Philadelphia), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/become-a-certified-sommelier-in-one-week-wine-school-of-philadelphia-launches-summer-wine-school-2025/

Crush Wine Experiences hosts its 10th Annual NYC Autumn Crush Wine and Artisanal Food Festival, Nov. 9 in Midtown Manhattan

NEW YORK, N.Y., Oct. 9, 2024 (SEND2PRESS NEWSWIRE) — Crush Wine Experiences (formerly New York Wine Events) is pleased to present its long-running sommelier-curated event, the NYC Autumn Crush Wine & Artisanal Food Festival™ on Saturday, November 9, 2024 in the spacious grand ballroom at 630SECOND, located on 2nd Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets in Midtown East. The 10th annual fall tasting event includes a choice of two sessions: Afternoon: 1-4 p.m. or Evening: 5-8 p.m.

Image caption: Guests will taste 100+ quality wines and savor artisanal food samplings at the sommelier-curated 10th Annual NYC Autumn Crush.

Grand Tasting, Express Tasting, and VIP level tickets are available. The VIP Ticket includes the main tasting plus admission to an exclusive VIP Lounge featuring ten higher end champagnes and wines, complemented by a selection of artisan cheeses and light bites.

The annual autumn wine and culinary tasting, named by Wine Enthusiast magazine as as “One of the 12 Fall Food and Wine Festivals You Won’t Want to Miss,” will include sommelier selected global and U.S. wines, along with select craft beverages, artisanal foods, and select lifestyle brands. Tasting tables throughout the ample and elegant ballroom will feature wines perfect for the upcoming holiday season and new year. Featured wines at the Grand Tasting will include dry, crisp white selections, full-bodied reds, sweet, savory and dry rosés, and elegant bubbly selections. Diverse wines from France, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Slovenia, South Africa, South American, New Zealand, California, and New York will be among the new and old world regions showcased.

Featured producers and selections include Château de Berne, Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mouton Cadet, Klet Brda Family Vineyards, Bernard Magrez Bordeaux Blanc, Borgo Maragliano Sparkling Brut Rosé, Balea Txakoli Rosé, Brisa Suave Vinho Verde Branco, Big Flower Merlot, and The Atom Cabernet Sauvignon, among many others at special regional showcase tables. New York State craft beverages round out the tasting, along with diverse artisan food makers from New York City and beyond sampling sauces, cheeses, baked goods, granola, chips, jams, nut butters and other specialty items. The fall event marks Crush WineXP’s return to providing guests with a complimentary “real glass” tasting glass that they can take home as a keepsake along with a convenient, reusable souvenir tote bag.

VIP ticket holders will taste Champagne Billecart-Salmon Blanc De Blancs Grand Cru, Domaine Paul Prieur Sancerre Les Monts Damnes, Passo Bianco Contrada PC, Domaine Tawse Savigny Premier Cru Lavieres, Domaine Pierre Andre Chateauneuf-Du-Pape Rouge, and five additional sommelier selected fine wines ranging $40-$105/bottle in the exclusive, roomy VIP suite and enjoy sumptuous artisan cheeses and panini bites to pair with the selections.

“It’s fantastic to be moving our acclaimed fall event to the beautiful, centrally located 630 Second. The spacious ballroom provides a festive, upscale atmosphere for guests to enjoy all the offerings as they speak directly with food and winemakers for a memorable experience,” notes Sam Kimball, founder of Crush Wine Experiences and WSET certified sommelier. “Unlike would-be copycat fests that lack in quality and an engaging atmosphere, for over 15 years, Crush WineXP’s wine professionals have brought together a curated selection of fine wines and culinary delights. This truly sets us apart from the low-end, street fair style events in the New York market. Our sommeliers and producers pride themselves on their discerning eye for quality and precision execution,” Kimball adds. “We’re pleased to present a grand tasting that brims with award-winning wineries and the newest stars, along with exceptional artisanal food makers. Our exclusive sommelier-curated VIP experience adds to our commitment to excellence with dazzling hand-picked selections and sumptuous bites.”

Participating exhibitors include: Althea’s Tropical Delights, ARV Sweets, Baked by Noon, Baron Philippe de Rothschild Mouton Cadet, The Bull and Bee Meadery, C4 Energy Drink, Chocology Unlimited, Cooper’s Daughter Spirits, Dassai USA, Drunken Fruit, Ferreira Carpenter Estates, Fort Hamilton Distillery, For The Love of Toffee, Golden Horn Meadery, Grapevine Distributors, Green Mountain Energy, Hudson House Distillery, Il Mulino New York, K’s Jams, KP Customized Kreationz, Meadowdale Winery, Mengler Family Wines, No Wine Left Behind, Pail Shop Vineyards, Passion Fusion BK, Peconic Bay Vineyards, Perfect Blends, Pierre’s Spicy, Pinaq, Provence Rosé Group, Ronance Mouthwatering Morsels Mushroom Chips, smartwater, Upstate Vodka by Sauvage Distillery, Via Carota Cocktails, and Worldlings Pleasure. Additional wineries and artisanal food purveyors will be added in the coming weeks; check website for details.

For those wishing to pair their sips with more, featured specialty food vendors offering small plates available for purchase include New York makers Althea’s Tropical Delights (Caribbean jerk fare), HomeFrite (Belgian-style fries and artisanal dipping sauces), and

Passion Fusion BK (specialty tacos). As with all Crush Wine Experiences events, participating artisanal food companies, New York State wineries, and craft beverage makers will have full size items and bottles available for guests to purchase and enjoy at home.

Tickets to NYC Autumn Crush are on sale now, ranging from $55 to $149, depending upon ticket level and time of purchase. Check the website for current ticket information, limited time offers for email subscribers, and availability. Guests must be 21 or older to attend all of Crush Wine Experience’s festivals. Advance purchase is highly recommended as these popular tastings have historically experienced sold out crowds and the autumn event is expected to do the same.

For complete details or to purchase tickets for the NYC Autumn Crush Wine & Artisanal Food Festival, visit https://crushwinexp.com/events-type/local/.

About Crush Wine Experiences:

Since 2010, Crush Wine Experiences (formerly New York Wine Events) has built a reputation for delivering memorable food and wine experiences that participants won’t find anywhere else. We share the excitement of wine discovery and education through in-person sommelier-curated events, virtual tastings, private and corporate wine tours, small group luxury, wine, food and cultural tours in Europe, educational articles, and an archive of on-demand videos. Our live wine and culinary festival experiences and weekly virtual tasting events draw thousands of wine- and food-loving consumers and allow them to discover and experience craft beverages and artisan foods. With over a decade of experience, Crush WineXP is a name that guests, winemakers, distillers, brewmasters, and artisan food-makers trust.

Learn more at https://crushwinexp.com/about/.

MULTIMEDIA:

VIDEO (YouTube): https://youtu.be/8VvhgCFH4R4

VIDEO (Vimeo): https://vimeo.com/782985550

NEWS SOURCE: Crush Wine Experiences

This press release was issued on behalf of the news source (Crush Wine Experiences), who is solely responsible for its accuracy, by Send2Press Newswire. Image, if any, was provided by the news source and not this website or the wire service. Information is believed accurate, as provided by the news source, but is not guaranteed.

To view the original story, visit: https://www.send2press.com/wire/crush-wine-experiences-hosts-its-10th-annual-nyc-autumn-crush-wine-and-artisanal-food-festival-nov-9-in-midtown-manhattan/

2023 SOMM Olympics Spotlights Rising Wine Talent and Supports Educational Scholarships for Students in Need

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. /ScoopCloud/ -- On Saturday, November 11th from 3:30-8pm, San Francisco Wine School invites the public to join their 12th Anniversary Celebration and Scholarship Auction featuring their signature Somm Olympics event benefiting the Glancy Wine Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to wine & hospitality professionals from diverse communities demonstrating financial need.

Blind Tasting Competition | Wine Knowledge Challenge | Decanting Race | Sparkling Wine Relay | Food Pairing Competition | Global Wine Tasting Bazaar | Silent Online Auction

This year's Anniversary Celebration will have options for both in-person and online participation and includes the wildly popular Somm Olympics, a Global Wine Tasting Bazaar with a plentitude of international and upscale fare, plus a silent auction full of unique wine items and experiences. Co-owners of San Francisco Wine School, Master Sommelier David Glancy and Chief Operating Officer Kristin Campbell will host this important and inspiring event.

The Somm Olympics includes five signature events each year: a jeopardy style wine knowledge challenge, a blind tasting competition, a Riedel serpentine decanter race, a sparkling wine relay, and a mouthwatering food pairing competition. Online guests will sip right alongside the contestants for the first three events with their own Wine Tasting Party Kit - available for delivery in 43 states. In-person guests will go on to enjoy the remaining competitions tasting and sipping through the Global Wine Bazaar. No tickets are required to bid in the silent online auction.

This year San Francisco Wine School welcomes two long-time San Francisco sommeliers to the competitor's stage, Cara Patricia, Co-Founder of DecantSF and Tonya Pitts, Wine Director of San Francisco's One Market Restaurant and Wine Enthusiast's 2022 Wine Star Awards winner of Wine Director of the Year!

All proceeds from this exciting event will benefit the Glancy Wine Education Foundation. To date, San Francisco Wine School Anniversary events have contributed to over 200 scholarships totaling over $350,000 in tuition support to their students in need. 97% of applicants earn less than the "living wage" benchmarks.

More information and tickets can be found at: https://sanfranciscowineschool.com/products/special-event-anniversary-celebration-scholarship-auction

ABOUT SAN FRANCISCO WINE SCHOOL:

San Francisco Wine School strives to open the world of wine to serious students and enthusiasts everywhere, helping people of all levels break into the wine industry, advance their career, or simply pursue their passions. Founded by Master Sommelier and Certified Wine Educator David Glancy, San Francisco Wine School is the largest wine school in the U.S., offering the most thoughtful approach to wine study. Their inspired educational programs and workshops are taught in their state-of-the-art Wine Education and Events Center and their cutting-edge virtual classroom by industry-leading instructors from all major educational disciplines.

San Francisco Wine School's curriculum features the best content in the business: expert course materials, carefully conceived wine flights, and in-depth blind tasting exercises designed to engage students, illuminate course content and enhance learning. Their beautiful sunlight-filled Wine Education and Event Center is conveniently located just 5 minutes from San Francisco International Airport. Located inside South San Francisco's historic Town Social Hall, the contemporary design boasts 4,000 square feet of flexible space with 16-foot coved ceilings, 12-foot arched windows throughout, and 180-degree views of the San Bruno Mountains, City Hall and the San Francisco Bay. It's the perfect place to enjoy classes, industry seminars, tastings and a wide variety of private experiences. Online students can join live classes with custom tasting kits available for delivery in 43 states.

ABOUT GLANCY WINE EDUCATION FOUNDATION:

The Glancy Wine Education Foundation was established in 2020 to continue the wine education scholarship and fundraising work initiated by the San Francisco Wine School in 2016 through the Glancy Wine Education Fund at Scholarship America. This eight-member volunteer board is dedicated to providing scholarships to students wanting to start or advance a career in the wine or hospitality industry using education and certifications in their field. Awards are based upon financial hardship, economic need, and career and educational goals. The Glancy Wine Education Foundation is a not-for-profit, tax exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

On Saturday, November 11th from 3:30-8pm, San Francisco Wine School invites the public to join their 12th Anniversary Celebration and Scholarship Auction featuring their signature Somm Olympics event benefiting the Glancy Wine Education Foundation, which provides scholarships to wine & hospitality professionals from diverse communities demonstrating financial need.

Related link: https://sanfranciscowineschool.com/

Master Sommelier Writes Definitive Wine-Tasting Guide for Professionals and Novices

RIO RANCHO, N.M. /ScoopCloud/ -- Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser has released an updated version of "Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine" (ISBN: 978-1955750479). The book is a valuable resource for professional tasters, as well as an outstanding guide for the casual enthusiast who wants to learn more about how to appreciate a glass of wine.

"Message in the Bottle" is a compilation of Gaiser's 30-plus years of international wine-tasting and teaching experience. After working on the text for over ten years, Gaiser finally had the opportunity to put the manuscript together during the 2020 COVID pandemic. On release, the wine-tasting guide quickly surged to the top rankings on Amazon.

"The original intent was to write something for 'Jedi Knights in training,' as a colleague calls students in the wine certification programs," Gaiser says. "However, a dear friend and fellow Master Sommelier colleague pointed out that once the book was released, consumers just getting into wine would also be interested it. I realized that I needed to make the text as user-friendly as possible."

With that, Gaiser went back to the drawing board and rewrote all the chapters to include introductions and recommendations on how to use the information. The result is a comprehensive resource for the serious wine student, as well as a clear-cut guide for anyone who wants to learn the secrets of tasting wine.

As Emily Wines, Master Sommelier and Vice Chair of the Board of Directors for the Court of Master

Sommeliers, Americas, states "For all of those who've struggled with the art and technique of blind tasting, this is the ultimate guide."

Peter Marks, Master of Wine, agrees, stating "'Message in the Bottle' should be another standard in anyone's wine library along with 'The Oxford Companion to Wine' and 'The World Atlas of Wine.'"

A Decanter Magazine review states that, "This Guide to Tasting Wine compiles strategies and insights gained over more than 30 years of teaching and working as a sommelier. While many sections are aimed at helping sommeliers pass the tough MS exam, there are useful tools for wine novices through to those wanting to brush up on blind tasting skills."

Somm Journal publisher, Meredith May, wrote, "Applying his three decades of experience in tasting, teaching, and writing, Gaiser divides and conquers concepts both objective and subjective. For those prepping for exams, Message in the Bottle may be one of the most valuable tomes in your arsenal."

Beyond requisite skills, the "Message in the Bottle" includes an entire section on strategies for improving focus, concentration, and smell and taste memory-all using visualization. It also features a list of suggested producers for tasting practice, instructions for writing tasting notes and wine tech sheets, and a series of essays on wine, making it not only the go-to reference for aspiring sommeliers and wine professionals, but an enjoyable read about one of life's greatest, most enduring pleasures.

"Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine" was published by Networlding Publishing in December 2022 and is available in both eBook and paperback formats from major distributors.

For more information, images, interviews, or review copies please contact tgaiser@earthlink.net.

About Tim Gaiser, MS:

Tim Gaiser is an internationally renowned wine expert and lecturer. He is one of less than 300 individuals worldwide to ever attain the elite Master Sommelier title. He is the former Director of Education and Education chair for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, and an instructor for the Napa Valley Wine Academy.

Over his 30-plus year career, Tim has taught thousands of students in wines and spirits classes at every level as well as developing wine education programs for restaurants, winery schools and wine distributors. He has experience in all phases of the wine industry: online, wholesale, retail, winery, and restaurants.

Tim has written for several publications including Fine Cooking Magazine and the Somm Journal and also writes for numerous wine and spirits clients. He has served as the author and lead judge for the Best Young Sommelier Competition and the Top Somm Competition.

Prior to developing his wine expertise, Tim received an M.A. in Classical Music. He played classical trumpet as a freelance professional and as an extra with the San Francisco Opera Orchestra. He currently lives with his family in New Mexico.

Learn more at: https://timgaiser.com/

Master Sommelier Tim Gaiser has released an updated version of "Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine" (ISBN: 978-1955750479). The book is a valuable resource for professional tasters, as well as an outstanding guide for the casual enthusiast who wants to learn more about how to appreciate a glass of wine.

Related link: https://timgaiser.com/