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Trendy Cocktails: Rockstar
Carambola is really the star of this cocktail. The star fruit (Carambola) is a slightly sweet-sour fruit from Southeast Asia. Fortunately, we didn’t have to pack luggage and book a flight to get our hands on these amazing and often misunderstood fruit. A quick word of caution. Star fruit contains a toxin called oxalate that…
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Wine Education: WSET Level 2
While many (or most) individuals choose a wine education and certification path specific to their goals–such as hospitality/service, consultant, distributor, etc.–I thirst for a broad yet detailed knowledge of all things wine. So, it just makes sense to add the award-winning WSET courses and curriculum to my perpetual wine-knowledge-seeking journey 😉 The Wine & Spirit…
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Wine Experiences: A Taste of Georgia
There is no better way to learn about (and appreciate) wine than to get fully immersed in its rich history, culture, and traditions. Sometimes we get so involved in studying a wine’s properties–such as nose, taste, structure, and color–that we miss out on the characteristics that make the wine unique to a particular country, region…
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Wine News: Angélus Bids Adieu
We had just barely finished celebrating the New Year when I first heard the news. In a very bold but predictable move, the famed Chateau Angélus withdrew from the 2022 Saint-Émilion ranking. Yep, in an instant… the volatile classifications of Saint-Émilion are again facing scrutiny. So, why all the drama? Unlike the 1855 Classifications of…
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Wine Education: Much to Learn
Wasting no time, I decided to jump right into the deep end of the wine-education pool. The study materials from our recent completion of The Court of Master Sommeliers – Introductory Course and Examination had just had time to cool down before a new set of study materials arrived. At first glance, I knew there…
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Perfect Pairings: Semillón w/Pan-fried Cod and Lemon Dill Sauce
Fish is versatile, but can quickly become boring and mundane. We eat fish often, and are always looking for ways to create dishes that connect interesting wines with fish-friendly herbs and spices. This particular dish–simple as it seems–was perfectly paired with an amazing old-vine Semillón from Patagonia, Argentina. Together, this fish dish and wine pairing…
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Spotlight: Nine Fine Irishmen
Sometimes you’re fortunate enough to experience the perfect balance of fantastic food, awesome drinks, impeccable service and amazing atmosphere–all in the same meal. That was certainly the case at our 40th Anniversary celebration week kickoff lunch in Las Vegas. It has become an annual tradition to begin the week’s festivities at Nine Fine Irishmen in…
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The Deans’ List: Introduction
We’ve all spent many hours reading scores and reviews from some of the most well-respected wine aficionados in the world. In most cases, we align our tastes with the palette of one of these professional wine critics. I tend to lean more towards the tastes of Robert Parker than James Suckling, but both provide a…
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Trendy Cocktails: Verbena
Several years ago while visiting Las Vegas we had the opportunity to taste (ok… drink) a few ‘secret’ cocktails from The Chandelier Bar at The Cosmopolitan. One of the cocktails, called the Verbena, was an experience like no other. The cocktail itself was a creative lemon-ginger riff on the classic Margarita, but the addition of…
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Enthusiast to Sommelier: Just the Beginning
The best things happen outside your comfort zone. The first few months of this journey left Tammy and me mentally exhausted, but at the same time energized. Keeping this journey of oenology and viticulture a secret was an enormous challenge. Every interaction with our friends and family was an opportunity to reveal our plans, but…
SOMM&SOMM 