Ep 105

What does it really take to become a wine expert and do you need a fancy certification to do it? And is it really necessary to have one of these certifications?

In today’s episode I am breaking down two of the most popular wine certifications, the WSET and the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). I’m laying out how each one is structured, the different levels and what kind of wine roles each one is best for.

And we’ll talk about the 2018 scandal that rocked the CMS which resulted in rescinding the Master Sommelier title from every single person who had passed that year.

And we will dig into the Institute of Masters of wine, the Society of Wine Educators (SWE), the Wine Scholar Guild as well as free resources to help you build your wine confidence!

So, if you are ready to discover which wine certification path is right for you, without feeling overwhelmed by all the options then this episode is for you!

Resources

Tips for Smelling Wine with Cork Dork Author Bianca Bosker - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/tips-for-smelling-wine-with-bianca-bosker

Exploring Australian Wine with Jane Lopes - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/guide-to-wine-podcast-episode-34

The Ultimate Guide to Hosting a Wine Tasting Party at Home - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/guide-to-wine-podcast-episode-60

Episode Highlights:

• The value of wine certifications

• Overview of wine certifications

• Deep dive into WSET (Wine and Spirit Education Trust)

• Deep dive into CMS (court of Master Sommeliers)

• 2018 Controversies in CMS and subsequent fallout

• Deep dive into MW (Institute of Masters of wine)

• Society of Wine Educators (SWE)

• Wine Scholar guild

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - hailey@corkandfizz.com

Ep 104

What if I told you there’s a white wine that makes “cat pee” an absolute compliment? And you might already have a bottle of it chilling in your fridge!

Today, I am continuing my Grape Deep Dive Mini-Series and it’s all about Sauvignon Blanc. The first wine I really fell in love with was the New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc from Noblio. It’s such a fresh, easy drinking wine!

We are digging deep into the key viticultural and winemaking factors that shape Sauvignon Blanc’s character, as well as soil types and the diverse styles that emerge from different regions.

I’ll touch on Sauvignon Blanc hotspots like France’s Loire Valley and Bordeaux, New Zealand’s Marlborough region, California’s Sonoma Valley, Stellenbosch, South Africa, Casablanca Valley & Leyda Valley, Chile, and Adelaide Hills Australia.

We will finish it off with some tips on what food to pair with Sauvignon Blanc, whether or not Sauvignon Blanc should be aged, and what you should expect to pay for a bottle.

So, if you are ready to discover why Sauvignon Blanc is such a global favorite and find out which regions, winemaking style, and food pairings work best, then this episode is for you!

Types of wine grapes episodes

Chardonnay - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/guide-to-wine-podcast-episode-6

Cabernet Franc - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/guide-to-wine-podcast-episode-14

Chenin Blanc - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/guide-to-wine-podcast-episode-21

Riesling - https://www.corkandfizz.com/blog/guide-to-wine-podcast-episode-38

Barbera - Episode 45

Merlot - Episode 57

Best Italian Dessert Wines - Episode 101

Episode Highlights:

• Overview of Sauvignon Blanc
• Viticulture and grape characteristics
• Unique aromas and chemical compounds of Sauvignon Blanc
• Structure of Sauvignon Blanc
• Terroir factors affecting Sauvignon Blanc
• Winemaking styles and techniques of Sauvignon Blanc
• Notable Sauvignon Blanc regions and the

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - hailey@corkandfizz.com

Are you tired of feeling lost when choosing wine at a restaurant? Wish you had a sommelier’s secret to finding the perfect glass? Well, we are going to find out the one question Tyler Balliet swears by to uncover hidden gems on any wine list.

Today is part 2 of my chat with Tyler and we are diving into why understanding the story and culture behind each wine region is just as important as knowing the grape varieties or tasting notes. We’re also digging into lesser known wine regions like Michigan, Colorado and Nebraska.

And best of all, Tyler explains her genius wine team strategy that will help you get the best wine for your pallet and the best bargain for your budget. Plus, she shares an insider tip on the one question you should ask a sommelier if you want something delicious, different and usually pretty affordable.

So, if you are ready to step up your wine game, connect with stories and people behind the bottle and build your own wine team, then today’s episode is for you!

This is part 2 of my chat with Tyler. If you missed part one, head back to episode 102 where we talked about the inspiration behind Rebel School of Wine, what’s wrong with how wine is being taught and what wine is really about.

Connect with Tyler

Website: https://rebelschoolofwine.com/

Instagram: @tylerballiet

Instagram: @rebelschoolofwine

Resources

Go to rebelschoolofwine.com and use the promo code CORKANDFIZZ to get a signed copy of Tyler’s book and a free pack of wine stickers for only $30. That's $15 off.

Episode Highlights:

• The importance of cultural context in wine

• Exploring lesser-known wine region in the US

• Notable regions outside of the US

• Importance of supporting emerging wine regions to help them thrive

• How to build your wine team

• Insider questions for Sommeliers

• The secret question to ask a Sommelier

• How to discover unique, reasonably priced bottles of wine

What did you think of the episode? Text me!

Don't Forget to Download my Free Wine Tasting Guide! - https://www.corkandfizz.com/free-wine-tasting-guide

Have you Joined the Cork Crew?!

The Cork Crew Tasting Club is a community of people that enjoy drinking and learning about wine. It's like a book club...but with wine! Each month I’ll select two styles of wine for us to focus on. We’ll then have a virtual tasting party to explore those wines along with a community event to learn from professionals in the wine community.

Click the link below to get a FREE pass to attend a Cork Crew event of your choosing!

https://www.corkandfizz.com/freeclasspass

Connect with me:
Cork and Fizz - https://www.corkandfizz.com/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/corkandfizz/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/corkandfizz/
Email - hailey@corkandfizz.com