News
NEW on GuildSomm: Australia's Secret Treasures, SOMM World Premiere and more...
August 03, 2012
The dog days of summer are officially here, so you'd be wise to stay inside and read/study/discuss with us online! Here's what we're talking about this month on GuildSomm.com:
New features:
"So, I hear you ask, grinding your teeth in frustration, what do the 100-year-old (and older) wines smell and taste like?" Australian wine writer extraordinaire James Halliday dives into "Australia's Secret Treasures"—the revered dessert wines of the country—as well as discusses its most upcoming regions... and his opinion on screwcaps.
"Springtime for a viticulturist is like fighting a war, or like surfing a huge wave, depending on whether you’re a man-against-nature type or you tend to eat mushrooms and marvel at its magnificence." Vineyard manager Steve Matthiasson offers us his second, invaluable "Year in the Vineyard" piece, outlining the "million things going on at once" in the Spring.
NEW Staff Training Modules - The latest module posted as part of our new project is Burgundy! These downloadable and printable documents are freely available for Guild members to use, with the aim of providing high-quality content that wine directors and restaurant managers can use for staff training. In addition to Burgundy, we've posted modules for Alsace, Champagne and the Rhône Valley. Your feedback is welcomed!
Enrichment and Scholarship opportunities:
Australia Master Classes - Matt Stamp MS, Tim Gaiser MS and Andrew McNamara MS with Wines of Australia's Mark Davidson will host a tasting of the country's top wines, from benchmark classics like Penfolds' "Grange" and Tyrrell's "Vat 1" to paradigm-changing wines from boutique producers like Luke Lambert and Jeffrey Grosset. Register online soon, as seats are almost all sold out in each city!
Also note that our News & Events page has been updated to show all of the upcoming tastings and classes. If you missed our Germany Master Class, you can also view the full PowerPoint presentation from this page.
TONG Wine Publication Discount - The Guild has worked out a discount for our membership for this outstanding, academic quarterly wine publication. We've also posted a free PDF of the full Champagne issue so you can get a preview before you purchase.
New discussion topics:
SOMM World Premiere - We're very excited that SOMM will be featured as the opening documentary at the Napa Valley Film Festival. Filmed in six countries over two years, SOMM follows four sommeliers as they prepare for their Master Sommelier exam.
Beverage Program Consistency - Our latest Topic of the Week brings up questions about obscurity versus familiarity on a beverage list, programs that focus on one aspect yet ignore another, and the level of staff training needed to successfully run varying types of programs. What's your take?
Podcasts - Our latest podcast hosts Masters Geoff Kruth and Matt Stamp as they discuss studying wine theory.
As a final note, we want to extend a genuine THANK YOU to all our members for contributing to our community and supporting each other through our professional network. See you online soon!
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Guild of Sommeliers
www.guildsomm.com
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