The Sommelier

Dive into the rich journey of Gianmaria Rizzo, the man who brings the heart of Italy to our glasses!

From vineyards in Italy to the bustling streets of the Midwest, discover the story behind the finest imported wines and the changing palates of America.

Pour a glass, tune in, and let's toast to tales of tradition and innovation!

#tfocb #podcast #WineWhispers #ItalianSoul #WineJourney #FromVineToGlass #MoreThanGrapes #WineWisdom #PassionPoured #GlobalTaste #SommelierStories

Dive into the world of wines with Marsha Wright, the brain behind the finest wine selections at DineAmic Hospitality.

From her corporate roots to becoming an ambassador for the Spanish House of Lustau, sip through her captivating journey.

Kristy Wenz is a multifaceted individual who wears many hats, including wine educator, writer, vineyard worker, and freelancer. In this episode, she shared her journey into the wine industry, which began with a chance bathroom break at a winery in Temecula, California.

Kristy was not initially interested in wine, but the experience of touring the winery and learning about the production process sparked her interest. She and her husband went on to visit wineries in over 28 states and became avid wine lovers.

Kristy's love for wine eventually led her to become a wine educator, sharing her knowledge and passion with others. In addition to her work in the wine industry, Kristy is also a writer and has built a large following on social media through her writing about wine. She is also a freelancer and works with a vineyard.

Kristy's unique path into the wine industry is a testament to the power of chance encounters and how they can shape our interests and careers.

It also highlights the importance of staying open to new experiences and being willing to try something new, even if it is outside of our comfort zone.

Kristy's story is one of curiosity, passion, and a willingness to take risks, and it serves as inspiration for anyone looking to pursue their dreams.

Evie is a Sommelier with Nisos Mediterranean in Chicago’s West Loop. She started her career as a dancer for the Minnesota Timberwolves, eventually moving into sports broadcasting. However, she didn't want to solely focus on sports and decided to explore other passions. This led her to a gig hosting a wine and spirits segment, despite initially knowing nothing about wine. 

In order to become more knowledgeable about her subject matter, Evie took a course through the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (W SET). She found the course to be fascinating and ended up becoming hooked on learning about wine. 

The W SET program focuses on the academic aspects of wine, including viticulture and vinification, and requires its students to complete essays and other coursework. 

Overall, Evie's journey highlights the importance of exploring one's passions and the reward of continuing to learn and grow.

Evie is now a level four sommelier studying to become a Master of Wine.  Her journey as a sommelier has been driven by her passion for wine and her desire to bring more diversity to the industry.

If accepted, she’d be the first black female to be accepted into the Master of Wine program. As she’s encountered many challenges as a black woman in this field, she’s also built a strong community of supportive female wine professionals.

Through her work with Nisos and her own journey as a sommelier, Evie is helping to break down barriers and promote diversity in the world of wine.

As she’s encountered many challenges as a black woman in this field, she’s also built a strong community of supportive female wine professionals.

Through her work with Misos and her own journey as a sommelier, Evie is helping to break down barriers and promote diversity in the world of wine.

Alexandra Thomas, Sommelier for Adalina in Chicago, joins us to reflect on her multifaceted upbringing, split between Chicago and rural Wisconsin and her journey into the world of wine. 

She shares how her family had a house in Wisconsin where they spent their summers and every large break from school. While in college in Iowa, Alexandra would be introduced to wine working for an Italian family, and also meet a sommelier for the first time.

“After I got really into wine, my boss at the time, who owned the wine  store I was in, said  ‘You should start doing your levels. I was like ‘What are you talking about?’ 

I had no idea about this world. I had no idea about whatever it was. Then I just knew I just needed to go back home, because that's where the hospitality mecca of the country is.”

Alexandra, discusses the technical and personal aspects of being a sommelier. She touches on the importance of understanding varietal percentages and being able to interpret and educate others on their palates. She emphasizes the importance of being approachable and listening to guests, rather than pushing certain products or prices. 

“You really do have to teach, be patient and be kind. A lot of sommeliers are very impatient and not the most kind, because they're thinking on a process level. 

It's like mathematicians that don't have time to teach you algebra, but some of the greats can teach you algebra in a way that you can understand it. That's the technical versus personal.”

Alexandra reflects on the challenges of working in the wine industry, including long hours and working holidays and weekends, and the physical toll it can take on a person. she also highlights the personal fulfillment and passion that can come from cultivating a love of wine in guests and encouraging their exploration.

Tune in to hear more on how Alexandra fell in love with wine and the community that surrounds it on this episode of The Sommelier Podcast.

Regine T. Rousseau, wine and spirits expert, writer, presenter, and media personality, focuses on making wine knowledge accessible to people at all levels of proficiency.

She is the nominee of 2020 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards, Wine Educator of the Year, an International Sommelier Guild Level II, and Executive Bourbon Steward, Stave and Thief. Regine has traveled around the globe sharing her wine and spirits expertise.

She has authored or been featured in articles in the New Yorker, Wine Enthusiast, Black Enterprise, Black Food and Beverage, Wine Spectator, the Zoe Report, Forbes and Chicago Tribune. She is the author of Searching for Cloves and Lilies, The Wine Edition. She is a blogger on reginerousseaum.com and shallwewine.com, has served as subject matter expert for VinePair, has been interviewed on You & Me Chicago, WGN Chicago, Windy City Live, and Great Day Washington.

Throughout time, wine has been viewed as a sacred elixir. Even today, most people invited to a friend’s home will choose wine as their gift of choice. Not only is it delicious and pairs well with a variety of foods, it’s often used to bring together people from all backgrounds to celebrate life.

Molly Matelski, co-founder of Mmmm...Just Enjoy. Wines, wanted to create a wine brand that went beyond the drink itself; she wanted her brand to promote the lifestyle of the everyday wine drinker.  

The launch only being in the last couple of months, Mmmm...Just Enjoy. Wines has already seen amazing success. 

“We are unpretentious, inviting and colorful Italian wines, making life's moments effortlessly enjoyable. We really wanted to break away from that traditional thought of what Italian wines are and the wine industry as a whole. We really wanted to be fun and inviting.”

While the launch is recent, Molly and her business partner have been building this brand throughout the pandemic. Working with Italian producers during a pandemic had it’s challenges but they wanted to take their time to make sure they got it right. It’s not just about great quality for them, they’re on a mission to inspire people to enjoy the moment and embrace the Italian approach to life. 

At the moment , their portfolio consists of a Pinot Grigio, a Prosecco, and a Rosé. They’re planning on launching a Prosecco Rosé very soon. All of their wines are from the Northeast of Italy about an hour away from Venice. 

“They're fairly dry, but they're fruit forward and just to touch a sweetness. So it satisfies a lot of pallets.”

Before they launched, they predicted that some of the people that would resonate with their brand are the people who enjoy various types of art. 

“We are working with DJs as well as a Chicago Blues artist and that kind of thing to bring experiences outside of the wine.”

Being a local brand has helped them tap into the market in a big way. Molly talks about how at the pop up events where they’ve had tastings, as soon as she tells people they’re from Chicago people immediately say they have to try it.

“I do really appreciate  that aspect of Chicago. You really get the sense that people really want to support each other and they really value the hustle.“

Tune in to this episode of The Sommelier Podcast as Molly shares more about the challenges she has faced, lessons she’s learned, and the ways in which she’s redefining Italian wines.