GuildSomm Podcast

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with two guests from Houston, Texas, to discuss the complexities of caviar.

Alayna Steinman is the COO and co-owner of Altima Caviar, a company focused on partnering with sustainable producers of high-quality caviar from all over the world that are transparent in their methods. Alayna worked for several Fortune 500 companies prior to joining Altima Caviar.

Austin Waiter is executive chef and partner at The Marigold Club in the Montrose neighborhood of Houston. The restaurant is inspired by the luxurious venues of Mayfair, one of London's most posh quarters, and features caviar in multiple ways on its menu.

Be sure to check out all the latest content on GuildSomm.com, with another release of our new series of maps, this time featuring Spain and Germany, as well as an article on the state of Chardonnay in Austria and Germany.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Maximilian Riedel, the current steward of RIEDEL The Wine Glass Company, to discuss the evolution of the wine glass, misconceptions around glass design, and the importance of decanting.

Maximilian is the 11th generation of the Austrian family that founded the glass company in 1756. He started training with his father, Georg, at the age of 12 to learn the craft of glass blowing, and he later developed the company's successful stemless line, the O Series.

Be sure to check out all the latest content onhttp://guildsomm.com/! Join us for our Virtual Symposium on October 21 and 22. We'll have a lineup of educators discussing a range of topics, and it'll be a great opportunity to network with your peers. All are welcome for this entirely virtual event! Tickets are just $39 for GuildSomm members. Learn more and sign up.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with two artisans of alternative aging vessels to explore what makes their preferred vessels special and how the resulting wines differ from those made with wood treatment.

Sebastián Zuccardi makes wines in the Uco Valley of Mendoza, Argentina, and has devoted his entire production to concrete. He has even taken the concept of terroir one step further by including the valley's alluvial soils as aggregate in the production of his concrete vessels.

Andrew Beckham is a classically trained potter. After falling for wine, he discovered the historical significance of clay vessels across multiple cultures, which led to the development of his own version. Dubbed Novum, Latin for "new beginning," his clay vessels are crafted in the Chehalem Mountain region of the Willamette Valley.

Be sure to check out all the latest content on GuildSomm.com! Join us for our Virtual Symposium on October 21 and 22. We'll have a lineup of educators discussing a multitude of topics, and it'll be a great opportunity to network with your peers. All are welcome for this entirely virtual event! Tickets are just $39 for GuildSomm members. Learn more and sign up.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Jackson Rohrbaugh joins GuildSomm's director of education, Chris Tanghe, to blind taste three neutral white wines. They discuss the evolution of typicity and the regions they are currently excited about and drinking themselves.

Jackson passed the Master Sommelier exam in 2017 while working at the iconic Seattle restaurant Canlis. In 2020, he founded Crunchy Red Fruit, an online wine club that has since expanded to include a brick-and-mortar shop tucked in the Cascade Mountains in Fall City, Washington.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Master of Wine Bree Stock about what's happening in Oregon, including Method Oregon, a peer-based organization setting the standard for traditional method sparkling wine throughout the state.

Be sure to check out all the latest content on GuildSomm.com! Yasha Lysenko wrote an excellent article on the Japanese wine industry, and Master of Wine Bryce Wiatrak shared an MW essay on how typicity plays a role in evaluating wine quality.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe discusses the new norms of the currently challenged wine economy with Thatcher Baker-Briggs of Thatcher's Wine, an import company and bottle shop based in California.

Thatcher has worked in multiple facets of the wine industry, including importing, distribution, private collector consulting, and restaurants, where he has served as the wine director for Michelin-starred establishments in Japan and California. Before following the sommelier path, Thatcher worked as a cook in Vancouver, BC, and San Francisco, where he was first exposed to the classic wines of the world.

Be sure to check out all the latest content on GuildSomm.com! We've released the first installment of our updated maps, developed in partnership with SommGeo, which break down key wine regions of the world in both outline and topographic styles. These will be especially helpful for visual learners and valuable for anyone studying or working in wine!

Thanks for listening. If you enjoyed this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, GuildSomm educator and contributor MS Jonathan Eichholz joins GuildSomm's director of education, Chris Tanghe, to discuss vintages. They talk about their approach to studying vintages, how to navigate the nuances beyond general scores, and some of their less-lauded favorites.

Jonathan is based in New York City and passed his Master Sommelier exam in 2023. In addition to his GuildSomm work, he is a host and co-producer for VICE's Munchies: The Wine Show and is planning to open the restaurant After Gold in the near future.

Don't miss the Vintages section on GuildSomm for vintage cards and vintage decade graphics for key regions all around the world.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Advanced Sommelier Alisha Blackwell-Calvert joins GuildSomm's director of education, Chris Tanghe, to blind taste three high-acid white wines. They discuss the differences between lees and oak aging as well as the evolution of typicity in classic winemaking regions.

Alisha is based in St. Louis and is currently the wine director for Madrina. She previously worked at Cinder House in the Four Seasons Hotel and was a James Beard semi-finalist for Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service in 2025. She judges for the Decanter World Wine Awards and serves as a mentor for the Bâtonnage Mentorship Program.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Holly Robinson on building a spirits brand. Holly worked in restaurants before cofounding Seattle-based Captive Spirits in 2011 with partner Ben Capdevielle. Together they developed Big Gin, a London Dry style that has won many awards since its inception, then expanded their bottlings to include Bourbon Barreled Big Gin and Peat Barreled Big Gin. In 2016, Hood River Distillers acquired the brand.

Holly next launched Fast Penny Spirits, an American Amaro lineup also produced in Seattle with business partner Jamie Hunt. Dubbed Amaricano, it uses Pacific Northwest ingredients while paying homage to Jamie's Sicilian roots.

Today, Holly consults for numerous PNW companies with her latest company, Fathom 35, and owns Sunny Hill restaurant in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews winemaker Santiago Deicas of Bodega Familia Deicas to explore the wines of Uruguay, one of South America's most exciting winemaking countries. Santiago lays the foundation for understanding the climate, geography, varieties, and viticultural specifics of this Atlantic-influenced growing area.

Santiago is the third-generation winemaker at Familia Deicas, his family's fine wine label. His family also makes wine under the Establecimiento Juanicó label. Santiago was named Young Winemaker of the Year by Tim Atkin in 2020.

Learn more about Familia Deicas: https://www.familiadeicas.com/en/history/

Read our South America Study Guide: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/study/w/study-wiki/206/south-america

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Master Sommelier Douglas Kim about managing beverage programs for multiple outlets, each with its own team. Douglas is the executive director of wine for MGM Resorts International and is based in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Douglas started his career in the kitchen and graduated from the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York, where he was first exposed to the world of wine. He has worked in iconic restaurants including Restaurant Charlie by Charlie Trotter, Aureole Las Vegas by Charlie Palmer, and Picasso at Bellagio. Through his role at Picasso, he earned the opportunity to work for MGM as the executive director of wine for the entire company. He became a Master Sommelier in 2018.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Myles Trapp joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three red wines, identifying quality tiers within the Pinot Noir category. Chris and Myles also discuss how they focused their studies to accelerate their blind tasting skills.

Myles currently works on partnerships and experience development for the Tastefuli app, a mobile platform designed to help travelers discover and book curated wine country experiences. His initial sommelier training was in France, and he built his career in restaurants and education before passing the Master Sommelier exam in 2024.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Master of Wine Melissa Saunders about progressive wine packaging. They discuss the use of bag-in-box (BIB) packaging for fine wine, dispelling the stereotype that these containers are only for cheap beverages.

For Melissa's Master of Wine Research Paper, the final part of the certification process, she studied alternative wine packaging. What she learned while writing it was so compelling that she founded Communal Brands, a bag-in-box import company that partners with high-quality producers to bring great wine to consumers with a drastically reduced carbon footprint.

Melissa lives in upstate New York, runs marathons, and is an attorney specializing in alcohol beverage law.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

Read Melissa's 2021 GuildSomm article about her MW Research Paper process and findings: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/mw-perspectives/b/mw-perspectives/posts/environmental-impacts-of-packaging-retail

Learn more about Communal Brands: https://www.communalbrands.com/

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Maddy Jimerson joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three white wines. Before the tasting, she explains how she elevated her tasting game to prepare for various levels of certification.

Maddy is the wine director for the restaurant Casa Tua in Aspen, Colorado, and cofounder of Winomad Productions, which makes short films about the regions of Italy. She found her passion for Italian wine while working as a brand ambassador in the Bay Area, representing iconic Piedmontese wineries. Maddy passed her Master Sommelier Exam in 2022.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, we chat with Kevin Smith and Nelson Daquip of Beast & Cleaver in Seattle about beef, butchery, and non-classic wine pairings.

Kevin Smith is originally from London, where he discovered the joy of cooking early in life. He found his way to butchery and in 2019 opened Beast & Cleaver with his wife, Polly. Their latest venture is Little Beast, which is focused on traditional London pub fare, using the whole animal. Kevin was a James Beard nominee for Best Emerging Chef in 2023.

Nelson Daquip moved to Seattle from Hawaii and fell into wine while working at Seattle's iconic Canlis restaurant, where he worked his way up from food runner to wine director. He joined the Beast & Cleaver team last year to curate service and beverage for both Beast & Cleaver and Little Beast.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In this episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, newly minted Master Sommelier David Reuss joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three red wines. Before David starts tasting, they discuss the experience of passing the exam, the preparation and best practices that helped David reach that milestone, and what he plans to do next.

David is the national education director for Jackson Family Wines. He previously worked in some of Colorado's best restaurants, including Frasca Food and Wine in Boulder and Shanahan's Steakhouse in Denver. David passed the Master Sommelier Exam in fall of 2025.

Listen in and guess the wines along with David!

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

In the latest episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommeliers Chris Tanghe and Jonathan Eichholz reflect on the past year in wine. They cover the trends, major events, challenges, and highlights of 2025 and look ahead to 2026.

Jonathan lives and works in New York City. As an educator for GuildSomm, he maintains the Wine Law Compendium, teaches on a range of subjects, and supports the development of new content. Previously, Jonathan worked at The Modern. Chris is based in Seattle. He is GuildSomm's director of education and the host of GuildSomm: Into the Glass. Chris spent years working in restaurants across the country and has spearheaded GuildSomm's seminars since 2016, teaching classes throughout the US and internationally.

Thank you to all of our listeners for the amazing support of the show in 2025! We'll be working hard to bring you more fun and educational podcasts next year. Happy holidays!

In this episode, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe interviews Master of Wine Natasha Hughes about the modern winemaking landscape in Beaujolais. Tune in to hear them discuss winemaking techniques, generational turnover, stylistic shifts, and more.

Natasha passed her Master of Wine exam in 2014 and writes for Decanter, World of Fine Wine, Jancis Robinson, Imbibe, and other publications. Her new book on Beaujolais was published this fall by Académie du Vin Library.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please leave us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

Read the latest article on GuildSomm, Natasha's in-depth explanation of winemaking techniques in Beaujolais, excerpted from her new book: https://www.guildsomm.com/public_content/features/articles/b/natasha-hughes-mw/posts/winemaking-complexities-beaujolais

GuildSomm members receive a discount on Académie du Vin Library books: https://www.guildsomm.com/about_us/member-discounts/

This week on GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Jesse Becker joins host MS Chris Tanghe to blind taste three red wines. Before he starts tasting, Jesse discusses his career and tasting journeys, including the challenges he faced as he was honing his blind tasting skills prior to passing the Master Sommelier exam. Jesse is the US sales manager for Veritable Wines & Estates, an importer of premium German and Austrian wines, and brand owner at ROCKWERK Grüner Veltliner. Over the last two decades, he has worked in nearly every facet of the wine and hospitality industries.

Listen in and guess the wines along with Jesse!

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

Check out our tasting study guide to brush up on the basics of tasting: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/study/w/study-wiki/2683/tasting

Discover more tasting resources: https://www.guildsomm.com/learn/blind-tasting/

Learn more about ROCKWERK Grüner Veltliner: https://veritable-usa.com/rockwerkwine

In our latest podcast, host and Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with David Pearson of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. They discuss the history of the winery, its role in Napa Valley's development, and the origins and future of the brand's flagship wine, Insignia.

David is the executive chairman of Joseph Phelps Vineyards. Prior to this role, he served as the CEO of Opus One for 16 years. He has also held leadership roles at Robert Mondavi and Meadowood Estate. David has a BS in fermentation science and enology from UC Davis and an MBA in international business from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.

Thanks for listening. If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving us a review, as it helps us connect and grow the GuildSomm community. Cheers!

Learn more about Joseph Phelps Vineyards: https://www.josephphelps.com/

Read our Joseph Phelps Producer Profile: https://www.guildsomm.com/research/wiki/ca/i/cabernet/joseph_phelps