The Sommelier TFOCB Studios

Dive into the zestful world of Julie Geils, the mastermind behind Bellissimo Chicago. Tune into 'The Sommelier' on #tfocb to uncover how a love for Italian culture transformed into a brand that's all about celebrating life's special moments.
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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.