ASI: A Sommelier's Insight

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Welcome to "A Sommelier's Insight," the podcast that decants the world of wine, service and other beverages, brought to you by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, in partnership with ASI Magazine. Here, we uncork the secrets of the trade, offering a rare blend of stories, expertise, and passion directly from the lips of the world's leading sommeliers and distinguished guests. Each episode we provide listeners with insider knowledge on hospitality and sommellerie.Join us as we traverse vineyards, explore the bustling backrooms of the world's finest restaurants, and dive into the cellars where history is bottled. "A Sommelier's Insight" is not just about the wine; it's about the stories behind the label, the evolution of taste, and the art and science of hospitality. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious enthusiast, this podcast will enrich your understanding and spark your passion for the world of wine and beyond. Let's raise our glasses to the journey ahead. Welcome to "A Sommelier's Insight". hosted by ASI Magazine Editor, Mark DeWolf.

  1. MAR 29

    A Discussion on the Evolution of Education with GuildSomm's Jenny Hemmer

    Wine education is in the midst of a quiet, but profound, transformation. Once centred around a small number of traditional institutions and geographic hubs, learning today is increasingly global, digital, and shaped as much by access and communication as by encyclopaedic knowledge. Excellence in the beverage professions is no longer defined solely by what we know, but by how we interpret, translate, and share that knowledge with others.Few organisations have witnessed, and helped drive, this evolution as closely as GuildSomm. What began as a focused study resource for aspiring sommeliers has grown into one of the most influential educational platforms serving wine and beverage professionals worldwide, connecting learners across continents, cultures, and every stage of their careers. A recent survey of GuildSomm members revealed that 68 per cent are either currently studying or planning to pursue a wine or beverage certification, spanning a wide range of programmes, including ASI certifications. The results point to a more diverse, flexible educational landscape; one that reflects different learning styles, career paths, and professional ambitions. In this episode of A Sommelier’s Insight, the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale’s podcast, we are joined by Jenny Hemmer, Executive Director of GuildSomm. Together, we explore how wine education is changing, where global growth and enthusiasm are emerging, and how access, affordability, and interpretation are reshaping the future of our profession. This is a conversation not just about where wine education has been, but also where it’s going.

    31 min

  2. MAR 29

    Douro: Somm Camp: Symington Family Estate's Immersive Learning Programme

    In this episode of A Sommelier's Insight, we sit down with Harry Symington Symington Family Estates and Maria Boumpa, reigning UK Sommelier of the Year, to explore the vision behind, and the outcomes of Symington Family Estates' immersive learning programme known as Douro Somm Camp.  For generations, the Symington family has been at the heart of Portugal’s wine story, stewarding iconic Port houses and championing the Douro’s transformation into one of the world’s most dynamic fine wine regions. Initially through their online School of Port programme and now via Douro Somm Camp, an initiative designed to deepen knowledge of the Douro Valley, its wines, and the people who shape them via immersive learning, the family is opening the doors of their vineyards, wineries, and historic lodges to sommeliers and wine professionals eager to understand the region from the inside out.Harry and Maria discuss how the programme blends viticulture, winemaking, gastronomy, sustainability, and Douro culture into an experience that goes far beyond a traditional winery visit. Participants spend time in the vineyards, taste across the family’s estates, and engage directly with the teams responsible for crafting some of Portugal’s most celebrated wines.We also explore the broader question of how immersive, place-based education is shaping the next generation of sommeliers, and why the Douro, with its dramatic landscapes, indigenous grape varieties, and centuries-old traditions, offers one of the most compelling classrooms in the wine world.For anyone passionate about Portuguese wine, sommelier education, or the future of wine storytelling, this conversation offers a fascinating glimpse into how the industry is investing in deeper knowledge and connection.Listen in as we journey into the Douro with Harry Symington and Maria Boumpa.

    29 min

  3. MAR 29

    A Passion for Knowledge with Benjamin Hasko MS MW

    Welcome back to A Sommelier’s Insight, a podcast produced for the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale in conjunction with ASI Magazine. In a profession built on curiosity, discipline and constant evolution, there are few qualities more essential than a genuine passion for knowledge. Not just the accumulation of facts, but the desire to understand, to question and to connect ideas across cultures, regions and disciplines. Today’s episode, Passion for Knowledge, explores exactly that mindset. Our guest is Benjamin Hasko, one of the rare individuals to hold both the titles of Master Sommelier and Master of Wine. His journey offers a unique perspective on what it means to pursue excellence across both the practical world of service and the academic rigour of the global wine trade. In this conversation, we look beyond titles and exams to something more fundamental. What drives someone to keep learning at the highest level? How does knowledge translate into better hospitality? And in an era where information is everywhere, what truly matters for the modern sommelier? This is a discussion about discipline, humility and the lifelong pursuit of understanding. Here is our conversation with Benjamin Hasko.

    33 min

  4. MAR 24

    Twin Peaks of Wine Education: A Conversation with Doug Frost MS MW

    In the world of wine, few achievements carry the weight and mystique of Master Sommelier and Master of Wine. They are often seen as the twin peaks of the profession, each demanding a different kind of mastery: one rooted in service, precision and performance under pressure; the other in deep academic rigour, analysis and global perspective. Very few have stood atop both.Doug Frost is one of just five of them. In this episode of A Sommelier’s Insight, we sit down with Doug Frost MS, MW,  for a candid and thoughtful exploration of what it truly means to pursue excellence in wine. Drawing on decades of experience across hospitality, education and the global wine trade, Doug reflects on the distinct paths of the MS and MW, what they demand of candidates, and how they shape the professionals who earn them. We explore the realities behind the prestige: the discipline required, the sacrifices made, and the often misunderstood value of certification in today’s evolving wine landscape.Doug also offers a grounded perspective on how sommeliers and wine professionals should think about education today. This is not just a conversation about titles. It’s a conversation about purpose, perspective, and the unrelenting journey to learn more. Whether you are studying for exams, working the floor, or simply passionate about the craft, this episode offers rare insight from one of the most accomplished and thoughtful voices in the profession.

    29 min
  5. Discussing the Future of Vinho Verde with Dirceu Vianna Junior, Master of Wine

    11/24/2025

    Discussing the Future of Vinho Verde with Dirceu Vianna Junior, Master of Wine

    In this episode of A Sommelier’s Insight, where we explore the ideas, regions, and personalities shaping today’s global wine conversation, ASI Magazine Editor and A Sommelier's Insight host Mark DeWolf sits down with an influential voice in modern wine education: Dirceu Vianna Junior MW. Dirceu is the first Brazilian Master of Wine, a respected educator, author, international judge, and consultant whose career has spanned more than three decades across continents. Based in London, Dirceu brings a uniquely global perspective to the evolving landscape of Portuguese wine. In this episode we turn our attention to Vinho Verde a region long associated with light, spritzy whites, but now increasingly recognised for its depth, diversity, and terroir-driven precision. Through a thought-provoking and wide-ranging conversation, Mark and Dirceu explore the region’s identity, the rise of single-varietal wines, the push for sub-regional clarity, its value perception, ageing potential, and where Vinho Verde sits on the world stage of benchmark white wines.Whether you’re a sommelier, a student of wine, or simply a curious listener, this discussion offers an insider’s look at the opportunities and challenges shaping Vinho Verde’s next decade.

    38 min
  6. The ASI Gold Standard with Léonard Lievin

    10/22/2025

    The ASI Gold Standard with Léonard Lievin

    In the world of wine, education is often the unseen thread that weaves a sommelier’s career together. For Léonard Lievin, that thread runs deep and wide, spanning continents, languages, and multiple certification bodies. From the vineyards of Alsace to the fine dining rooms of Montréal and London, Lievin’s journey is one marked not only by constant self-improvement but by a quietly relentless passion for the craft. Most recently, Léonard achieved ASI Diploma Gold status, recognizing him amongst a select group of sommeliers who have achieved this designation. In this episode of A Sommelier's Insight host Mark DeWolf asks Léonard about his educational and professional journey in the world of sommellerie.

    38 min
  7. In Pursuit of Knowledge with Cokie Ponikvar

    10/22/2025

    In Pursuit of Knowledge with Cokie Ponikvar

    At just 24, Ontario-based Cokie Ponikvar, a former floor sommelier at the Four Seasons in Toronto, is currently pursuing both the Master of Wine and Master Sommelier designation. Along the way she has built a vast global audience with Cokie’s World of Wine which has close to a half million followers, earned the IWSC Emerging Talent in Wine Communications award, and become a standard bearer for joyful, rigorous wine education. In this conversation, Cokie shares what drives her study habit, why excitement is not the enemy of professionalism, and how to make learning feel like discovery. When asked about the moment wine, sommellerie became a career aspiration she says, “I was super academic growing up,” she begins, laughing at the memory of a teenager who did extra reading for fun. “I did not think I would end up in hospitality. What drew me to wine was the academic side of it, and honestly that is still what keeps me engaged now.” Discover in this interview with ASI Magazine editor and A Sommelier's Insight podcast host Mark DeWolf what drives Cokie to constantly push herself to be better and achieve more in the field of wine and hospitality.

    38 min
  8. Returning Home to Portugal with Marc Pinto

    08/20/2025

    Returning Home to Portugal with Marc Pinto

    In this episode of A Sommelier’s Insight, we welcome Marc Pinto, one of Portugal’s most accomplished sommeliers, to share the story of his remarkable journey. After years of honing his craft across international stages, from Michelin-starred dining rooms to prestigious competitions, Marc has returned home to Portugal. His decision to come back is not just about geography—it’s about reconnecting with the country’s rich viticultural heritage, rediscovering the depth of its indigenous grapes, and contributing to the evolving identity of Portuguese wine on the global stage. Join us as Marc reflects on what he learned abroad, how those experiences shape his perspective today, and why Portugal remains not only a place of origin but also of innovation and inspiration.

    1h 9m
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About

Welcome to "A Sommelier's Insight," the podcast that decants the world of wine, service and other beverages, brought to you by the Association de la Sommellerie Internationale, in partnership with ASI Magazine. Here, we uncork the secrets of the trade, offering a rare blend of stories, expertise, and passion directly from the lips of the world's leading sommeliers and distinguished guests. Each episode we provide listeners with insider knowledge on hospitality and sommellerie.Join us as we traverse vineyards, explore the bustling backrooms of the world's finest restaurants, and dive into the cellars where history is bottled. "A Sommelier's Insight" is not just about the wine; it's about the stories behind the label, the evolution of taste, and the art and science of hospitality. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a curious enthusiast, this podcast will enrich your understanding and spark your passion for the world of wine and beyond. Let's raise our glasses to the journey ahead. Welcome to "A Sommelier's Insight". hosted by ASI Magazine Editor, Mark DeWolf.

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