GuildSomm

Hey, Bo Young! Confirming that a study by Roach, Bourneman, and Schmidt proves their slight differences. The Guide is updated to reflect that. Thanks! "Genetic analysis of the Australian clone Gingin, the American clone OF Chard and the Argentinian clone Mendoza suggests that all three grapevine clones share a recent common progenitor. Furthermore, the genetic relationships are consistent with Gingin being an early selection of the UC Davis clone Chardonnay-1.

Contents Introduction to Australia Wine Australia: The Label Integrity Program and Geographical Indications Technology in Viticulture and Winemaking South Australia New South Wales Victoria Western Australia Tasmania Queensland Introduction to Australia In 1788 Captain Arthur Phillip landed the First Fleet, eleven ships whose passengers included British soldiers, convicts, and a few free settlers, along the coastline of Botany Bay, just eight miles south of the modern-day Sydney Central...

Understand the origins of key soil types for grapegrowing in this short video by GuildSomm International. See how soils are grouped by their parent material—igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic—with examples of each from around the world. Production by If So Studios

We have a new video short highlighting the origins of key soil types. See how soils are grouped by their parent material—igneous, sedimentary, or metamorphic—with examples of each one. Check it out on YouTube, on Vimeo, or here on our site! And don't miss our accompanying infographic, with even more on soil origins and descriptors, now available in our Viticulture Expert Guide! Thanks to our partner If So Studio for developing this video.

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.

The writer Herman Melville once said, “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” While this aphorism applies to many facets of life, originality is, curiously, less valued in the world of wine. Instead, typicity—the degree to which a wine adheres to the profile and expectations of its site, grape variety or varieties, vinification practices, and even vintage—is a more common discussion point in the assessment of quality or the essential aesthetic merits of a wine.

We are thrilled to release the first installment of our new maps, developed in partnership with Greg Van Wagner of SommGeo! This initial set of maps features 26 key wine regions around the world. For every region covered, we have both a topographic and an outline map. Stay tuned—more maps are coming soon! These maps are a result of your feedback, so be sure to tell us what you think and which regions we should prioritize in the next installment.

Look beyond Provence’s bustling rosé scene, and you will find a range of other wines and drinks hiding behind it. Are they new—or are they part of a diverse and historic tradition? Monastic herb-infused liqueurs, cooked-must vin cuit, big reds, light reds, fresh whites, aged marc, homemade vin de noix and vin d’orange (wine infused with walnuts and oranges, respectively): Provence has it all, closely kept secrets for local consumption. Tourism contributes significantly to Provence’s appeal.

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.

The latest update to our Compendium is the addition of Chardonnay Rosé in the Champagne section. Chardonnay Rosé, born around 1900 as a mutation of Chardonnay in Champagne and Burgundy, has slightly pink skins, retains acidity, and has slightly more flavor than Chardonnay. It was allowed for propagation in France in 2018 and is now allowed in the wines of Champagne AOC. Find it in the Champagne section of the Compendium!