San Francisco Wine School Blog

Check out articles about San Francisco Wine School and read our latest press releases

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Kermit Lynch

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Kermit Lynch

Kermit Lynch is one of the most well-known and earliest importers of French wines into the US. He is also the author of Adventures on the Wine Route which was recently re-released.

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Martine Saunier

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Martine Saunier

As an expatriate Frenchwoman many years back, why set yourself up as an importer in the US? When I came here in 1964 I started drinking California wines such as Beaulieu, Italian Swiss Colony, and ...

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Clark Smith

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Clark Smith

Clark Smith is one of the friendly curmudgeons of the winemaking scene. The technical consultant, teacher, and speaker makes wines himself while challenging preconceptions of commonly-applied techn...

Get to Know ‘Somm Essentials’

Get to Know ‘Somm Essentials’

Somm Essentials is a 2-week intensive program developed by Master Sommelier David Glancy to provide broad knowledge across multiple beverage categories for students starting out in the food & b...

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Mel Master

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Mel Master

Mel Master’s illustrious wine career began when he and his wife Janey ensconced themselves in Spain’s Sanlucar de Barrameda. She befriended a mule, Tommy, while Mel became entranced with the local ...

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Andrew Jefford, Part 2

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Andrew Jefford, Part 2

How is wine best distinguished between being a commodity product or an artisan’s creation? The key is consistency and predictability.

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Andrew Jefford

Insider Interviews by David Furer – Presenting Andrew Jefford

First venturing into writing of wine with a 1988 book on Port, Andrew Jefford grew into one of the world’s most skilled and hailed communicator of it along with noted tangents into whiskey, tea, an...

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Meridith May

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Meridith May

In 2007 Meridith May had been serving as publisher/editor of California-based veteran Paterson’s Beverage Journal with Anthony Dias Blue, its ongoing columnist, when the two bought the name ‘Paters...

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Gerard Basset

Insider Interviews by David Furer - Presenting Gerard Basset

France’s bi-ennial Vinisud exhibition allowed me to watch Gérard Basset presenting a range of Mediterranean wines with fellow World Champion Sommelier Paolo Basso. Most of Basset’s working hours ar...

9 Easy Ways to Improve Your Wine IQ in San Francisco

9 Easy Ways to Improve Your Wine IQ in San Francisco

If you want to learn about wine in San Francisco, take advantage of the many resources at your fingertips, plus the miles of wine country just a short drive away. Here are some tips from San Franci...

My Experience at the San Francisco Wine School

My Experience at the San Francisco Wine School

California Wine Appellation Specialist ® Class 1: US/CA Wine Law and Mendocino County. The evening kicked off with a taste of Roederer Estate Brut Rose NV.

Why Study California Wine?

Why Study California Wine?

Have you tasted that amazing 98-point Cabernet from NextNewWinery? It was featured in Wine Speculator and Bob Park’s Wine No-Advertising.

Wine Service Exams vs. the Real World

Wine Service Exams vs. the Real World I am constantly being asked for tips to prepare for the Court of Master Sommeliers’ exams. Everyone is terrified by the blind tasting exams, and the studying ...

Why Learn How To Blind Taste Wine?

Why Learn How To Blind Taste Wine?

Why Teach Blind Wine Tasting? The Court of Master Sommeliers tests blind tasting ability at the 2nd-4th levels of their exams as does Wine & Spirits Education Trust. The Society of Wine Educat...

Teaching Styles in Wine Education – So What?

Teaching Styles in Wine Education – So What? While all wine educators share a common goal, to convey information and assist in the learning process, each does so with a unique style. Wine education...

Antonio Galloni of The Wine Advocate on Wine Critics and Champagne

Antonio Galloni of The Wine Advocate on Wine Critics and Champagne At the recent Symposium for Professional Wine Writers, Fred Swan had the opportunity to talk quite a bit with Antonio Galloni of T...