San Francisco Wine School Blog

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

Press Release – New Certified Specialist of Wine Program

Press Release – New Certified Specialist of Wine Program San Francisco, CA, January 17, 2013- The San Francisco Wine School now offers a comprehensive preparation course for the prestigious Certifi...

TTB Approves 4 More Chateauneuf-du-Pape Varieties in USA

TTB Approves 4 More Chateauneuf-du-Pape Varieties in USA Fourteen grape varieties may be used in Chateauneuf-du-Pape.1 Many of them are bit players, used to add traces of spice or color or acidity,...

The Impact of Bottle Size on Wine Aging

The Impact of Bottle Size on Wine Aging Conventional wisdom says magnums of wine develop more slowly than 750ml bottles. The smaller the bottle, the more rapid aging is assumed to occur. We rarely ...

A Year in Burgundy

A Year in BurgundyIn the past few years there have been many wine movies out there that have missed the mark, but every now and then one “wows” me.  I think that wine being such a detailed and seem...

Sommelier Opening Wax Sealed Wine (Video)

Sommelier Opening Wax Sealed Wine (Video) This is a follow-up to our last blog about wax seals and my video is at the end. Most wines have corks with metal or plastic capsules over them and screw ...

Restaurant Service of Wax Sealed Wine Bottles

Restaurant Service of Wax Sealed Wine Bottles A small number of wines around the world are bottled with a wax seal over the cork. Some beers, meads and spirits are sealed this way, as well. There a...

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...

Hoping for Heat After Cold, Wet Start to 2012 in the Loire Valley

Hoping for Heat After Cold, Wet Start to 2012 in the Loire Valley  Residing in France for the past four months has been an amazing, enlightening experience. Plenty of traveling, both in and out of ...

Selling Wine to Sommeliers

Selling Wine to Sommeliers

When thinking about selling wine to restaurants, try to remember who the customer is. In any sales position, good service goes a long way.

Malbec Wine Grape Profile

Grape Variety Profile:  Malbec This is the third in a series of varietal profiles by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, presented to aid students in preparing for blind tasting exams and gainin...

Which Wine Glass?

Which Wine Glass? If you think the perfect stemware is a must-have for your wine of choice, think again. Every day wines taste great in the park, or at the beach, places where ideal glassware is n...

The Cult Wine You Don’t Realize is from Oregon

The Cult Wine You Don’t Realize is from Oregon In the mid-1960’s, Oregon’s wine industry pioneers began planting grapes in the northern Willamette Valley. They focused on Pinot Noir, but also plant...

Muscat Grape Variety Profile

Grape Variety Profile – Muscat This is the second in a series of varietal profiles by Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis, presented to aid students in preparing for blind tasting exams and gaining ...

San Francisco Wine Shops That I Love by Master Sommelier David Glancy

San Francisco Wine Shops That I Love by David GlancyI thought I would share some love with my favorite San Francisco wine retailers and hopefully help some shoppers in the process. I buy wine many ...

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...