GuildSomm

GuildSomm is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to wine professionals, focusing on education and fostering a sense of community. We are committed to the principles of hospitality, inclusivity, and integrity in everything we do, aiming to provide a space that embraces diverse viewpoints. Our partner, SommFoundation, supports GuildSomm members in achieving their educational aspirations by offering scholarships and enriching travel experiences.

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Articles

Madeira: Seeking a Place in the Modern Age

1 month ago | guildsomm.com | Miquel Hudin

Around the hour-and-a-half mark of the flight from Lisbon to the island of Madeira, the plane begins its descent over the Atlantic. At first, there’s little but endless water visible from the cabin window. Then, the low-hanging clouds on the horizon give way to the broken, bony cliffs of Ponta de São Lourenço. Swooping over the top of these cliffs, it seems like the plane is about to land, but it then does a massive hook starboard, aweing passengers with the Madeiran landscape.
A History of Winery Consolidation in America

1 month ago | guildsomm.com | Jeff Siegel

In 2008, Cyril Penn, the editor of Wine Business Monthly, wanted to make sense of the avalanche of winery mergers, sales, and acquisitions that had occurred over the past couple of years. He commissioned a two-page chart to run in the magazine that showed who had bought what and how the deals had rearranged the California winery landscape. The chart was a mess. Penn says with a laugh, “It was too complicated, a real spaghetti strand.” The chart never appeared in print again.
Green Water, Hydrology, and Viticulture: Observing the Importance of Soil Moisture and Rethinking Land Management

1 month ago | guildsomm.com | Sarah Bray

Think of water, and images of vast oceans, white-capped rapids, babbling brooks, and placid lakes come to mind. Water, however, exists beyond these everyday blue bodies, and today many climate scientists are focusing their attention on another category of it entirely: green water. This is the water found in terrestrial precipitation, evaporation, and soil moisture.
What You Should Know About Chartreuse

2 months ago | guildsomm.com | Bob Lipinski

Chartreuse is an ancient, elusive elixir that has been made for centuries by French monks. Throughout its history, it has been a digestif, a popular cocktail ingredient, and the inspiration for naming a color between yellow and green. In recent years, demand for Chartreuse has grown beyond supply, and this herbal liqueur has perhaps never been more popular.
From Stars to Words: How Brunello FORMA Is Redefining Vintage Evaluations

Mar 21, 2025 | guildsomm.com | Jessica Dupuy

Over the past couple of years, Brunello di Montalcino DOCG has undergone a pivotal shift in its vintage evaluation system with the introduction of Brunello FORMA. This new, data-driven approach was designed to provide a more comprehensive assessment of each vintage than was achieved by the traditional star-based rating.
Making the Case for Crémant de Bourgogne

Jan 11, 2025 | guildsomm.com | Miquel Hudin

When it comes to sparkling wine, Champagne has done all the heavy lifting of establishing the image of bubbles as one of celebration, class, and sophistication. With Champagne commanding an average bottle price of €20 in France and $58 in the US, it’s no wonder that sparkling producers esteem the category. Because Champagne prices far exceed the average bottle prices in any market, there are always consumers looking for a less expensive, Champagne-like wine.
GuildSomm International

Jan 5, 2025 | guildsomm.com | Jonathan Eichholz

"Unfortunately, the Jura requires intimate familiarity as producer styles vary—particularly with regard to freshness and oxidation in the whites—and no label language currently exists to rectify the confusion.
Fortified Wine - Expert Guides - Expert Guides - GuildSomm International

Dec 27, 2024 | guildsomm.com | Jonathan Eichholz

ContentsDefining Fortified WinesHistory of Fortified WinesPortugalSpainFranceItalyGreeceCyprusAustraliaSouth AfricaUnited StatesFortified Wines in RestaurantsBibliographyFortified wine is integral to the history of the world of beverages. Its legacy was established in the 1600s as the wine trade rounded the Cape of Good Hope and crossed the Atlantic Ocean. Fortification, popularized by the British, made it possible for wines to survive during these long trips.
Champagne Part II: Viticulture and Winemaking

Dec 23, 2024 | guildsomm.com | Jonathan Eichholz

The wines of Champagne are defined not just by the region’s history, geography, and laws but also by its unique viticultural and winemaking practices. This guide follows Champagne production from the vineyard to the glass, diving into the specific farming practices, decisions made in the cellar, and biological processes that together result in one of the world’s great sparkling wines.
GuildSomm International

Dec 23, 2024 | guildsomm.com | Virginie Boone

For much of recent history, fine drink in the context of fine food has meant wine, and many a tome have been written about the right and wrong ways to pair the two. But these ideas about right and wrong are evolving and expanding. Increasingly, people believe that there should be no such thing as traditional wine and food pairings. MW Tim Hanni is one outspoken critic, dismissing the concept altogether. He was quoted in The Drinks Business in 2019, stating, “A perfect wine pairing doesn’t exist.