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Terroir

Beyond The Texbook: Sicily

How to Watch? You can watch the recording of this webinar in our community space here. Summary Mount Etna is one of the most dynamic wine regions in the world today—but what makes its wines so compelling? Join Benjamin Spencer, author of The New Wines of Mount Etna and founder of the Etna Wine School, for his insights

Five Fabled Vineyard Soils with Alex Maltman

Summary: Of all the vineyard soils of the world, a dozen or so have acquired a designation of their own. Examples are New Zealands Gimblett Gravels (with their astonishing rise to fame), the albarizas of Spains sherry district (made of tiny but crucial architectural marvels), Californias enigmatic Rutherford Dust, the cherished Kimmeridgian of Chablis, and the spectacular terra rossa of Australias Coonawarra. The names probably mean little to most people but to wine

GeoSensorial Tasting: A New Way of Assessing Wines of Terroir?

Is a wine horizontal or vertical? Square or round? Hollow or dense? Relaxed or tensed? Grainy or smooth? This is a small sample of GeoSensorial Tasting vocabulary — a method that seeks to empower the taster to feel, interpret and give voice to wines of place. By focusing on mouthfeel and assessment criteria such as energy, salivation, geometry, texture and consistency, this methodology helps you to better understand the nuances that a specific terroir, among other factors, brings to wine and helps you to express those nuances. It puts light on how, for example, Chenin Blanc wines from the schist soils of Savennières, the tuffeau of Saumur and the flint-clay and limestone-clay of Vouvray differ from one another.  Quite an ambitious undertaking!
Olivier Humbrecht MW portrait at Domaine Zind-Humbrecht
Olivier Humbrecht MW. Leif Carlsson

In conversation with Olivier Humbrecht MW of Domaine Zind-Humbrecht

Olivier Humbrecht MW is one of the most influential winemakers of Alsace. Matt Walls speaks to him about his journey so far, taking in changing styles, biodynamics and the future of the region.

Introduction to Geology, Soil, and Terroir with Brenna Quigley

Summary: This webinar will dig into the basics of rocks and soil, and their respective roles in defining a site’s terroir. This discussion will give you the terms, tools, and scientific foundation to discuss terroir like a pro. We will explore the different types of rocks, how they form, and in which wine regions across the globe you can expect to find them.

Loire Valley: from Muscadet to Sancerre

Summary: The vineyards of the Loire Valley follow the twists and turns of France's longest river, from the Atlantic coast to the Paris Basin. The region boasts the largest number of French white wine AOCs and also produces increasingly sought after reds. This webinar will explore the distinctive terroirs that define the grapes of each sub-region, look at the historical context and present winemaking trends that define
Lake Garda
Photo Courtesy By Consorzio Lugana

Luscious Lugana: The Gem of Lake Garda

Vineyards on the shores of Lake Garda Did someone say Lake Garda? You had me at Lake! Those were my first thoughts when asked to visit the area close to Italy’s largest lake and home of the Lugana DOC.

On the “Predatory” Influence of our Eyes on the Taste of Wine

This article is the first of an upcoming series by French neuroscientist Gabriel Lepousez. Gabriel is part of the Scientific Committee formed by WSG in the context of its "Architecture of Taste Research Project". He has also presented a fascinating segment on "The Neuroscience of Wine Tasting" as part of The Science of Wine Tasting Webinar Series which will resume with new episodes in the Spring of 2022. The wine tasting paradox There is a real paradox in the experience of tasting a product like wine. Tasting is such a familiar, instinctive, and seemingly obvious act; something that we take for granted. At the same time, wine is a one of the most complex sensory objects that we put into our mouths. Indeed, wine is one of the rare sensory objects of our daily life which solicits all at the same time:

Once upon a time…geological history and why it matters for French vineyards with Françoise Vannier

Summary: In order to understand better the specificities that led not only to the present-day landscape but also to the soil and subsoil nature and diversity of the French vineyard, a travel in the past times is necessary. In order to understand all the key events that occurred during the hundreds of million years of geological history. Being aware that a lagoon, a tidal-influenced

One Thousand Vines

Summary Join us for this very special event celebrating the launch of one of the most important new additions to the world of educational wine books. WSG is thrilled to welcome author and award-winning sommelière, Pascaline Lepeltier, in conversation with wine journalist Christina Rasmussen. Pascaline will share some of the

PODCAST: Peter Liem on Champagne Terroir - There's More to the Story

Peter Liem talks with us about the progressive movement in Champagne. As we’ll discover in this conversation, there’s more to the terroir story than the chalk soils and the weather.

Soil Signatures Part I

Summary:  Welcome to the soil signatures course! This course is aimed at helping students understand the very tangible effect that different soil types can have on the flavours we encounter in the glass.

Soil Signatures Part II

Summary:  Welcome to the soil signatures course! This course is aimed at helping students understand the very tangible effect that different soil types can have on the flavours we encounter in the glass.

Tasting Terroir in Alsace Wines with Romain Iltis

Summary:  Alsace vineyards are one of the most renowned vineyard in the world, but difficult to define because of its geological complexity and numerous grape varieties. Through the grape variety, we will look at taste profiles that come from different soil types.  Presenter: Romain Iltis MOF Romain Iltis is a French sommelier from Alsace who has won multiple awards including Best Sommelier of France 2012, Master of Port 2008 and  "Meilleur Ouvrier de France", a

Tasting Vineyard Soil in Wine with Alex Maltman

Summary: Why do we think that the vineyard soil is so important for the taste of wine? The rocks and soils in the vineyard certainly affect how vines grow but these days they pervade writings on wine flavor; some commentators believe they are the overriding contributor to taste. There are restaurant wine lists organized not by grape variety, region or style but by geology: granite wines,

Ten reasons why old vines are more important than ever

WSG is proud be the first Educational Partner of The Old Vine Conference. Read more to find out how this dynamic non-profit organization is actively creating a global network of old-vine disciples while raising awareness through education. 

The Architecture of Taste: Research Begins

On the 6th of September 2021, Wine Scholar Guild hosted the first large-scale blind-tasting panel as part of its recently announced The Architecture of Taste Research Project. Hosted at the Bristol Hotel in Colmar, Alsace, this panel tasting launched WSG’s research on the tactile and geosensorial tasting approach it developed over the past year. The tasting was designed specifically to assess the experimental and innovative tasting grid that had been developed as part of the Architecture of Taste Research Project. Its eventual aim is a tactile and geosensorial tasting method which focuses on a wine’s energy, induced salivation, geometry/shape, texture, and consistency. Such a tasting method would provide students of wine with an enriched and universal lexicon that not only assesses the qualities of a wine but also dives into the nature of a wine’s personality and, perhaps, its corresponding terroir signature.  The panel of tasters included owners or representatives of twenty top Alsace estates such as Albert Boxler, Weinbach, Marcel Deiss and Albert Mann. They were joined by a dozen wine professionals, including Pascaline Lepeltier MOF, a member of the ATRP Scientific Committee, as well as a dozen serious wine lovers. All in all, over 45 panelists participated in the tasting.
Biology behind Terroir

The Biology Behind Terroir: Microbes, Soil and the Impact on Vines

Summary: Marc-André explores the factors that really contribute to what we call 'terroir', including the soil, the climate and the microbiology at play. In this enlightening webinar he will bust myths and explain the science that truly contributes to the wine that we taste. About Marc-André Selosse: Marc-André is a French biologist specializing in botany and mycology. He has worked on symbiosis, particularly in the areas of evolution

The Grands Crus of Spain: Grandes Pagos de España and the Importance of Terroir

Summary: Join the leading Spanish wine association of 35 wineries known as the “Grands Crus of Spain,” Grandes Pagos de España (GPE), for an exclusive webinar with the Spanish Wine Scholar Guild. GPE representatives Valentí Llagostera (Co-Owner & Co-Founder, Mas Doix) and Marta Santander (Director of Exports, Familia Martínez Bujanda) will discuss GPE’s mission to uphold the
Winemaker carefully inspecting a bottle in a dimly lit Jura wine cellar, symbolizing precision and tradition in French winemaking

The Heart of a Sommelier: Passion, Precision and the Pursuit of Emotion 

In the world of wine, the sommelier holds a position of both reverence and responsibility. More than just a connoisseur, a sommelier is an interpreter of terroir, a storyteller of vintages and above all a master of human connection. Philippe, a world-renowned sommelier from France's Jura region, spoke with WSG’s Founder and President Julien Camus recently, with rare authenticity about what defines excellence in this noble craft. 

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