In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours a flight of three red wines for Master Sommelier and Master of Wine Doug Frost and Master Sommelier Jonathan Eichholz. Doug is a partner in Echolands Winery, located in the Walla Walla Valley of Washington, and he also helps run the American chapte…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Elliot James Reay over Zoom video! 23-year-old singer, guitarist, and songwriter Elliot James Reay returns with the irrepressibly upbeat new single, “Who Knew Dancing Was A Sin.” The soulful cut is built on an old school premise: Reay’s partner fears he’s been unfaithful when really he was just out dancing the ni…

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with newly minted Master of Wine Amanda Barnes about the state of the Chilean wine industry. They discuss how to understand Chile's geography and wine regions, the country's wine history, and grapes to know. Amanda Barnes works as a freelance writer, covers South America for Janc…

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours the always-tricky-to-parse Gamay and Pinot Noir comparative for Advanced Sommelier Max Goldberg. Max is based in Los Angeles and is currently the sommelier at Santa Monica's SELINE, a fine-dining restaurant from Chef Dave Beran that opened last yea…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Christian Hayes over Zoom video! Capitol Records recording artist Christian Hayes has poetically drawn on his life experiences growing up in the foothills of Appalachia since his grandfather gifted him his first journal at seven years old. While his debut EP Last I Love You, released in September, followed Hayes’…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Highly Suspect over Zoom video! Never content to follow, Highly Suspect push rock music forward by trusting their instincts and raising a middle finger to everything else. The multi-GRAMMY® Award-nominated and gold-certified band - Johnny Stevens [vocals, guitar], Ryan Meyer [drums, vocals], Rich Meyer [bass, voc…

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Seth Kitzke of Upsidedown Wine about all things Grenache. Seth and his family farm vineyards in Washington's Candy Mountain AVA, among other areas, and focus on Rhône varieties. Chris chats with Seth about Grenache's virtues, challenges, and future in Washington State and be…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Bo Staloch over Zoom video! Capitol Records will release Bo Staloch’s The Garden, a stunning six-song showcase of visceral alt-folk and Americana. Family means everything to the Austin-born, Nashville-based singer-songwriter – it was their unconditional love and support that encouraged him to pour his soul into m…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Fastball over Zoom video! Formed in 1994 in Austin, Texas, Fastball combined a fondness for melodic, Beatles-inspired pop with the alternative aesthetic of late-'90s mainstream rock. Guitarist/vocalist Miles Zuniga, bassist/vocalist Tony Scalzo, and drummer Joey Shuffield — all veterans of Austin's underground ro…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Cali Tucker over Zoom video! Daughter of renowned recording artist LaCosta Tucker and niece of the famed Tanya Tucker, Cali Tucker hails from Nashville, Tennessee and has been hitting full throttle throughout her career. She gained national recognition on Season 6 of The Voice after joining Team Blake and becomin…

We had the pleasure of interviewing joan over Zoom video! Beloved alt-pop duo joan, who have garnered over 200 million global streams and more than one million monthly listeners across streaming platforms, have unveiled their latest single "face" via Photo Finish Records. Co-written with Cris Stayton and co-written/produced by joan—Alan Benjamin Th…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sofía Valdés over Zoom video! Acclaimed Panamanian singer-songwriter Sofía Valdés unveils her anxiously awaited self-titled debut album, Sofía Valdés, out now via Warner Records. In bringing the 10-track album to life, Sofía worked extensively with producers Michael Uzowuru (known for his work on groundbreaking a…

We had the pleasure of interviewing sym fera over Zoom video! Los Angeles-based sym fera are a duo that make atmospheric electronic rock music (reminiscent of early Nine Inch Nails) with an interesting twist - nobody knew who was in the band. This mysterious nature and captivating melodies had intrigued listeners, with their single 11/8 amassing ov…

In the latest blind tasting episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours the dreaded so-called Bermuda Triangle of white wines for Texas sommelier Skyler Ring. Skyler has quickly risen through the sommelier ranks and has passed both the theory and service portions of the Master Sommelier exam, with just the tasting port…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Hudson Thames over Zoom video! Prolific songwriter, performer, and actor Hudson Thames has shared his soul-soothing debut album BAMBINO, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide via Loaded Dice Entertainment. The album is laced with moody pop anthems, deeply emotional ballads, and genuinely timeless songwrit…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Ziggy Alberts over Zoom video! Ziggy Alberts is no stranger to success, having built a dedicated global following through a combination of steadfast touring, captivating songwriting, and an independent ethos that has seen him thrive without the backing of a major label. An artist who has mastered the acoustic cha…

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Los Angeles-based Lukas Dempsey, Assistant Vice President and Wine Specialist for Sotheby's wine division. They discuss how wines are acquired, valued, and authenticated for auction, as well as how restaurants can leverage auctions to create more dynamic beverage programs. P…

In the latest episode of GuildSomm: Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe mixes up the format of the blind tasting series. This and upcoming episodes will feature single blind comparatives, which help tasters overcome common misidentifications of similar wines and develop a better understanding of the data points that drive cause and effect…

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Jean Trimbach, 12th generation of the iconic estate in the village of Ribeauvillé, Alsace. They review the history, climate, winemaking, and wines that define the Trimbach house along with a look at several grand cru sites, unpacking what makes them special. Jean and his bro…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Liang Lawrence over Zoom video! London-based singer-songwriter Liang Lawrence shares her new single “Kiss My Apocalypse” via The Other Songs. Featuring fuzzy, serotonin-boosting electric guitars, the new song is an unabashed declaration of love and commitment. Lawrence said of the song: “‘Kiss My Apocalypse’ is p…

In the latest episode of Into the Glass, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe pours a red wine for two Seattle sommeliers aspiring to achieve the Master Sommelier Diploma. Chris Lara has worked for top Seattle restaurants for the last 30 years, including Matt’s in the Market, Crush, John Howie Steak, and Metropolitan Grill, where he is currently the wine …

We had the pleasure of interviewing BØRNS over Zoom video! Chart-topping, platinum recording artist BØRNS has shared his timeless new EP Honeybee, available to stream now on all DSPs worldwide. The release puts BØRNS’ full spectrum of songwriting on display, paying homage to 60s and 70s icons like Elton John, The Beach Boys, and ELO. Honeybee serve…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Slow Joy over Zoom video! Slow Joy, the solo project of Dallas based, New Mexican born Chicano artist Esteban Flores, is thrilled to announce his first official US headline tour. The February 2025 run has Flores out supporting his Mi Amigo Slow Joy EP, which was released June 7th, 2024 via Mick Music. Produced by…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Hinder over Zoom video! Lately, Hinder are feeling the intensity of a new energy. Nearly two decades into their career, the multiplatinum band hasn’t just endured as a fixture of modern rock—it’s evolved. The versatile Oklahoma City-based quartet creates emotionally compelling rock, from hard-hitting anthems to s…

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommelier Chris Tanghe speaks with Master of Wine Gus Zhu about the wines of China. They dive into the country's winemaking history, major regions, primary varieties, and iconic producers. Gus is the first Chinese national Master of Wine and is currently a research and development scientist at Cork Supply and…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Grace Davies over Zoom video! Grace Davies unveils her latest single 'Another Night,' a masterfully crafted, feel-good pop anthem which showcases her remarkable vocals and creative talent within songwriting & music production. The track's infectious energy immediately captivates listeners, creating an irresistibl…

We had the pleasure of interviewing Haven Madison over Zoom video! American Idol star, praised as the “next big Pop star” by one of the best-selling music artists in history, Katy Perry, Haven Madison recently released her latest single ‘Obsessed’ via 19 Recordings/BBR Music Group. The song follows the release of Madison’s label-debut EP, Turn Off …

We had the pleasure of interviewing Atlas Genius over Zoom video! Australian-based brothers, Atlas Genius are thrilled to release their new album End of the Tunnel. The band has put together a special recipe for the new collection of songs. Album ingredients: Lost love, guilt, passion, a dash of social commentary, existential crises, reckless aband…

In the latest GuildSomm podcast, Master Sommeliers Chris Tanghe and Jonathan Eichholz discuss the trends, challenges, and highlights of 2024 and consider what might be ahead in 2025. Jonathan lives and works in New York City. As an educator for GuildSomm, he maintains the Wine Law Compendium and teaches on various subjects. Previously, Jonathan wor…