What measurable benefit do I get by shooting for the apex of wine education? The coveted “MW” initials earned by only 370 candidates in the world? That’s a good question; one I ask myself each time I...
Opening a profitable restaurant requires millions of decisions, each of which has direct consequences on the bottom line. What is the theme, where will it be, who is my customer? When considering a...
USHG’s Wine Director and certified Master Sommelier, John Ragan, helps to develop and support the dynamic wine programs throughout USHG, each of which is characterized by thoughtful and interesting...
“Convictions are more dangerous enemies of truth than lies.” It’s a quote from Friedrich Nietzsche and not exactly what you'd expect to hear from a sommelier trying to sell you on Riesling. But when...
With both an online and brick and mortar presence, Verve Wine aims to educate customers and help them buy, order and enjoy wine with confidence. ICE is excited to welcome Dustin as one of the featured...
We’ve all been there: You’re sitting down to a high-stakes dinner — maybe you’re meeting the in-laws, closing a deal or just trying to make a really good first impression — and someone hands you the...
Aaron was kind enough to offer us a sneak peak into a day in the life of a sommelier at Daniel, and to answer some hard-hitting wine questions, like whether the best sparklers come from France and if...
While we swirled, sniffed, sipped, and nibbled, I gleaned some grape wisdom — about wine varieties and my own tastes. In the spirit of holiday giving, here are five surprising takeaways from my wine...
Just as there’s a time and place for a grand cru from Bordeaux, there’s also a moment to enjoy a crisp white zinfandel (preferably with potato chips, on the beach). As he teaches students at ICE, the...
The recommended wine for Thanksgiving turkey seems to always be Beaujolais, a wine region in eastern France. Like liquid cranberry sauce, wines from Beaujolais exhibit tart strawberry and other fruity...
A former health care analyst, Mary’s story began like that of many ICE students. She felt unfulfilled in her career and spent her free time dreaming about opportunities in the restaurant business, but...
Before delving into a more detailed look, first we have to recognize that one’s sense of taste is quite personal and subjective. Likewise, context — when, where and with whom we taste a wine — plays a...