happenings
SOMMELIER sERIES
That is a wrap on another fabulous somm series.
See you spring 2024!
"When I signed up for the course (my first one) I was expecting tost and around with a group of people inside a cellar, holding a plastic cup. Instead, I was greeted with (and astounded by) the magazine-worthy setting you created; white tablecloths, flowers in vases, stemmed glassware and your grandmother's china! And then for you to go to the trouble of making a carrot soup and panna cotta- in addition to a cheese and charcuterie plate that was better than man I've had in restaurants- was the epitome of good hostessing. In sum- the experience greatly exceeded my expectations I enjoyed your wines; I enjoyed learning about them and I enjoyed discovering your vineyard." --- First time guest at the 2023 Somm Series
Ready to become a wine expert? Interested in learning more about the creation of Vineyard Grant James Wine? Or just hoping to be able to give more wine tasting feedback than "this one is white" and "this one is red"?
Join us as we welcome back a Vineyard favorite
Sommelier Series!
2023 Sommelier Series
We will be joined by 3 certified Sommeliers who will spend Sunday mornings educating us on all things wine.
Price: Member- $30 per class or $80 for all three
Non-Member - $40 per class or $100 for all three
Classes will begin at 11am and run about 90 Minutes
PLUS
Wrap up the whole series with Lindsay from Wine Smarties and earn your WSET Level 1 Certification Sunday, April 16th!
For individuals new to wine, this level provides a hands-on introduction to the world of wine. You'll explore the main types and styles of wine through sight, smell, and taste, while also gaining the basic skills to describe wines accurately and make food and wine pairings.
March 5 | 11:00 am
Molly Brooks Level 3 Advanced Sommelier
Molly Brooks is an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers, and is WSET Level 3 Certified. She is also a French Wine Scholar and a Certified Cicerone. She holds a Master's in History from San Diego State University and a B.A. in History from Pitzer College in Los Angeles.
Molly has worked in several channels of the wine industry. She began her career on the ground floor, suggesting wine as a restaurant server. She’s worked her way up the industry ladder, from directing wine programs and working as a sommelier, to running a brick and mortar/online wine retail shop. Molly also hosts her own events through BarWeThereYet Consulting Services.
Molly Brooks has taught the Austrian/German Intensive Wine Course at SDSU Global Campus since 2016. Molly also works for Epic Wines & Spirits, a California based distribution company, where she sells wine and spirits from around the world to restaurants and independent retail establishments.
She’s always in pursuit of life’s gastronomic and intellectual pleasures!
March 19 | 11:00 AM
Grace Hood, C.S.
Grace Hood is a certified sommelier with over a decade of experience in the wine industry. In the past 13 years, she has worked in every facet of the industry, giving her a wide range of wine knowledge, as well as domestic and international hospitality experience.
All starting with a summer job during college pouring in a tasting room in New York, her career has taken her all over the country and the world; the Michelin star countertops of Manhattan, the white linen tablecloths of Texas, the cellars of the Willamette Valley, the world-premiere cellars of Napa Valley, the bustling madness of Ho Chi Minh City, the sun drench vineyards of Santa Barbara and the snow-capped mountaintops of Vail. She has also taken her work to the world wide web, working for Wine.com as a recommendations specialist, as well as developing her own virtual tasting and educational webinars for private and corporate clients.
On top of her experience in wine, she has spent more than half of her life in the events and hospitality industry, catering high-end events in the Hamptons during high school and moving into corporate events in college. She has been a lead bartender/mixologist for countless events in the Southern California area, and brings an expert level of knowledge in all things food, beverage and event coordination.
More on Grace click here!
March 26 | 11:00 am
Lisa Redwine CMS Advanced Sommelier
Lisa Redwine brings a whole new level of food and wine knowledge to the San Diego community. Lisa passed the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Advanced Exam in 2010 and is pursuing her Master Sommelier certification. She is one of four women in San Diego to hold Advanced Sommelier accreditation. And having worked as a professional chef and general manager for some of the finest restaurants in San Francisco, Lisa elevates the dining experience to an art form, where service, atmosphere, food and wine intermingle to form a feast for all the senses.
She brings with her multiple food and beverage certifications, including: Advanced Sommelier from Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Wine from Society of Wine Educators, Certified Wine Professional and an AOS Degree in Culinary Arts from the Culinary Institute of America.
Lisa is a leader in the wine industry and in her hometown of San Diego, she has trained hundreds of individuals to become better beverage professionals. In 2006, she began teaching "Exploring Wine" in San Diego State University's Business of Wine Program. She has expanded her role at SDSU as she serves as an Advisor and teaches multiple wine classes each year. She has been involved for more than a decade with the San Diego Wine & Food Festival and serves as an advisor and Head Lead for SommCon USA. She is a wine judge for the San Diego International Wine Competition, Sommelier Challenge, Toast of the Coast and Lum Eisenman San Diego County Wine Competition. In 2011, after seeing a need for educational opportunities for women wine professionals she created the nonprofit organization, Women’s Wine Alliance. She currently serves as the organization’s President and leads seminars for its members.