tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post6985022218086521727..comments2024-03-22T00:35:12.415-07:00Comments on HoseMaster of Wine™: EPHEMERA: The Insignificance of WineRon Washam, HMWhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comBlogger35125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-20014821326602190852015-10-12T12:06:05.429-07:002015-10-12T12:06:05.429-07:00I'm a little late to the party but I wanted to...I'm a little late to the party but I wanted to add another female voice to the conversation.<br /><br />First of all, I loved this essay. I fell into the wine industry by accident at age 21 and never left, because I love wine, as well as most of the people I have been lucky enough to work alongside. There's a lot of bullshit to be found in the industry, but I do my best to avoid it by choosing my workplaces and friends carefully. <br /><br />Nine years later, I still get mistaken for a 21 year old (which I really do not take as a compliment), and it is indeed difficult to be taken seriously as a young woman in this business. I am a research paper away from completing the WSET Diploma program, and part of my motivation for doing it was the desire to learn, especially about regions and grape varieties that I don't automatically get excited about. I've learned a lot through my studies that I wouldn't have bothered with otherwise, and I'm glad I pushed myself to do so. BUT I couldn't agree more with the idea that these credentials are helpful for a young woman who would like to be taken seriously in the world of wine. I don't bring up WSET unless it comes up organically or I am asked about it, but I can instantly see a change in the demeanor of the person I am talking to when I do. Since enrolling in the program, I have been treated vastly differently than I was before. I would absolutely credit part of that to my increased knowledge base, but there is no doubt that those magic letters have something to do with it as well. <br /><br />I intend to stop at Diploma, with the hope that I can get by on my own merit from here on out.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08890647875687031863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-29313099524277392832015-10-08T19:09:02.778-07:002015-10-08T19:09:02.778-07:00The thought of "how much money" is cring...The thought of "how much money" is cringeworthy. There's probably a Lamborghini's worth down my gullet...Don Clemenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018421143636593792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-22081016598205077272015-10-08T18:31:11.982-07:002015-10-08T18:31:11.982-07:00Almaroja,
Brilliant stuff, and a great perspectiv...Almaroja,<br /><br />Brilliant stuff, and a great perspective. Bonzo Doy DooDah Band? OK. I'd google that, but I'm scared. And Viv is probably right. I probably would spend it on drink again, I just don't want to know how goddam much money it is. There's a house, and probably a couple of cars, in there somewhere.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-50502305123994367992015-10-08T13:27:58.076-07:002015-10-08T13:27:58.076-07:00Two thoughts spring to mind: firstly, behind most ...Two thoughts spring to mind: firstly, behind most wines over which people pontificate (I speak as a former pontificator) there is someone like me with black hands (I´d send you a photo of mine right now if I could) who spends most of their days with their arse higher than their head. Most of us that make wine are farmers, not poets. We don´t give a shit about letters after our names or spurious points. We just pray to god that it hails on somebody else´s vineyard. Secondly, Viv Stanshall of the Bonzo Doy DooDah Band, once said "If I had all the money I´d spent on drink - I´d spend it on drink." That´s how you should feel about all the money you´ve spent on wine.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18322524924618467407noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-60611238336607230732015-10-06T08:45:00.073-07:002015-10-06T08:45:00.073-07:00Hose,
Wine is insignificant, and that is why we e...Hose, <br />Wine is insignificant, and that is why we enjoy it so much. Wine should be like music, it fills a place in your life and changes with your moods, needs and time of the day or week. We got sucked into this biz because we enjoy the good company of people that actually get it; those who know that a bottle is meant to be shared with people you want to spend time with. And we endure the rest of the people and the nonsense for those moments. <br />After 20 years of professional drinking I've forgotten more than most people would ever want to know about spoiled grapes.<br /><br />And the only letters I want after my name are the ones that make me the proudest...DAD.<br /><br />Grazie!<br />DanielDanielhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13947624477553194151noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-28096984347650292312015-10-04T15:01:19.760-07:002015-10-04T15:01:19.760-07:00Gabe,
And I can assure you I'm not expecting R...Gabe,<br />And I can assure you I'm not expecting Rayas from Oregon. Why you're nervous perplexes me, but do as you will. My opinions won't matter in the long run. Or in the short run either.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-75118880740289096302015-10-04T08:50:08.362-07:002015-10-04T08:50:08.362-07:00Aaron,
Thanks for the kind words. My current win...Aaron, <br />Thanks for the kind words. My current wines are not available in California, but I spent the past 4 vintages (2011-14) as the Assistant WInemaker at Illahe Vineyards, and those wines have some CA distribution, so you should (?) be able to find them.<br /><br />Ron,<br />I'm trying to work up the courage to send you my wines. At first it was just waiting for bottling. Then it was waiting for the pinot noir to be ready. Now I am just officially nervous. I can assure you that I am not making Rayas up here.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13849290999060380035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-63302467447360232792015-10-03T21:10:05.464-07:002015-10-03T21:10:05.464-07:00Gabe,
There's a lot of grandstanding in the wi...Gabe,<br />There's a lot of grandstanding in the wine business. A lot of folks who profess passion, talk about "love," but are chasing prestige. Too many of them. I've often written about how I "judge" folks in the wine biz who I meet. I'm not judge and jury, except for myself and the HoseMaster and Lo Hai Qu, but I know a phony when I smell one. And lots have intials, and lots don't. Winemakers are the same, as you note. The truth is, Gabe, it shows in their wines. Almost always.<br /><br />You're one of the most thoughtful and interesting common taters who shows up here regularly. I suspect your wines are equally thoughtful and interesting.<br /><br />And at least, Gabe, pull a Bob Henry and send these nice folks a link to your wine website. The Mighty HoseMaster may just sell some wine for you.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-56257779899480199352015-10-03T20:01:45.633-07:002015-10-03T20:01:45.633-07:00@gabriel
Loving wine doesn't mean more than yo...@gabriel<br />Loving wine doesn't mean more than your family or anything. I would NEVER think less of a person (winemaker or otherwise) who loves their family more. Even if it means something happens and you mess up harvest, or miss time a step because you have to take care of family. That will never make you a worse winemaker. Just someone with good priorities :) <br /><br />So don't fear that you aren't a good winemaker because of that. <br /><br />BTW, what's your wine? Can I get it in the LA area? I'd love to give it a try! Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09911398647505242281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-87293529922762990272015-10-03T18:44:59.448-07:002015-10-03T18:44:59.448-07:00Interesting point.
Winemaking has certainly bee...Interesting point. <br /><br />Winemaking has certainly been a humbling experience for me. But for a lot of winemakers I know, humble is one of the last words I would use to describe them. Winemakers are like MW's or MS's or any other TLA that I don't know - there are a handful of good ones out there, and there are quite a few that just like the prestige of saying that is what they do for a living. A lot of times I will lie to people about my job so I don't have to get into it.<br /><br />I actually appreciate you calling out people who LOVE wine. I love my family and my friends and my dog. I like wine a lot, but I don't love it the way I love my 1-year old. Sometimes I worry that makes me less of a winemaker than someone who loves a bottle of Jayer more than they love their dog. But I am who I am. If that makes me a mediocre winemaker, so be it.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13849290999060380035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-26936619754549370682015-10-03T08:05:57.999-07:002015-10-03T08:05:57.999-07:00Bill,
Yeah, I'm with ya. Maybe my whole witles...Bill,<br />Yeah, I'm with ya. Maybe my whole witless essay was about wondering why anyone thinks having letters after your name guarantees some sort of acceptance or status in such a meaningless pursuit to begin with. There are lots of things to be proud of in life, but knowing a lot about wine isn't really one of them. "Pointless" is as good an adjective as any. <br /><br />And I always thought about my own career as a sommelier that it was "nice work if you can get it"--and completely elitist and risible. HoseMaster of Wine™ seems to be a way of trying to finally make good in the wine business.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-27352623917278526372015-10-03T07:28:18.199-07:002015-10-03T07:28:18.199-07:00"And I was genuinely struck by Rebecca Gibb&#..."And I was genuinely struck by Rebecca Gibb's remark about becoming an MW so that, as a young woman, she'd be taken seriously in the wine world. It's sad that she's telling a hard truth, and sadder that it's so rarely addressed."<br /><br />And sadder still that she has wasted all of that time and money, has her MW, along with the self-satisfied congratulations of the other 339 members of the half-assed attempt to breathe life into the notion of caste and exclusion that was the British Empire, and still has not a snowball's chance in hell of being taken seriously in the wine world. (Her boss Cho Lee should have demonstrated that to Becky by example. In Cho Lee, you have somebody bright enough to choose from a thousand impressive things to do with her life...and she founded Le Pan instead!) Thankfully, Becky's failure to gain acceptance will not be because she is a woman...it will be because she is a navel-gazing twit with nothing meaningful to say about wine (see some of those pithy Wine-Searcher articles...and now the one linked here?), a status which knows no sexual boundaries. (Read an Antonio Galloni or James Suckling tasting note if you doubt that is true.) No sexist beef with the MW program itself, however. It is an old boy's club that seems to be letting in mainly women of late. Especially those "there-but-for-the-grace of-money-go-I" former housewives with investment banker husbands. Nice work if you can get it, studying for the MW. Pointless, elitist, risible, but nice work if you can get it...on somebody else's dime. TRIGGER WARNING: the author of the above post takes a dim view of MWs and MSs, having had to work for a living his entire life... Bill Klapphttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12811979501220539493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-17979961651249908852015-10-02T18:19:27.115-07:002015-10-02T18:19:27.115-07:00Thanks, Aaron. Spreading stuff is what I do.
Amy,...Thanks, Aaron. Spreading stuff is what I do.<br /><br />Amy, My Sweet,<br />I do think achieving an MW is an impressive feat. But "The Guinness Book of World Records" is filled with impressive feats that I am also baffled by. I nearly applied to the MW program back in the early '90's when Wilson Daniels was sponsoring sommeliers for the program, but, well, I was too busy earning an actual living. Now, of course, I'm not only the Commander of Wine, I'm also the only HMW. I know you're impressed.<br /><br />What motivated you to want to be an MW? Were you like Rebecca Gibb, and searching for validation in the boys club that is wine? Or just nuts? Doesn't it feel like you've written the lead for your obituary, like when you win an Oscar or a Nobel? "Master of Wine Amy Christine passed last Thursday, leaving behind a husband, and a couple of initials."<br /><br />I think I need to write the HoseMaster's obit. That ought to be popular.<br /><br />Smooch! I adore you.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-38104277903093217322015-10-02T12:32:14.005-07:002015-10-02T12:32:14.005-07:00The wine business is full of people who like to dr...The wine business is full of people who like to drink and don't want real jobs. That description suits me pretty well. <br /><br />Plus, I mean, the wine business is like anything else. It's something to do. I mean, what's the point of doing anything really? (Channeling my inner soft core nihilist.)<br /><br />I can't speak for the MS, but the MW is fun to study for.... if your idea of fun is being whipped with a barb laden stick for 7 yrs. That said, you do meet some really great people along the way. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-41787358071815986712015-10-02T11:47:16.388-07:002015-10-02T11:47:16.388-07:00HoseMaster, thank you for another thoughtful and p...HoseMaster, thank you for another thoughtful and provocative piece. Wonderful writing (well, wonderful words in vaguely sentence like structures), and hopefully something to spread out there into the wine world, and make a few people think.<br /><br />@Don Clemens, don't go to the dark side! Try some good ciders! Ciders have come a long way in the past few years, and it's easier than ever to get good ones, although you might have to hunt down a good shop that carries them.Aaronhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09911398647505242281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-42087225075061291042015-10-02T07:57:00.933-07:002015-10-02T07:57:00.933-07:00Gabe,
Winemaking is humbling work, I'd think. ...Gabe,<br />Winemaking is humbling work, I'd think. Judging from much of the wine I taste, it should be humbling work anyway. <br /><br />Now and then I get weary of all the hype and the gee-whiz bravado that suffocates wine writing, and I feel some need to remark on how ultimately foolish a devotion to wine is, how selfish and insignificant. It probably says more about me than the people it's aimed at.Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-13706855767293466752015-10-02T01:37:50.446-07:002015-10-02T01:37:50.446-07:00Tim,
What's next for you here in La-La-Land?
...Tim,<br /><br />What's next for you here in La-La-Land?<br /><br />BobBob Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09099196210297757292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-52552946717944367612015-10-01T22:52:39.420-07:002015-10-01T22:52:39.420-07:00Well after working back-to-back 15-hour days, this...Well after working back-to-back 15-hour days, this is a bit of a humbling blog to come home to. Many days go by when I wish I was doing something better for society than making booze, but usually I just stick to my philosophy of, "it's better than a real job".Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13849290999060380035noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-52294616811086940392015-10-01T18:45:14.906-07:002015-10-01T18:45:14.906-07:00Hey Gang,
Many thanks for all the articulate and t...Hey Gang,<br />Many thanks for all the articulate and thoughtful comments. If there are better common taters out there, I'd like to know which blog has them. Thanks all around.<br /><br />What triggered this essay (and I use the word loosely--it's a very poorly structured piece) was thinking about the difference between people who fall into the wine business--like I did, and Charlie, and Don--and people who choose it as an avocation, then, maybe, vocation. And I was wondering why the hell someone wants to be an MS or MW, spend a large amount of money for the "privilege" of wearing that "badge of honor" (what a stupid thing to say) or, even crazier, put the letters CSW or WSET after your name. And I was genuinely struck by Rebecca Gibb's remark about becoming an MW so that, as a young woman, she'd be taken seriously in the wine world. It's sad that she's telling a hard truth, and sadder that it's so rarely addressed. Thomas' history lesson explains it, but, in this day and age, it doesn't excuse it. Wine is a very sexist business. Period.<br /><br />Thinking about all those things, I just started writing. I'm not certain I actually said anything. Or answered my own questions. So thanks to all of you for your insights. Some really smart stuff here.<br /><br />As for the SOMM TV show--don't watch. Well, I don't really care. But I guarantee you, it will be self-parody. What a group of blowhards.<br /><br />Tim Fleming, hey Tim, glad to hear you're done with the biz--how's life?--was the friend who turned down the sommelier gig that I ended up with. That was a strange turn of events in my life, a decision that I was sure, for a while, was stupid. Maybe it was. But we did have a blast those nights, Tim! Wow. We drank a lot of astonishing wines, and far too much of them. Cheers!Ron Washam, HMWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11238869156614617705noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-34100298952691697622015-10-01T17:29:22.218-07:002015-10-01T17:29:22.218-07:00Nothing wise to say about this piece, but I do thi...Nothing wise to say about this piece, but I do think it's my favorite!Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10289937151447638045noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-7769020602786821272015-10-01T15:08:01.526-07:002015-10-01T15:08:01.526-07:00Hey Ron,
I'm glad you did take that gig becau...Hey Ron,<br /><br />I'm glad you did take that gig because we had a blast at that restaurant under your regime! Many nights of insane wines (and diners), Cuban cigars and subsequent hangovers. <br />Those were, in my mind, the golden days as yesterday was my final day in "the Biz" - at least for now.<br /><br />Tim<br /><br />Tim Fleminghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15237782174294985893noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-13987899250229760742015-10-01T14:14:00.247-07:002015-10-01T14:14:00.247-07:00Oh, my God. It's just going to get uglier out ...Oh, my God. It's just going to get uglier out there. Beer is looking better all the time.Don Clemenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01018421143636593792noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-74757382882921402202015-10-01T13:32:52.134-07:002015-10-01T13:32:52.134-07:00And just in today--this press release. What timing...And just in today--this press release. What timing!<br /><br /><br />LOS ANGELES - September 23, 2015—Master Sommelier is more than just a title; it's a badge of honor—and to earn it you need to be a wine expert in mind, body, and spirit—an achievement measured by passing one of the world's most grueling exams. Only 230 people across the globe have passed the test in its 40 + year history, but this accomplishment allows a person entry into one of the world's most exclusive clubs, where membership can lead to some of the most desirable jobs in the food and wine industry. Produced by Left/Right productions, and based on the fascinating documentary "Somm," this one-hour, six-part docu-series will chronicle six aspiring Master Sommeliers preparing for, and finally attempting to pass, this ultimate test. Journey into one of the few worlds where drinking counts as studying, when UNCORKED premieres Tuesday, November 10 at 10/9c only on Esquire Network.<br /><br />To pass the Master Sommelier test, one must have an extensive knowledge of wine theory, the skills to perfectly present and serve wine to the most discerning palates, and from taste alone - the ability to determine the year, grape variety and region of a wine (down to the exact, tiny village where the grapes were grown). Earning the elusive title takes personal sacrifice, confidence, a comprehensive knowledge of every wine from around the world, and... a really thick skin. They'll face harsh criticism from the Masters at every turn, but if they can endure and perform well in the finals, they just might realize their dream. The Sommeliers must pass all three parts (theory, service and blind tasting) in three years or they will have to start from square one.<br /><br />Attending tasting events around the world—from Sonoma to Spain—each hour-long episode of UNCORKED, will feature the Sommeliers swirling, smelling and "slurping" a multitude of wines. They also enter competitions overseen by Master Sommeliers including: Geoff Kruth, MS (President, Guildsomm.com), Andy McNamara, MS (Chairman, Court of Master Sommeliers), Fred Dame, MS (Founder, American Chapter of the Court of Masters) and Laura Maniec, MS (Co-Founder, Corkbuzz Restaurant & Wine Bar in New York and North Carolina). Impressing these Masters Sommeliers along the way will gain the candidates a huge advantage, as they strive to achieve their ultimate goal. In the final episode, the six Sommeliers finally face the exam they have been working towards for years, in the hopes of becoming a Master Sommelier.<br /><br />UNCORKED is produced by Left/Right with Banks Tarver and Ken Druckerman serving as Executive Producers. The directors of the documentary "Somm," Jason Wise, and Christina Wise, and Peter Goldwyn also serve as Executive Producers.Thomashttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07322028233207741737noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-9874568989927354422015-10-01T13:07:16.221-07:002015-10-01T13:07:16.221-07:00Nice column Ron, and the usual good stuff from the...Nice column Ron, and the usual good stuff from the common taters, especially Jerome's.. just one quibble, you get prestige for being a somm???If this weren't ephemera I would have thought the Hosemaster was making one of his usual, heelarious, fall down on the ground, laugh out loud jokes.. kinda like in Spinal Tap when David's girlfriend shows the band sketches of the characters the band can play on stage based on their astrological sign and Nigel says, Is this a joke??Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11992278224164669829noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6745003136564123305.post-58746552881828524862015-10-01T09:25:49.638-07:002015-10-01T09:25:49.638-07:00. . . but let's not overlook this "prosai.... . . but let's not overlook this "prosaic" motivation to enter the industry: trade purchase discounts that help "underwrite" your burgeoning wine collection.<br /><br />And let's not overlook this consideration: certain wine writers and wine bloggers desiring free "reviewer" samples to pad their wine collections. And free travel to the wine country via press junkets.<br /><br />A phenomenon "called out" by David Shaw in his timeless Los Angeles Times front page exposé on wine writers:<br /><br />http://articles.latimes.com/print/1987-08-23/news/mn-3198_1_wine-writersBob Henryhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02089688073031173053noreply@blogger.com