Wall Street Journal: Wine School is in.
The story was originally published by the Wall Street Journal on January 8, 2010. The article is reprinted solely for educational purposes. It is intended to offer insight into the history of …
sommelier
Philadelphia Inquirer: The Wine School vs. WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment is going to the mat against the Wine School of Philadelphia. WWE, which trademarked the term Smackdown years ago, is fighting the Wine School’s attempt to register Sommelier Smackdown for its grape-centric competitions.
Last month, WWE law firm K&L Gates sent a cease-and-desist letter to the Fairmount business, which started Sommelier Smackdowns in 2007.”I feel kind of special,” said Keith Wallace. “I am being picked on by Vince McMahon. I better start working out.” In a note to friends, he wrote that he was calling out McMahon and wrestlerChris Jericho to a wine-tasting double-team cage match.
Decibel Wines
A Philly boy goes to wine school, moves to New Zealand, and becomes a winemaker.Philly’s own Danny Brennan started as a Philly bartender and ended up as a bad-ass winemaker in …
Jet Wine Bar
When I met Jill Weber, she was an archaeologist with a taste for wines from impossible places. Her palate followed her work: into the ancient vineyards of Syria and Turkey, through the ancient …
Sommeliers: A rare vintage
At the five-year-old Wine School of Philadelphia, located in Fairmount, 60 students are taking sommelier courses, even though director Keith Wallace decries the profession as “the worst position on the face of the earth. At most places, they’re glorified restaurant managers, talked down to and condescended to.”
Beverage managers, responsible for all libations served, make “marginal income,” between $30,000 and $40,000 after long hours, Wallace says, “at the very top, you can make $60,000 to $80,000,” but the hours are punishing. “The wine industry itself is an amazing place to work,” Wallace says. He directs students to industry positions, advertising for a large wine company, importing, running portfolios for distributors all offering the possibility of better pay, travel, nights and weekends off. (Contrary to assumptions, there are import and distribution jobs in Pennsylvania, but only one buyer.)
How a Class Can Enhance Your Wine Experience
The story was originally published by the Wall Street Journal on February 10, 2006. Learning the Ropes About Vines:How a Class Can Enhance Your Wine ExperienceBy DOROTHY J. GAITER and JOHN BRECHERAbout …
City Paper: Class Act
The story was originally published by the Philadelphia City Paper on April 10, 2007. The article is reprinted solely for educational purposes. It is intended to offer insight into the history of wine …
The Big Money Wine Myth
Is Expensive Wine a Waste of Money?Several studies have been released recently that call into question a basic premise of wine buying. Most wine drinkers assume that the more expensive a …
Bad Science
A bevy of news outlets are reporting that only wine professionals can taste complexity in wine: Ever wondered why you can’t quite detect those hints of vanilla and cardamom touted in …
Eric Orange of LocalWineEvents
One dude changed how America thought about wine and changed it for good. Eric V. Orange didn’t mean to, but that’s how history often works. Promoting Wine TastingsIn 2000, Eric started …
Pennsylvania Wines
PA wines are slowly finding their footing. High-quality wines are supplanting the preponderance of sweet pink trash. However, the history of these wines is just being written. This article covers what …
The End of a Wine School
How Reviews Killed a Chicago Wine SchoolHow Krunch Went YelpA small wine school in Chicago gained significant attention in 2012, illustrating how social media can destroy a small business. The story …
Sommelier Smackdown & WWE
The WWE tried to prevent us from running our Sommelier Smackdown classes (they claimed it violated their trademarks) In turn, I turned it into a media feeding frenzy. It was a …
Phoodie.com Editor Joins Wine School Team
Back in 2011, the Wine School had moved from Fairmount to our Rittenhouse location. As part of the move, we brought in a new generation of wine instructors. This was the …
Wine Shopping for the Holidays
This was our original article on wine buying. For our most up-to-date recommendations on where to buy wine in the Philly region, check out our updated Wine Shop Guide. Maybe it’s …
A Career in Wine?
From Radio to WineIf you jumped back in time to 1996, you would find me pounding back espressos in a glass-enclosed office at a National Public Radio station. If it were …