Taste and experience the new and classic regions, wines, beers and spirits from around the world at SOMM Summit coming to Seattle on July 9-11, 2017
SOMM Summit is an international wine and spirits symposium featuring rare tastings and a variety of speakers from key regions around the world—and it’s coming to South Seattle College on July 9-11, 2017. The inaugural symposium is the brainchild of Advanced Sommelier Christopher Chan, perhaps best known for his longstanding wine recognition programs, most notably the Seattle Wine Awards, Oregon Wine Awards and Idaho Wine Awards.
One glance at the two-and-a-half-day itinerary reveals a tasting experience on a magnitude seldom seen in the Pacific Northwest. The daily tasting seminars will include extraordinary local and international wines, beers of the world, port, sherry, gin, cognac and more. Who should attend? Wine buffs, enthusiasts, collectors, winemakers and sommeliers alike—in short, anyone aspiring to up their tasting game and knowledge about what’s behind the bottle.
Tasting Room Magazine’s editor caught up with Christopher Chan for a Q&A session about SOMM Summit coming to Seattle this summer:
What inspired you to bring this kind of around-the-world tasting and learning experience to Seattle?
I am extremely proud of my affiliation with the Court of Master Sommeliers and way back in 2009, I experienced my first Advanced Sommelier prep and examination week. Four amazing days of tastings, talks, presentations and “stress” with some of the most passionate, inspiring and knowledgeable wine professionals I’ve ever been around. I knew the “joy” I was feeling had to be shared back home. We’re so fortunate to have such a hugely successful and still growing wine and spirits industry in the Pacific Northwest, and I knew for “us” to better our craft, we need to taste and experience the new and classic regions, wines, beers and spirits from all around the world.
Ever since the Hollywood movie “SOMM,” a symposium named SOMM Summit might sound intimidating to some readers. How might a wine, beer or spirits geek benefit from attending?
Ha! “Hollywood”…I love it! That movie was produced on a shoestring budget and the crew literally crashed on the floor some nights. The movie has certainly opened the eyes of the consumer and propelled the position of sommelier into the almost “celebrity chef” stratosphere. To be honest, you just don’t find the SOMM Summit type of programming anywhere else. This will be the Woodstock of Wine, the Coachella of Cocktails, the Lollapalooza of Beverage Knowledge, Tasting and Discussion. Seriously, it’s like a trip to Europe and beyond for the $300 admission price!
Give us a sneak preview of wines, beers or spirits that attendees will get to taste and learn about.
Sure, here’s one—three words: Quilceda Creek Retrospective. This tasting has only ever been held for the Wine Spectator Grand Tasting in New York City. Now it’s coming to South Seattle College for SOMM Summit.
Plus, the famed Bodegas Lustau of Jerez, Spain, is hosting the very first sherry-council approved Sherry Ambassador Certification Course ever held in the United States.
What are a few of the classroom sessions you are personally most excited about?
How about a Seven Hills Winery “Decades of Excellence” retrospective with co-founder and winemaker Casey McClellan. Or, a rare wine experience with WineBid.com, the on-line cellar acquisition and sales service. I’ve tasted some absolute stellar wines from the 1970’s, 1980’s, and 1990’s. They should have something really fun to taste. Or, a session on “80 Years of Kopke Port,” or “Beers of the World” led by our own Pike Brewery and leading-beer expert Charles Finkel.
Registration and more information at: www.SOMMSummit.com.
Interview by John Vitale