If you're looking to become a sommelier, who better to learn from than Matt Stamp? Not only is he a Master Sommelier, but Matt's also the Education Director for the Guild of Sommeliers. He stopped by SommChat on Twitter to talk about natural wine, South Africa, two islands and a gorge, plus some parting advice for aspiring Master Sommeliers.
Tell me about your job.
A. @KeeperColl It's a great job and keeps me current! I produce most of our written educational content & spend time on the road #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
A. @KeeperColl …either to put on presentations for our membership, or for research–which, I remind my wife, still counts as work! #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
Recommended, but with a caveat:
. @m_arcon @keepercoll I think they are great...if you are drinking them in the place of their birth, and not long afterward! #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
. @m_arcon @keepercoll seriously, some "nat" wines can age incredibly...like @EmidioPepe ...others not so much. #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
South Africa and Swartland:
A. @KeeperColl but fun stuff to pour; we are doing a few older wines and a regional focus on Swartland. #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
Rodney Dangerfield of grapes?
A. @KeeperColl really though, I just look forward to making Pinotage jokes. @TEXSOM #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
Goin' Mobile:
. @fabienlaine @guildsomm @keepercoll our new mobile app is going to be great. access the compendium on the go. #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
. @fabienlaine @guildsomm @keepercoll the mobile platform will be a member benefit. no extra fees for access. #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
Want to explore South African wines?
@MattMcGinnis secateurs chenin, anything from the badenhorst stable, mullineux @SwartlandRev #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
The inauspicious origins of a Master Sommelier:
A. @KeeperColl Couldn’t hack it as a chef? I started at my family’s @V_Mertz, and had to figure out how to do something! #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
Keep your eye on two islands and a gorge:
. @fabienlaine @guildsomm @keepercoll after a recent trip to #santorini I can't help but love Greek whites.... #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
. @fabienlaine @guildsomm @keepercoll & not a country but WA has been pretty exciting. Columbia Gorge is the business! #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
. @fabienlaine @guildsomm @keepercoll I honeymooned on Madeira (and managed to bamboozle everyone out of #frasqueira #terrantez)...#sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
. @fabienlaine @guildsomm @keepercoll ...so it always holds a special place in my heart. Madeira is a desert island wine for me. #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
Some parting advice:
A. @KeeperColl my advice : find a way to teach. To your wait staff, your tasting group, whomever. #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
A. @KeeperColl no better way to reinforce + understand your own knowledge than to have to communicate it effectively to others #sommchat
— Matt Stamp MS (@Sommambulism) July 16, 2014
