Episode 334 of I’ll Drink to That! was released recently. It features Master Sommelier Paul Roberts of Colgin Cellars.
Paul Roberts could obviously address any number of wine related topics. This is someone who has worked at the highest levels of restaurant service, who was the first person from Texas to pass the Master Sommelier exam, who has bought wine in several different regions of America, who has worked in retail, who has owned his own small wine label, and who has been in charge of managing some of the most lauded wineries in California. He has also travelled the world for one wine reason or another, and he knows as much about wine itself as about the business of wine. So clearly, this is someone who could speak with experience about any number of issues. This interview manages to hit up many of those, and this is a pretty sweeping look at the change undergoing the wine world in both service and production from the mid-1990s through to now. Paul has a rare vantage point from which to speak, and doesn’t mind sharing the occasional funny anecdote as well. Curious about the challenges of hiring for a 3 star Michelin team? Advice on dealing with the wine supply chain? Or about the intersection of hospitality and the higher end of the Napa wine sales? This episode is an excellent one to check out for answers to those questions, and more. It is also a rare look from the staff side at some of the most esteemed restaurants and wineries in the country. Check it out.
Listen to the stream above, or check it out in iTunes.
I’ll Drink to That is the world’s most listened-to wine podcast, hosted by Levi Dalton. Levi has had a long career working as a sommelier in some of the most distinguished and acclaimed dining rooms in America. He has served wine to guests of Restaurant Daniel, Masa, and Alto, all in Manhattan. Levi has also contributed articles on wine themes to publications such as The Art of Eating, Wine & Spirits magazine, Bon Appetit online, and Eater NY. Check out his pictures on Instagram and follow him on Twitter: @levi_opens_wine
