James Laurenti’s Post

It’s been a minute since I’ve updated LinkedIn, and, in classic me style, truly so much has happened. Almost a year ago today, I found out that the podcast I’d left my longstanding position for was ending. It was an incredible roller coaster of an experience that pushed the boundaries of what I thought I could accomplish. I’m beyond proud of the community we built, grateful for the guests who made the show, and continuously overjoyed to hear from listeners. All that aside, getting laid off is awful. I didn’t take it well. BUT I did take my severance check and invest in wine education courses. I had this silly thought that I could take a wine tasting game borne out of pandemic boredom and turn it into a full-blown business. And then I met a bunch of people who believed in me.  I (shockingly) fell in love with the science (!!) behind wine. To me, a wine tasting feels like an intricate logic puzzle that engages the senses. When I’m assessing a wine, I’m really asking myself: what does the color indicate about the how it was aged? what do the flavor notes reveal about the winemaking process? how can I trace this taste back to the soil it came from? So, I decided to make a game that poses those very questions, but in a way that is actually genuinely a good time. Over two rounds and six wines, attendees guess varietal, region, price, flavor notes, and other identifying factors — no prior wine knowledge needed, thanks to multiple choice options and dramatic yet informative reveals of each bottle. Guests leave with a few fun facts to wow at their next tasting and a new appreciation of the entertainment potential of wine + trivia combined. I’m excited to share that I have quite a few wine tastings on the horizon (and so, so many ideas in the works). Next up: Falentine’s Day Blind Wine Tasting on Friday, February 23 at Tambaran2 Gallery on the UES (link in comments). Follow me on instagram @_no_wine_left_behind_ or check out winetastingsbyfallon.com for more updates!

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Why has the winery industry transformed into a snobbish industry? I discussed this with a friend recently, reflecting on how much we've both changed since entering the wine industry and how we conduct ourselves now. It seems the transformation wasn't unique to us; many others have changed similarly. We both acknowledged our past snobbishness, rigidly adhering to what we had learned and believed. We thought everyone drinking wine should follow these rules. My friend, coming from an education background, and I realized that many wine professionals, when starting out, tend to be snobbish, likely due to the many rules the wine industry teaches us to follow. This made me realize that our education system often prepares us to replicate knowledge rather than encourage innovation and problem-solving. How many of you have completed a wine course with dreams of teaching or simply replicating what you've learned? I've lost count of the professionals I know who want to open a wine school or a similar type of business involving educational masterclass events or becoming WSET educators. Some important questions arise: ✅Must everyone be formally educated before enjoying wine? ✅Do all customers want to learn how to taste or drink like wine professionals? I believe there's a niche for this, but it doesn't cater to everyone. Perhaps we're overlooking a significant opportunity because we're not listening to their needs and are too focused on our own bubble. David Stevens-Castro a.k.a DSC, once remarked to me that while our industry boasts many educators, perhaps it's time to incorporate more entertainment-oriented perspectives. Personally, I feel there's a lack of practical application in what I've studied. Less emphasis on rote memorization and more on problem-solving skills could be advantageous. What are your thoughts? #rethinkingthewineindustry #winebusiness #wineindustry #wine #wineeducation

🍷New Episode! WineMasters Class: Sparkling Wines🎓 Sparkling wines might be some of the most technical wines in the world, since you need 2 fermentations, one to make the wine, the other to make the bubbles. And there are different ways to make sparkling wine. We’ll highlight the following methods: the traditional method, the transfer method, the Charmat or tank method, and the ancestral method and explain their differences. Just for fun, we’ll even explore the cheapest way to make a sparkling, made with carbonation in our experiment. Watch Now on WineMasters.TV

Check out my newest article about Sound and Vision Wine Co. For the Oregon Wine Press!

🍷New Episode! WineMasters Class: Sparkling Wines🎓 Sparkling wines might be some of the most technical wines in the world, since you need 2 fermentations, one to make the wine, the other to make the bubbles. And there are different ways to make sparkling wine. We’ll highlight the following methods: the traditional method, the transfer method, the Charmat or tank method, and the ancestral method and explain their differences. Just for fun, we’ll even explore the cheapest way to make a sparkling, made with carbonation in our experiment. Watch Now on WineMasters.TV

🍷New Episode! WineMasters Class: Sparkling Wines🎓 Sparkling wines might be some of the most technical wines in the world, since you need 2 fermentations, one to make the wine, the other to make the bubbles. And there are different ways to make sparkling wine. We’ll highlight the following methods: the traditional method, the transfer method, the Charmat or tank method, and the ancestral method and explain their differences. Just for fun, we’ll even explore the cheapest way to make a sparkling, made with carbonation in our experiment. Watch Now on WineMasters.TV

Elevate your wine talk! 🗣️🍷 Dive into wine education and swirl your way into engaging discussions. Be the one who knows their Merlot from their Malbec. #WineTalk #EducateYourPalate

Thinking about taking a wine qualification in 2024? This webinar will give you an introduction to the WSET way of learning about wines and how your knowledge will progress throughout your studies.

Elevate your wine talk! 🗣️🍷 Dive into wine education and swirl your way into engaging discussions. Be the one who knows their Merlot from their Malbec. #WineTalk #EducateYourPalate