By the Glass: ‘Wine Speak’ offers chance to share, learn

In January, the inaugural Wine Speak event offered rare opportunities to learn from top wine professionals who shared their insights, wisdom and experiences from many perspectives. I co-founded the event, held in Paso Robles, Calif., with the intention of nurturing camaraderie and collaboration.

We started with my dream list of 15 people who I felt had profound thoughts to share, and we were fortunate that all 15 actually came. Panels of three speakers each took turns sharing their perspectives, then they talked story. The format was magical.

Discussions centered on New World syrah and cabernet sauvig­non, by such illustrious panelists as Sergio Carlei of Carlei Wines in Australia, master sommelier Greg Harrington of Gramercy Cellars in Washington state, and, from California, Bruce Neyers of Neyers Vineyards in Napa Valley, Justin Smith of Saxum Vineyards in Paso Robles and Matt Dees of Jonata in the San Ynez Valley, to name a few.

Thanks to their openness, the audience walked away thinking differently about syrah and cabernet.

On the final day of Wine Speak 2018, a sommelier panel featured Mark Shishido, wine director at Alan Wong’s restaurant and member of the Hawaii Restaurant Association’s Hall of Fame, alongside two legendary master sommeliers, Fred Dame of “Somm” movie fame and Nunzio Alioto, a former chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers. In addition, Renee Awana and Alisa Onishi of Hawaiian Airlines presented a memorable session on hospitality.

WINE SPEAK 2019 is coming up Jan. 7 to 10 in Paso Robles and will feature another bevy of superstar wine professionals.

This time around, along with a syrah and a cabernet panel, we will have discussions about grape varieties such as zinfandel, grenache and mourvedre.

For details on each panel, go to winespeakpaso.com. Event fees run from $50 to $225.

One particularly unique panel, “Wine — From a Different Perspective,” will feature Meredith May, publisher of The Somm Journal; winemaker Jordan Fiorentini of Epoch Estate Wines in Paso Robles; Helen Keplinger of Keplinger Wines in Napa (and one of Food & Wine magazine’s 2012 Winemakers of the Year); and James Beard Foundation award winner Shelley Lindgren, proprietor of A16 and SPQR restaurants in San Francisco. Their group will be moderated by Amanda Wittstrom Higgins of Ancient Peaks wines in Santa Margarita, Calif. I’m extremely excited to hear their insights.

Events will include a food-and-wine luncheon, featuring the culinary work of chef Cheyne Jackson from The Range restaurant in Santa Margarita, and renowned wine wizard Randy Caparoso, a former managing partner of Roy’s Restaurants and now editor-at-large at The Somm Journal. Keynote speaker will be master sommelier Dame of Daou Vineyards in Paso Robles.

Those interested in attending Wine Speak should also check out two evening events — a casual BYOB dinner and “A Taste of Paso Robles,” which will feature the top 25 wineries of the appellation, plus foods from some of the area’s finest chefs, in an interactive, walk-around format.

This will be a golden learning opportunity.

Chuck Furuya is a master sommelier and a partner in the DK Restaurants group. Follow his blog at chuckfuruya.com.