{"id":7884,"date":"2017-05-15T18:13:38","date_gmt":"2017-05-16T01:13:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7884"},"modified":"2017-05-15T15:16:07","modified_gmt":"2017-05-15T22:16:07","slug":"cocktail-corner-test-your-taste-buds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lesliedinaberg.com\/wordpress\/?p=7884","title":{"rendered":"Cocktail Corner: Test Your Taste Buds"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Emily

Emily Johnston, General Manager and Advanced Sommelier for Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

A Spirited Toast to All Things Alcoholic! By Leslie Dinaberg\u00a0<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Are you curious to learn all about the secrets behind recognizing a wine from just a glance and a taste? Next week, on Thursday, May 18, you can try your skills\u00a0at blind tasting. Starting at 6 p.m. at Les Marchands\u00a0<\/a><\/span>Wine Bar & Merchant (131 Anacapa St., Ste. B), \u00a0Advanced Sommelier Emily Johnston<\/a> leads a fun, interactive event that is open\u00a0to everyone at any level of wine knowledge.<\/span><\/p>\n

Sommelier Secrets is a monthly series of SOMM-led tastings, and at $25 per person, it’s a fun way to deepen your general knowledge and also learn about new wines.<\/span><\/p>\n

The SOMM tastings take place on the third Thursday of each month. They’re basically guided educational events hosted by Johnston and focused on understanding the nuances of a specific wine producing region or a particular grape. The tasting is comprised of flights of three or four wines to highlight classic styles and current trends.<\/p>\n

This is an opportunity for wine lovers of all experience levels to learn more about wine in the most enjoyable way possible.<\/p>\n

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Les Marchands, photo by Rob Stark.<\/p><\/div>\n

After the blind tasting on May 18, next up is a White Burgundy Tasting on June 15.<\/p>\n

\u201cTasting wines that speak to a region is not only a key study tool of mine, it can also be a method of transport to another place or time,\u201d states Johnston. \u201cI\u2019m looking forward to getting to know more wine lovers in our community and sharing this experience.\u201d<\/p>\n

Johnston\u2019s early training includes interning at Brander Vineyard<\/a> in the Santa Ynez Valley followed by wine sales for a small Italian wine import company in Santa Barbara. Thoroughly inspired, Johnston left for Italy to study as a sommelier at ALMA Scuola Internazionale di Cucina\u2019s Wine Academy<\/a> where she received the highest academic honors in her class<\/p>\n

\"Les

Les Marchands Wine Bar & Merchant, courtesy photo.<\/p><\/div>\n

and achievement in Italian fluency. She became a Certified Sommelier with the Associazione Italiana Sommeliers (AIS)<\/a> in 2011 while working alongside AIS Master Sommelier, Roberto Jacquemod Pane<\/a>.<\/p>\n

She\u00a0became a Certified Advanced Level Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2016. Before arriving at Les Marchands as General Manager in 2017, Johnston served as Wine Director\/Sommelier for the Toscana Restaurant Group<\/a> overseeing the wine programs at four operations\u2013Toscana, Bar Toscana, S.Y. Kitchen<\/a> and Nerano for four years.<\/p>\n

At Les Marchands, she oversees the wine bar\u2019s ever-changing menu of selections, educational programs and retail offerings. In 2015, she was awarded Zagat\u2019s \u201c30 Under 30\u201d award for young talent to be watched in the hospitality industry.<\/p>\n

For further information and to make reservations contact Les Marchands at 805\/284-0380, email inquiries@lesmarchandswine.com, or visit www.lesmarchandswine.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Cheers! Click\u00a0here<\/a>\u00a0for more cocktail corner columns.<\/p>\n

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\"Leslie<\/p>\n

Leslie Dinaberg<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

When she\u2019s not busy working as the editor of Santa Barbara SEASONS, Cocktail Corner author Leslie Dinaberg writes<\/i>\u00a0mag<\/i>azine articles, newspaper columns and grocery lists. When it comes to cocktails, Leslie considers herself a \u201cgoal-oriented drinker.\u201d<\/i><\/p>\n

\u00a0Originally published in Santa Barbara Seasons<\/em><\/a> on May 12, 2017.<\/div>\n
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