Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails, oh my! Chat With Professor Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan

After this rewarding chat, you’ll raise your glass to toast your abilities to discern good wine from mediocre and to craft the perfect drink. Join Great Courses professor Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan on February 11 at 7 PM ET to discover the wonderful world of wine, the scintillating scope of spirits, and the creation of incomparable cocktails.

Join Professor Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan for a compelling look at wine, spirits, and cocktails. Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan is one of only a few hundred people in the world to have achieved the Master of Wine (M.W.) title from The Institute of Masters of Wine in London, England—the highest and most difficult title to achieve in the industry. She also has a Professional Certificate in Spirits from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust and is a Certified Specialist of Spirits from the Society of Wine Educators. She has led five Great Courses series, and has been featured on numerous television, radio programs, and publications.

3rd & 7 37yd

Good evening, and thank you all for joining us tonight as we discuss wine, spirits, and cocktails with our esteemed guest, Professor Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan, Master of Wine and Certified Specialist of Spirits. At this time, our chat is now open and you may begin sending your questions to Professor Simonetti-Bryan by clicking on the Submit a Question button.

This is a text based chat, so please be patient while the professor is responding.
There is an abundance of questions, and we will try to get to as many as
possible in this chat. We apologize if we do not get to yours - they are
moderated subject to the professor’s approval. Please use appropriate language.
If you are having trouble seeing answers, try refreshing your browser. Thank you, and
let’s start the chat!

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:00:30 AM

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The question about assessment between wine, beer and coffee with their differences and similarities. With this I could go on delightfully for hours! The SHORT short version is that all quality parameters start with what I see as FBLICAT-
- F- Finesse
- B- Balance
- L- Length
- C- Complexity or Concentration
- A- Ageability- for wine- does it have the structure to age
- T- Typicity- does it taste typical for where it's from? what it's made from? the style?
All of these amount to an assessment after tasting each one.
by Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan 2/12/2016 12:01:34 AM

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What are the differences in evaluations and techniques used by wine connoisseurs, beer connoisseurs, and coffee connoisseurs? Do these share a common root of study?

by jhl 2/12/2016 12:02:36 AM

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Are you more of a sancerre or cabernet sauvignon fan? Learn more about all types of wine with Professor Simonetti-Bryan here!
Did you know...?

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:04:13 AM

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With California experiencing severe droughts in the last 1-3 years, how has this affected the Californian wine industry? How has this changed the taste of its wine and how was this change of taste received by the wine community, if at all?

by jae 2/12/2016 12:06:43 AM

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Don't forget, we're giving away a FREE copy of Professor Simonetti-Bryan's course to one randomly selected participant of tonight's chat! Tune in until the end to see if you've won!

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:09:09 AM

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Hallo Professor Jennifer. My husband would love to join me in a glass of wine here and there, or take part in wine tasting events. However, we believe there exists an allergy for him with wine, because every time he drinks wine, no matter how small the amount, he gets "hot flashes." Does that even make sense? We were told that maybe it has something to do with the "chemicals" the wine producers put into the wines. What's your opinion? I hope you can shed some light on this issue. Thank you for your time. Warm regards, Irene Mayer in Pueblo West, Colorado.

by Irene Mayer edited by TheGreatCourses 2/12/2016 12:10:29 AM

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Hello. So excited to learn something new!!

by LaShan Arceneaux 2/12/2016 12:11:30 AM

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"Care of the nature of the vine itself best of all for the wine, for then the tree throws no shadow, and the grape is ripened continuously by the sun." South Africa, 2011
A beautiful meal with beautiful people in South Africa, 2011
Barrels and barrels of wine! South Africa, 2011

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:11:37 AM

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by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:13:20 AM

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Since owning a home bar means it's not terribly likely you'll need all the fresh garnishes/mixers you see bought and prepared in full cocktail bars every day, what are some good ones that you can stock that won't just go bad on you?

by rhichi 2/12/2016 12:14:03 AM

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"If I can, you can" | The Great Courses

by Dave Sanders via YouTube 2/12/2016 12:14:44 AM

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Hi Jennifer we love your course! If you had two weeks to explore wines in France, how would you go about it? Would you stay in one place? Pick an area and drive. Would neophytes. Need a guide - not for travel, but to get access to the inside? Not an unlimited budget. Thanks

by Cheryl 2/12/2016 12:16:07 AM

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Where does your favorite wine come from? Wine regions of France.
Who can resist sunny California? Wine regions of California
Ciao Italia! Wine regions of Italy

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:16:50 AM

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How many grams of sugar in a 6 ounce glass of robert mondavt merlot

by Jazz 2/12/2016 12:18:45 AM

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Hi, Jennifer. I enjoy wine, but I'm new to understanding it better. When buying wine for a gift, what is a go-to wine that would be appropriate? Since I don't know much yet, I want to make sure I'm choosing a high quality wine that is still within my price range? What do you recommend?

by JennF 2/12/2016 12:21:11 AM

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by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:21:42 AM

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Terroir aside, what are some interesting differences in processing a California Central Coast single varietal -such as nebbiolo or grenache vs. the processing currently done in France or Italy....

by Jilly 2/12/2016 12:23:18 AM

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Perhaps the best accident in history! Speaking of rotting... (next slide!)
That's one tasty fungus among us. Makes sense this would go well with cheeses, another tasty fungal byproduct!

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:24:15 AM

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Drawing on your past career... Is investing in a winery prudent?

by JoeDuffus 2/12/2016 12:26:18 AM

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We’ve received a number of great submissions! Thanks for your patience as Professor Jennifer Simonetti-Bryan answers your questions as quickly as possible.

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:27:41 AM

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In your opinion, which key characteristics make up a restaurant's successful beverage program, for example in a farm to table establishment with a moderate entree price range, an extensive by the glass list and or intensive staff training, etc.?

by erreichu 2/12/2016 12:28:45 AM

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Your own personal Master of Wine!
Professor Simonetti Bryan is working with the new app, "Wine Ring." The way they see it, you’re one of a kind. So choose wine based on your own individual preferences.

Simply taste a wine and tell them if you Love It, Like It, SoSo or Dislike™. Their innovative, expert system – the only patented technology of its kind – learns your unique preferences from your ratings and gives you a smarter way to buy. Choosing wine just got truly personal, really easy, and very fast!

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:31:32 AM

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Hello Jennifer

Since I enjoyed your courses so much, and I took all of them, allow me to suggest more, ones that I would be interested in.
- The Everyday Guide to the Wines of Spain and Portugal. The lecture on Spain and Portugal is *the one* that left me wanting more.

- The Everyday Guide to the Wines of South America. A more detailed exploration of Argentina, Chile and Uruguay, plus exploration of other zones such as Brazil and perhaps Peru.

- The Everyday Guide to the Wines of the U.S. - outside California, which was covered in a course.

- The Everyday Guide to the Wines of Eastern Europe, which should cover both how the noble varieties grow there, as well as specific ones such as the Croatian Crljenak, the common ancestor of Primitivo and Zinfandel.

Thanks!

by George 2/12/2016 12:31:36 AM

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What a view! Port overlooking the valley in Portugal, 2005
Professor Simonetti-Bryan in Portugal 2005
Portugal, 2005

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:33:11 AM

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What it takes to become a Master of Wine w/ Prof Simonetti Bryan | The Great Courses

by Dave Sanders via YouTube 2/12/2016 12:34:09 AM

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Hello Professor. Thanks for being here. Love your courses. There was an article in the Wall Street Journal a couple of years ago about the wine rating system (bottles receiving high rating points of 1st or 2nd place etc.) The system, according to the WSJ, seems flawed and not clearly representative of the actual quality of the wine and more about money to judges and/or wineries. There were several “blind” tastings where the judges gave 1st place status or very high points to various wines and then the exact wine(s) in a different “blind” test didn’t even rank in the top 10 with similar quality wines. Can you address how much of this is actually happening in the industry and if the ratings really make that much difference?

by Patrick Sherman 2/12/2016 12:34:20 AM

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I am going to Portugal for a second time. In what region were the pictures below taken?

by Aida 2/12/2016 12:37:01 AM

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Do you think screw tops will become universal in the future? I hate cork bits in my wine! Is there really any difference in quality and aging with a screw cap?

by Dave Wightman 2/12/2016 12:39:01 AM

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Hidden deep under 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, our Professor Simonetti-Bryan gets familiar with their wine cellar. What is the President drinking?
Delete Edit Image Reorder
Professor Simonetti-Bryan and White House chef.
Napa Valley 2007

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:40:19 AM

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What kind of wines do you recommend if you are calorie conscious/ dieting, sugar-conscious, or worried about alcohol inhibiting your ability to burn fat?

by SEB11 2/12/2016 12:40:53 AM

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What's your favorite spirit and how do you like it prepared? Learn more with "The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails"
Did you know this? Learn more with "The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails"
"Shaken, not stirred." -Bond, James Bond. Learn more with "The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails"
We have all had this passing thought, have we not? Learn more with "The Everyday Guide to Spirits and Cocktails"

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:43:13 AM

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We just bought unbreakable wine glasses that are enormously tall....not sure if we like them. Do you have any favorite glasses for home use?

by Cheryl 2/12/2016 12:43:44 AM

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History of Wine w/ Prof Simonetti Bryan | The Great Courses

by Dave Sanders via YouTube 2/12/2016 12:45:08 AM

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Hi Jennifer. We have several bottles of wine from 1999 2002 I mean old. Are they good? If we taste them, how can we tell if they are bad? Great course on Cal wines.. Thanks.

by Phil and phyllis 2/12/2016 12:45:29 AM

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by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:46:58 AM

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What is your favorite wine and why?

by LaShan Arceneaux 2/12/2016 12:48:01 AM

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So you have dinner ready, but what are you drinking with it?
Never forget the 5 S's of wine tasting!
Use this chart to taste and rate varieties of wine.

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:49:25 AM

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Where are the best values coming from these days?

by Rick Carmickle 2/12/2016 12:50:21 AM

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Bezier, Languedoc, France 2005
Bezier, Languedoc, France in 2005

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:51:00 AM

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The Everyday Guide To Wine

WINNER!

Congrats to Cheryl on winning "The Everyday Guide To Wine"! Please email us at social@teachco.com within the next 48 hours to claim your prize!

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:52:07 AM

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Do yeast type and barrel type count as much as place where the grapes are grown in the effect on taste?

by Al 2/12/2016 12:52:52 AM

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Do you have a favorite vintage? Share with the group!
Learn more with "The Everyday Guide to Wine"
Learn more with "The Everyday Guide to Wine"

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by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:55:11 AM

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Any thoughts on a course of lesser known wine regions? I lived in Hungary for three months, and I was amazed at the number of wines produced, most of it that we never see here in the US. I would love to see a course that covers lesser known regions like Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova, etc.

[Addition from The Great Courses] Similarly from JHL: What makes certain countries popular for their wine (France, Italy) and others not so much (Germany)? Is it the terrain and climate of the countries or more because of their cultural reputation?

by kasey moctezuma edited by TheGreatCourses 2/12/2016 12:56:29 AM

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We've received an abundance of questions for Professor Simonetti-Bryan, and she has
graciously agreed to answer more of your questions within the next week! They
will be added to the chat transcript. Check back here to see additional questions answered soon.

by TheGreatCourses edited by Dave Sanders 2/12/2016 12:57:20 AM

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