Events and speakers confirmed for Somm360 congress in Canada

The Somm360 Congress in Montreal has confirmed the full programme of masterclasses and revealed the speaker line-up a three weeks ahead of the kick-off on 25 November.

As previously reported by db, The Somm360 Congress promisies to be one of the biggest weeks of wine education in Canada, and plans to welcome 300 wine professionals at Le Grand Quai in Montreal’s Old Port.

According to the organisers, the congress is designed to help sommeliers obtain the MS (Master Sommelier), MW (Master of Wine) or WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) certifications.

The line-up of speakers can be seen below, and the full schedule can be viewed here, while, since our last report on the programme, additions to the schedule have been made, and are featured below.

Sunday

• Masterclass:The art of blending in the world of Sake, with the ‘createur d’harmonies’ presented by François Chartier, new master-blender of the historic Tanaka Sake Brewery, in Miyagi in Japan.

Monday

• Masterclass: The irrevocable luxury of rural life and entrepreneurship, presented by Jean-Claude Mas, founder and executive manager, Les Domaines Paul Mas, & Alexandre Fontaine, chef of restaurant Côté Mas. (This session will also offer an interactive culinary wine pairing competition for all congress attendees with chef Alexandre Fontaine).
• Masterclass: Dry white Bordeaux, breaking down the styles among a growing category, presented by Bordeaux Wines and moderated by Mary Gorman-McAdams MW – CIVB Market Adviser for North America
  Panelists:
  • Jesse Becker, MS – accredited Bordeaux Wine educator, Portfolio Manager of Craft & Estates, Chicago
  • Élyse Lambert, MS – 5th Best sommelier of the world 2016, Sommelier Consultant, Montreal
  • John Szabo, MS, Partner/Principal Critic, WineAlign.com, Toronto
• Masterclass: A glass with… Greg Lambrecht, Chairman & Founder, Coravin & Terry Kandylis, Head Sommelier, 67 Pall Mall, United Kingdom – How to manage a 750 wine by the glass program?

Tuesday

• Masterclass: A coffee with…Fernando Mora MW, Winemaker & Founder, Bodegas Frontonio, Spain – The quest to become a Master of Wine
• Masterclass: Syrah in Rhone blends, presented by Thomas Perrin, Winemaker & Owner, Château de Beaucastel.

• Masterclass: A glass with… Devon Broglie MS, Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, and a panel of Master Sommeliers
  Panelists:

• • Devon Broglie MS, Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, and Global Beverage Buyer at Whole Foods Market, Texas
  • Jennifer Huether MS, Jackson Family Wine, California
  • Élyse Lambert MS – 5th Best Sommelier of the World 2016, Sommelier Consultant, Montreal
  • John Szabo MS, Partner/Principal Critic, WineAlign.com, Toronto
• Masterclass: A tribute to Canada, presented by Thomas Bachelder, Chief winemaker, Domaine Queylus

Tickets for industry professionals are available for a special early-bird rate of $199 ($399 regular) as long as quantities last, by clicking here.

(This includes masterclasses, tastings, wine bars, one cocktail dinner reception, two lunches, and networking events.)

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SOMM360 CONGRESS UNVEILS FULL PROGRAMME