Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/735024
88 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2016 { somm journal seminar series } by Meridith May and Allyson Gorsuch / photos by Mona Shield Payne Master Sommelier Will Costello, Wine Director for the exqui- site Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Las Vegas, stands at a podium, overseeing a panel of worldly wine region representatives and an audience of 30 resort wine directors and sommeliers. He is moderating our traveling seminar, Digging In to Unique Terroir, featuring a bevy of distinctive taste profiles, in this case from Italy, Hungary, France, Spain, Argentina, Washington and California. "Who is this seminar for?" Costello asked the attendees at the outset. "Is it for you or for your customer? Is this something that helps us sell wine, or is it just for our own edification?" The answer, seemingly, is both. It's the ace a sommelier has in his or her back pocket to complete the flush of a perfect wine-and- dish pairing, or to tell a story to an intrigued guest who wants to understand why the $200 wine tastes as it does. But ultimately, it's the continuing knowledge gained by our industry pros that's the raison d'être for their careers, their studies and their own drive for staying on top of this business. "Let's bring the discussion of terroir to the forefront," suggests Costello. Will Costello, MS, is Wine Director at The Mandarin Oriental in Las Vegas and was the panel moderator. Who Needs to Know About It? IN OUR CONTINUING INTERACTIVE SEMINAR, DIGGING IN TO UNIQUE TERROIR, THE SOMM JOURNAL FINDS AN INTERESTED GROUP OF PROFESSIONAL BUYERS AND SOMMELIERS ANSWERING THAT QUESTION AT THE MANDARIN ORIENTAL HOTEL IN LAS VEGAS