SOMMspirations

04/08/2026

You arrive in Napa Valley. You step into a polished tasting room. Someone pours wine. You swirl, sip, and nod appreciatively. There’s nothing wrong with this ritual. Napa does tasting rooms very well. But after a few stops, the experience can start to feel… repetitive.

In the latest blog piece on my site, I share Napa wine tasting experiences BEYOND the tasting room.

Brianne Cohen is a Los Angeles based certified sommelier, wine educator, and wine writer focusing on delivering fun and relatable wine education to her audiences.

03/24/2026

Say Yes to an Engaging Presenter

I recently went incognito as a “guest” at a few consumer tastings led by a Master of Wine. Full disclosure: I was excited to just sit back and sip, not teach.

What did I reconfirm?

These tastings leaned way into the technical side. Slide decks, jargon, no interaction. Guests were checked out before the first pour even landed.

Here’s the thing—wine is meant to connect people. To spark conversation. To be enjoyed with friends and food.

If your “wine educator” can’t make that happen, all the credentials in the world won’t save the tasting.

If you’re looking to hire someone to lead a wine tating for your friends, family, clients, or employee teams, hire an engaging wine professional and presenter who can connect with your attendees and offer a memorable and interactive experience for them.

And my recommendation is to GENERALLY avoid those with MW and MS behind their name, unless you have seen them present in settings like the one you are looking to host.

03/24/2026

Say No to an MW or MS
Say Yes to an Engaging Presenter

I recently went incognito as a “guest” at a few consumer tastings led by a Master of Wine. Full disclosure: I was excited to just sit back and sip, not teach.

What did I reconfirm?

These tastings leaned way into the technical side. Slide decks, jargon, no interaction. Guests were checked out before the first pour even landed.

Here’s the thing—wine is meant to connect people. To spark conversation. To be enjoyed with friends and food.

If your “wine educator” can’t make that happen, all the credentials in the world won’t save the tasting.

If you’re looking to hire someone to lead a wine tating for your friends, family, clients, or employee teams, hire an engaging wine professional and presenter who can connect with your attendees and offer a memorable and interactive experience for them.

And my recommendation is to GENERALLY avoid those with MW and MS behind their name, unless you have seen them present in settings like the one you are looking to host.

03/19/2026

Check out my latest blog post about the amazing wines coming out of Sicily!

Brianne Cohen is a Los Angeles based certified sommelier, wine educator, and wine writer focusing on delivering fun and relatable wine education to her audiences.

03/18/2026

🏅Get in the Game🏅

With 19 years of experience in hospitality and the events world, I’m excited to share how our team can support YOU as LA prepares to host some of the world’s biggest sporting events.

🎾2026 U.S. Women’s Open
⚽️2026 FIFA World Cup
🏈2027 Super Bowl
🏅2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games

We’ve developed a dedicated suite of wine and hospitality services designed specifically for the scale and expectations of these high-profile moments.

I am a woman-owned business, certified sommelier, and wine educator, offering interactive wine experiences for corporate, association, and social groups.

When possible, we proudly spotlight diverse-owned wineries, including Black, BIPOC, LGBTQ+, and women-owned and made wines.

Our approach blends hospitality expertise with event production know-how, ensuring wine isn’t just served—it’s intentional, seamless, and adds measurable value to the guest experience.

We partner closely with event producers, agencies, venues, and sponsors to deliver elevated wine experiences for VIP lounges & hospitality suites, sponsor activations, fan zones, client entertainment, and off-site events.

One of the most common questions we hear is: “Can we work with you if our venue doesn’t allow outside alcohol? The answer is YES—absolutely.

When alcohol cannot be brought in, we collaborate directly with the venue’s existing wine list to design a customized experience that aligns with your goals, brand, and guests.

Are you in? Let’s make some magic happen!

02/28/2026

🇩🇪 Munich 🇩🇪

Continuing on with my “Luxurious Weekend” series with .wine, my latest piece speaks to the wonderful city of Munich, Germany. In this article, I share where to eat, drink, and stay for a Luxurious weekend in Munich. Whether you’re there for the culture, cuisine, or Champagne (okay, Sekt), Munich delivers sophistication with a distinctly Bavarian charm. Full article at link in bio under “press”!

1-rooftop views of Munich
2-mountain Hub Gourmet, the Michelin dining experience at the Munich airport!
3-the dining room at Mountain Hub Gourmet
4-greeted with Champagne upon check-in at the Mandarin Oriental
5-my room at the Mandarin Oriental
6-bathroom at the Mandarin Oriental
7-goodies at the Mandarin Oriental
8-10 dinner at Matsuhisa at the Mandarin Oriental
11-12 Hofbrauhaus, the most famous watering hole in the world
13-sausage at the Viktualienmarkt, the outdoor food market
14-Schmalznudel, a crispy pastry similar to a donut, at Café Frischhut
15-the dreamiest cocktail, Prince of Wales, at Bar Montez (Remy Martin VSOP, Dry Curaçao, Port, Cherry, Bitters, Perrier Jouët Grand Brut)
16-sunset on the rooftop at the Mandarin Oriental

02/20/2026

Continuing on with my “Luxurious Weekend” series with Monarch Wine, my latest piece speaks to the wonderful city of Munich, Germany. In this article, I share where to eat, drink, and stay for a Luxurious weekend in Munich. Whether you’re there for the culture, cuisine, or Champagne (okay, Sekt), Munich delivers sophistication with a distinctly Bavarian charm.

Munich is a city of contrasts where centuries-old beer halls meet sleek boutiques, and opulent architecture pairs beautifully with modern luxury. It’s a tig ...

02/11/2026

🍷In-Home Wine Tasting🍷

I talk a lot about my corporate wine tastings, but I also love hosting intimate in-home experiences like this one.

Smaller groups create space for more connection around the wines. This host knocked it out of the park by pairing bites with each pour, thanks to a private chef. Add in the swoon-worthy holiday decor to make for a lovely night.

The occasion was a 40th birthday, and they wanted to have the birthday girl’s favorite wines, including an eclectic mix of sparkling wine, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir in all its forms, and Aussie Shiraz.

Love making personal wine selections in intimate setting like this. Can’t wait till the next one!

02/05/2026

Up Your Wine Game 🍷 Up in the Air

Why in the heck am I wearing an inflated airplane life vest? NO, I was not in an emergency landing!

This was part of a continuing education training day for private aviation flight attendants. There were seminars on safety, culinary demonstrations, and a wine workshop, led by yours truly!

The wine presentation was designed specifically for flight attendants in private aviation. In this session, they learned how to confidently discuss and pair wines, understand key flavor profiles, and master the nuances of high-end wine service to impress clients. This session provided insider tips to help them stand out in the competitive world of private aviation, ensuring they’re prepared to offer a seamless, sophisticated wine experience up in the air. 

Thank you to for putting together such an enriching day for the group. I certainly hope we can work together again!