Episode 175 - How to Train Your Palate for Blind Tasting: Celebrating 15 Years of the Annual “Somm Smackdown” Competition at Vino Venue with a Panel of Atlanta Wine Professionals

Step into the minds of sommeliers and wine professionals to discover what really happens when they sit down to identify wines in a blind tasting. In Episode 175, recorded live at Vino Venue, we bring together a panel of seasoned blind tasters who are veterans of Atlanta’s annual “Somm Smackdown” blind tasting competition. This conversation unpacks the art, intuition, and discipline behind identifying an unknown wine with nothing but your senses. What started as a question from someone who attended the competition as a spectator in the past – “how do you even train your palate to do this?” - evolves into an energetic, deeply insightful conversation filled with real-world strategies, personal stories, and the occasional myth-busting moment. As bonus dialogue and to provide full context for this discussion, we kick things off with Sommelier Ryan Mullins, the first-ever Somm Smackdown Champion, who shares the history and evolution of this competition along with some of his own philosophies for why he continues the pursuit of refining these skills. Whether you’re a curious beginner or a seasoned industry professional, this episode pulls back the curtain on one of wine’s most fascinating and humbling challenges. You can visit www.vinovenue.com for a list of all the past Somm Smackdown Champions as well as to discover information about their retail shop and full calendar of upcoming events.

FEATURING:

Ryan Mullins, Winebow

Pepe Fundora, Casa Nuova

Briana Pope-Pettis, Court of Master Sommeliers

Joe Herrig, Georgia Crown

Brian White, Epicurean Atlanta

Emily Mendyka, Vino Venue

Recorded April 13, 2026 with a live audience at Vino Venue in Dunwoody, GA

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