Wine Tasting Tips, Travel Advice, Exam Studying With Cokie Ponikvar - Advanced Sommelier & Wine Educator

In this episode of the Vint Wine Podcast, host Billy Galanko welcomes Cokie Ponikvar, Advanced Sommelier, Master of Wine candidate, and the voice behind the educational Instagram account @cokiesworldofwine, for an in-depth conversation about wine study, communication, and global exploration.

Cokie discusses how to start learning about wine from the ground up, how she built her Instagram following by breaking down technical topics into approachable lessons, and how she prepared for both the Advanced Sommelier and Master of Wine exams. She shares her unique blind tasting method using hundreds of mini bottles, offers advice for building a cellar on a budget, and reflects on her wine travels across Burgundy, Champagne, and Germany.

Topics covered include:

• The differences between the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) and Master of Wine (MW) exam formats, especially in blind tasting and service
• Her at-home tasting setup using hundreds of mini bottles for varietal calibration
• How to start learning about wine and begin tasting with purpose before building a collection
• Recommended first bottles to age, and how to build a cellar on a modest budget (hint: Riesling)
• Why still wines from Champagne (Coteaux Champenois) are gaining attention in warm vintages
• The importance of remaining open-minded to new grape varieties and styles
• Cultural differences in wine appreciation across Canada, the UK, the U.S., and Europe
• Vineyard visits across Burgundy, Champagne, and Germany, including time spent with Peter Liem and a barrel tasting at Egly-Ouriet

🎧 Follow Cokie on Instagram: @cokiesworldofwine
📌 Subscribe to the Vint Wine Podcast for more interviews with the people shaping wine culture today.

Chapters:

00:00 Welcome to the Vent Wine Podcast
00:28 Interview with Kki Pock Far: Introduction
00:59 Weekly Wine News: Champagne Harvest and Still Wines
03:04 Exploring the Serene Syrah Clone
05:15 Diving into the Interview with Kki
07:27 Kki's Wine Journey and Instagram Success
12:02 Advanced Sommelier Exam Insights
17:05 Tips for Wine Beginners and Enthusiasts
27:51 Sweet Wines and Alcohol Content
28:26 Regional Differences in Rieslings
29:16 Aging Wines: Rioja vs. Bordeaux
29:50 Wine Culture Across Continents
32:09 Wine Adventures and Tastings
32:28 Blending Wines with Sarah Jessica Parker
37:19 Exploring Vineyards Solo
48:15 Upcoming Wine Travels and Studies

The Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email billy@sommeliermedia.com.

Cheers!