10/10 Ken Freeman

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn abt #wine!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We’d like to introduce you to Beverage Mngr. for #SixtyVinesDTX and @TEXSOM 2018 Best #Somm Competition Winner Ken Freeman on @keepercoll #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Ken Freeman on @keepercoll to say hello & so he knows you're here! #WineWednesday #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Don't forget that EVERY tweet during this chat should include the #SommChat hashtag in order for everyone to see it!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: As we ask Ken Freeman our Qs, you can ask Ken Freeman your Qs to @keepercoll as well! He’ll do his best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: W so many participants lots of gr8 Q's R asked! Even if u dont ask 1--give a S/O 2 Ken Freeman on @keepercoll 2 let us know u R here! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Let's start talking #wine with Beverage Mngr. for #SixtyVinesDTX and @TEXSOM 2018 Best #Somm Competition Winner Ken Freeman on @keepercoll #WineWednesday #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken Freeman says Good morning everyone - so glad to be here on #SOmmChat today and can't wait to hear your questions!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Ken, Congratulations on being the 2018 @TEXSOM Best Sommelier, How do you feel about holding that title? #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says, winning @TEXSOM Best #Somm Competition felt incredible - something I have been working on since I moved to #texas in 2014 in order to win this prestigious title. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q from #SommChat #Somm Ken Freeman When did you fall in love with #wine? What was the first memorable experience you had?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says, I fell in love with #wine while working at Sutcliffe Vineyards in #Colorado and working at a local #italian Trattoria in #Durango. #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says My first memorable #wine experience was when my mother bought me a bottle of 2004 Zenato Amarone for my BD & I proceeded to drink it by myself over 2 hrs w/a chunk of #snowdonian aged #Cheddar! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Ken what advice would you give to someone who wants to compete in @TEXSOM Best #Somm Competition to be successful?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says, Harder said than done but relax. Leading up to the competition I played more #golf and spent > time w/ my other hobbies. Treat each aspect of the @TEXSOM competition separately with Theory being the foundation that supports the rest of the competition. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Ken Why do you think that you received the @TEXSOM Best Sommelier title? Any mistakes you made that you can share?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: I think I won b/c I focused on #Hospitality, as top professionals in our industry R hospitable. Especially during the service portion, U R going 2 make mistakes but it is how U respond to pressure & maintain UR hospitality which will carry you. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Ken Freeman What was your first job in the #wine and food business? What did you learn from it? #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: My first job was a busser when I was 16 yrs old at a local rib house in #SouthCarolina. It taught me how to hustle and how to carry large heavy plates. Nothing was given to me; I started at the bottom and am working my way up.#SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Ken Can you tell us about your experience with #Italian cuisine and #wine? What are the big things we should know? Diff bw 1st job and @ItalicATX ?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says when I worked at the #Italian Trattoria in #Colorado it was a teaching kitchen, so I learned how to make pasta and pan sauces and other traditional Italian dishes which positively affected the way I thought abt #Wine.... #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says 4 #Italian #food & #wine , "What grows together, goes together". Pigato fr #liguria is amazing w/ #seafood. #Chianti is the ultimate #Pizza #wine. Knowing where your dishes come from in #italy will show U what #wines R best to pair... #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says, There R immense differences in working at the Trattoria in #Colorado & @ItalicATX. Fr an 11 table resto/grocer 2 a 200 seat resto in downtown #ATX. 1st being the genesis and Italic being the venue I would learn the most.... #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: My inspiration carried me to #Austin & I was very fortunate to learn from and work with @ccollinsms , @MarkDevinSayre & @scottota @ItalicATX - A dream team of knowledge and #Hospitality #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Ken Is #Italian #wine what you have learned the most about and what other regions R high on your list and why?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says, Yes I've learned the most abt #Italian #wine thru my professional experieces esp @ItalicATX. Other regions on my list R the #loire Vally as it is a complex puzzle full of different flavors and world-class #wines that still offer great value.... #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: The Somlo in #Hungary as its white #wines fr #Juhfark R some of the most food friendly and interesting and domestically I am very interested in the development of #PasoRobles and its cool-climate long-growing season using #Mediterranean Varietals. My list could go on #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Ken Freeman What are some of your favorite #wine and #food pairings? #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says some fav pairings R aged #Valtellina w/ braised #pork, #kijjoshu aged #Sake with #foiegras & Grower #Champagne with seared #Scallops Cioppino Broth & lemon Zest #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q Fr #SommChat #Somm Kencan you describe your job at @SixtyVines ?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: @Sixtyvines I am in charge of everything #liquid: purchasing, ordering, inventory, 2 the fun stuff like hosting educational classes and tastings for the staff & the customers. I am also tableside 5 days a week! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Ken Tell us about your experiences @TEXSOM Conference, what has been the most memorable experience? #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: @TEXSOM Conference is like #Christmas for me every year - I get to see my #wine family & reunite w/ those I care about. My greatest memory is polishing towers of glasses, drinking grand Cru #Burgundy, and blasting MGK #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: @TEXSOM Conference is about #hospitality #Camaraderie and #Wine education - there is no better place for someone in the industry to experience all 3 of these important areas. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q Fr #SommChat #Somm Ken Freeman Is there a certain way to cleanse your palate when tasting many #wines?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: I think #Champagne is an amazing palate cleanser. of course it is great to just drink anytime #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Ken have you only worked in #restaurants and do you have any other areas of the biz you R interested in and why?

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: I worked 4 a financial firm 4 short time after college but returned 2 #restos where my passion lies. As #sommeliers we consistently dig deeper N2 our industry 4 knowledge which naturally makes us curious abt other things. 4 me that is #winemaking & #wine importing. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm Ken Do you have a special technique in selling #wine? #SommChat

Ken Freeman @KeeperColl: Ken says honestly I keep it simple - you can't use the breadth of UR knowledge you have on every guest. U can get the majority of guests excited by shortening UR explanation & letting the energy of UR passion shine through! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk with Beverage Mngr. for #SixtyVinesDTX and @TEXSOM 2018 Best #Somm Competition Winner Ken Freeman on @keepercoll #WineWednesday #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: It was great to have Beverage Mngr. for #SixtyVinesDTX and @TEXSOM 2018 Best #Somm Competition Winner Ken Freeman join us today on @keepercoll for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did! #WineWednesday