@Somm_ArthurHon

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell UR friends 2 join us 2 learn abt #wine fr @Somm_ArthurHon, Asst. #Wine Director at @UnionSquareCafe!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to @Somm_ArthurHon 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 Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon our Qs, U can ask your Qs as well! He'll do his best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Even if u dont ask 1--give a S/O 2 @keepercoll & @Somm_ArthurHon 2 let us know u R here! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Let's start talking #wine with Asst. #Wine Director Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon from @UnionSquareCafe! #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Thx @keepercoll! I am very excited for all the questions. Fire them away!

Fernando Beteta, MS @fernandobeteta: .@Somm_ArthurHon Hi there. What would you say is going to be the thing you miss most from Chicago? #Sommchat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #Sommchat The people & the community for sure, especially the ones that have watched me grow up over these 10 years. #Chicago #Wine

Nicholas Thornycroft @thornycroft33: You were the first person to introduce me to Alsatian resiling! Thank you for what will hopefully be a life long love!

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #Awesome!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @fernandobeteta gr8 to see you back on #SommChat and thx for supporting @Somm_ArthurHon

Sassodoro @sassodoro: Ready for #SommChat!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome back @Sassodoro on #SommChat can’t wait for your questions

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @Somm_ArthurHon How has the @SepiaChicago #wine list evolved over the years? #sommchat @keepercoll

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat From lesser known region and grapes to including more classics and unexpected classics, to affordable older vintages. The changes of @SepiaChicago list is a way my own evolution in wine.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Thx for your Qs and participation with @Somm_ArthurHon today on #SommChat @CharlesComm

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Somm_ArthurHon when did you first become interested in learning about #wine? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat I had a very humble start in wine. It started with my first adult dinner experience with a wine list. The incident prompted me to want to learn about wine and 2 be able to order a bottle the next time I had another adult dinner. #Wine

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @Somm_ArthurHon how did U learn abt #wine position @UnionSquareCafe & how will it be different fr working @SepiaChicago

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: I was connect to AWD position at @UnionSquareCafe by my friend @jasonewagner. I think the first difference would be learning a brand new market and how everything works in #NYC #Wine.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Somm_ArthurHon did you always know you wanted to work in the #Wine industry? What other professions did U consider? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Not at all. I moved to #Chicago to attend @saic_news. Didn't know anything about career in #wine at all. I had always thought I would have my own design studio one day.

Patricia Clough @eatandrun: #SommChat @keepercoll @Somm_ArthurHon Did you experience noticeable customer raised interest in Riesling after the #SummerofRiesling campaign by @Spitpaul ? How is interest now?

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat 4 Sure! @SepiaChicago participated #SummerofRiesling for few years when I took over the program. And the major shift and raised interest now is from sweeter riesling to dry ones. The interest is definitely stronger in #Chicago now

Patricia Clough @eatandrun: Interesting feedback, thanks! Is Trocken the best word=dry Riesling, at retail? I've had some sweet-seeming Trocken & lately NYC-area retailers default to sweet as a seeming palate pleaser.

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @Somm_ArthurHon What is your favorite #wine pairing at the moment? #sommchat @keepercoll

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Few things that I like to use more now is #Sake in unexpected area, such as w/ #Cheese, #FriedFood. I also like to use bold white wine after light red one in the wine pairing sequence.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Gr8 to you @eatandrun on #SommChat today - hope things are well with you and Happy #WW thanks for the questions

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm where did U move from & @Somm_ArthurHon what are you most excited about living in and moving to #NYC? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat #SanFrancisco Bay area. Fremont to be exact. Living in #NYC has always been my original goal when I moved to #Chicago to attend @saic_news. So this is a dream come true in a way. #BUCKETLIST

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @Somm_ArthurHon did U get to eat @UnionSquareCafe when in #NYC & what were memorable #wine and #food U consumed there?

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat I had been to both the original & new locations. I was still a starving art student when I dined at the original @UnionSquareCafe. All I remembered is my excitement of being in #NYC and the legendary restaurant..

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat At the current new location @UnionSquareCafe, I had a light lunch. The soup of chestnut was #Delicious! and it went really well with @Krug #Champagne #Lunch.

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @Somm_ArthurHon What is the most rewarding part of your role as a sommelier for @SepiaChicago? #sommchat @keepercoll

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat #Education is the most rewarding part @SepiaChicago & @ProxiChicago. I am always amazed by my staff on how passionate they have become once I've open the door of #Wine for them.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep @Somm_ArthurHon do U remember first #wine you ever had? What was it and would you drink again? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat My very humble first btl was #PetiteSirah by @MichaelChiarel 1998 from #StHelena. I think I still have 1 last bottle in my cellar. I fell in love with the simplicity the label as a #Designer then. #Humbled

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what is role of Asst #wine Dir. @UnionSquareCafe @Somm_ArthurHon & what do U think will B biggest adjustment?

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat 1 of my AWD responsibility at @UnionSquareCafe will be #Education and really to assist WD @jasonewagner in taking the program to the next level. The biggest adjustment will be learning the how everything works..

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat But this can also be the most rewarding challenge to learn from different talents. And to continue to share my passion in #Wine #Education.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm do U know who will replace U @SepiaChicago & will U help N transition? Do U think #wine list will chg @Somm_ArthurHon

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat 1. Yes, I do know the replacement. However, I can't share on that right now. The official announcement will be made in the coming weeks. @Sepiachicag @ProxiChciago have been very generous in letting me playing a major part in picking out my successor..

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat 2. I will be able to assist with the transition as much as I can from #NYC. The good thing is that I am only a phone call away..

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat The most important think to me & @ChefAZimmerman @Emmanuelnony is to have someone that can take what I have built @SepiaChicago @ProxiChicago to the next level. I would be really sad to have someone be a guardian of what I had created. #MovingForward

Charles Comm PR @CharlesComm: Q @Somm_ArthurHon Have you found that your start as a restaurant server helped/ influenced your career today? #sommchat @keepercoll

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Absolutely! I believe the most fundamental skill for any #Somm to have is a strong service skill. I had the opportunity to be trained in very fast and high volume restaurant and fine dining establishment. And I can't credit enough to that. #SommSkills

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Somm_ArthurHon U were recently named 1 of @foodandwine #Magazine 2017 Sommeliers of the Year, tell us more and how did that feel? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat #Surreal to say the least. @islewine reached out to request my personal number earlier this year. And I was definitely on pins & needles when that happened. Very humbling experience for sure. Thx @foodandwine

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what R some of major diffs. Bw #wine List @SepiaChicago & @UnionSquareCafe? @Somm_ArthurHon will U have input on list?

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Very big difference. @SepiaChicago, I had built a list to including almost 95% of all the wine regions in the world with approx 900 labels. @UnionSquareCafe, much larger selection, focus is #France #California #Italy. I look forward to get really deep into these regions

Pen & Tell Us @PenAndTellUs: Q. @Somm_ArthurHon Do you expect to see an increase in sales of Riesling in NYC after you get started? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat LOL. I think #NYC is already very savvy with drinking different types of #Riesling or any other wines in the #US market and my 1st goal is not to out do anyone on the #Riesling sales, but to really learn the market and figure out what I can bring to @UnionSquareCafe

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: NEWS #SommChat & #wine lovers on #SommsUF 2018-thx @PenAndTellUs 4 getting word out & Welcome @Wa_State_Wine as VIP & Fan Fav Sponsor & More

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @Somm_ArthurHon have you seen any major #wine trends in the recent years? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Many for sure! #Rosé in many forms. The rise of #Sparkling wine sales. #Jura #LoireValley #Portugal #Greece #Austria @chile #SkinContact #Natural #Biodynamic just to name a few

Katarina Andersson @ricasoli99: Hello #sommchat , sorry for only passing by now. Will read the tweets later on. @keepercoll @Somm_ArthurHon

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @ricasoli99 thanks for #SommChat S/O today and support all year long Happy #WW

Katarina Andersson @ricasoli99: You're welcome ☺🍷 #sommchat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm when UR not being a #Somm what R some other interests & if you could do dream job other than #wine what @Somm_ArthurHon

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat a #Painter that lives in #NewZealand. This one is for you, @PaulPujol & @Hawkwaka

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @Somm_ArthurHon do you have plans to take your formal #wine education further?

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat For sure. I am in preparation for @MasterSommUS #theory for 2018. My goal is to take this as far as I can, and that means the #FinishLine

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Somm_ArthurHon have you had opportunity to travel in the #wine world? Highlights thus far? Dreams and aspirations #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Many for sure, or not enough yet. I loved @AltoAdigeWines & @AustrianWine. Will always go back to @wines_portugal in a heart beat. But @nzwineusa was the hardest to come back after my visit. I find my travels really future define my own perspective in #Wines.

Pen & Tell Us @PenAndTellUs: Q. @Somm_ArthurHon NYC is a different market from Chicago. How do you think your approach to wine will be similar and different? #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat I think the passion for #wines in both markets will be the same even though what people drink might be different. I am a firm believer in doing what I believe is right and keep on moving forward.

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep Newbie to #wine - best way to learn more on budget @Somm_ArthurHon ? Books? Online reading? What else?

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Books are a good start. I highly recommend @WineFolly @JancisRobinson for beginner

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk w/ #Sommelier Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon! #SommChat

Sassodoro @sassodoro: Thanks for a great #SommChat! And best wishes to you in your new job at @UnionSquareCafe! You will be sorely missed in Chicago!

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Thank you so much!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: It was great to have Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon join us today for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Please join us in thanking Arthur @Somm_ArthurHon from @UnionSquareCafe for his time #SommChat

Arthur Hon @Somm_ArthurHon: #SommChat Thx everyone for tuning in! It has been a great pleasure to chat with everyone. If you're ever in #NYC, please don't hesitate to stop by @UnionSquareCafe & say hello!

Shiba Sommelier @ShibaSommelier: Isn't he with Sepia in Chicago or did he move?

Stephanie Miskew CS @StephanieMiskew: So sorry to miss #SommChat today although I'm sure it was amazing with @Somm_ArthurHon of @SepiaChicago! Happy #WineWednesday to all & hope to join ya next time xoxo