@camparirocket

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to @camparirocket 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: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn about #wine from Micah Clark @camparirocket, #Wine Director at @TheRestaurantMW!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: As we ask Micah Clark @camparirocket our Qs, you can ask your Qs as well! He'll do his best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Let's start talking #wine with #Wine Director Micah Clark @camparirocket from @TheRestaurantMW! #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: Good Morning @keepercoll and the #sommchat crew! Fire away, i've had my morning #coffee and i'm ready to talk some #wine !!!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @camparirocket when did you first become interested in #wine? #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: My first job in restaurants was in high school working in the kitchen, and I worked for a chef named Ken Baker who was very passionate about #wine and it rubbed off on me, from there I just started down the rabbit hole #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how long have you been in #California in the #wine biz and have U worked in any other areas in the #US @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: I've been in #Napa for two years now, and was in #LosAngeles for about two years before that, previously i've spent time in #Dallas, #LasVegas #NewYork, the #FingerLakes and i'm from #Kansas originally where I got my start #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm did you develop the list where you work and what is a typical week like as #wine Director @TheRestaurantMW

Micah Clark @camparirocket: I didn't start the #wine list @TheRestaurantMW I inherited it from some great people coming before me. But I've definitely put my stamp on it over the last year #SommChat....

Micah Clark @camparirocket: Our weeks start on Tuesday, which are all about getting set-up, reviewing orders and deliveries, looking ahead to large parties and special requests, and then putting together a plan for any projects or purchasing we need to do #SommChat ....

Micah Clark @camparirocket: and of course moving lots of boxes....! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can you share some of the major #wine differences you have seen working on West Coast and East Coast #US in consumption @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: The biggest difference is that here in #Napa we're a #wine destination and so people have an expectation oftentimes of drinking only #CaliforniaWine but of course we want to curate and showcase a list of great wines from around the world.... #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: But of course the East Coast tends to be a little more flexible with a lot of European offerings, and we have a much longer #roseseason out here in California #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @camparirocket what are some of your favorite #wine and #food pairings at @TheRestaurantMW? #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: lately we've had great #matsutake mushrooms coming in and i've been pouring #manzanilla or #fino #SHERRY, also we had an avocado and #foie dish earlier this was which was perfect with #Kabinett #riesling #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep - I am a beginner in #wine but love to eat out, what is best way to approach a #Somm for get help in a fine dining establishment like @TheRestaurantMW @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: We always make it a point to have the #somm introduce themselves early on in the meal, but don't be afraid to ask to chat with someone who knows the #winelist well, ask them where they've travelled lately, and what they like to drink with the food #SommChat ...

Micah Clark @camparirocket: and I know it's been said before, but feel comfortable to give them a price range you want to spend, it makes their job easier. If they're passionate about a wine they'll point you in the right direction #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm noticed you are more active on #instagram than #twitter will you share why one vs the other @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: I didn't even get an iPhone until about 2 years ago, thanks to @carina_mb, and so Instagram wasn't on my radar. It wasn't a choice, just couldn't take that many notifications popping up #SommChat

Katarina Andersson @ricasoli99: Hi #SommChat @keepercoll today I manage to pass by...

Katarina Andersson @ricasoli99: Hi Micah, nice to e-meet you. Here we are already at aperitivo time #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: Great to meet you Katarina! It's a little early for #aperitivo here in California but that's one of my favorite italian traditions. What are you drinking today? #SommChat @ricasoli99

Katarina Andersson @ricasoli99: True...time difference ☺...today a #chianticlassico by @Monterotondo_az 🍷#Sommchat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Great to see @ricasoli99 chiming in on #Sommchat and thanks @KimberShook 4 your S/O

Katarina Andersson @ricasoli99: Nice to be able to join ☺ #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how much latitude does mgt give you for pricing and #wine selection at the restaurant? Do you select #wines solely from your tasting or do U have a committee @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: The only firm guidelines we have are a general budget for COGS that we need to hit, otherwise we use a sliding scale to provide good values across the board #SommChat...

Micah Clark @camparirocket: I just try to keep the conversation moving forward and looking for the holes on the list, if anyone on our team has a #wine they're passionate about i'm open to bringing it on because passion about a wine = sales of a wine #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @camparirocket do you have plans to take your formal #wine education further? #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: I sat for the @MasterSommUS #theory exam earlier this year and, while it didn't go the way I wanted it to, it was an eye-opening experience and I plan to sit again next year, already back at the books studying with our #Napa crew #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm as #Napa is a destination do you see mainly new people dining @TheRestaurantMW or do you see any regulars - any differences in what they order for #wine @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: We're lucky to have great regulars @TheRestaurantMW although a regular for us is more like 2-3 times/ year instead of per week given our location, etc. Our regulars or those diners who are used to @MichelinUSA style dining tend to lean on the classics .... #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: so we see a lot of #burgundy, #bordeaux, #rhone and of course #napa #cabernet. And with any regulars they have faith in letting us choose something for them because they trust us and we keep track of what they like or don't like #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm do you have any #Sake on your list why or why not? how many SKUs of #wine? how many BTG? what % guest order BTG vs Bottle @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: We don't have any #sake on the list. I usually keep a couple bottles stashed away in case someone really wants it. I'm not the biggest sake fan myself (it hits me really hard the next morning for some reason) but i'm hoping to try more of it and learn more in 2018 #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: right now we have about 2,400 SKU's on the list, we keep 12-15 BTG options listed as well, our biggest % of sales comes from #winepairings (prob. 50-60% of guests) with bottles making up the next largest slice #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep - did you or the restaurant have any damage from the fires (so sorry for so many losses) were you closed and if so for how long @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: We didn't have any damage @TheRestaurantMW but the whole valley was caked in ash and dust. Our florist lost her house, but everyone else escaped without any serious damage. We were closed for two weeks and of course everyone's nerves were fried by the end #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @camparirocket hats off 2 U for keeping track of keeping track of regulars' #wine likes - what system do you use for that?

Micah Clark @camparirocket: Our dining room staff enters notes nightly on what every party drinks and on their experience. That lives in our reservation system. The #wine and #somm team keep extra notes on any VIPs, regulars, or wine savvy diners #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @camparirocket have you noticed any major #wine trends in your area in the last few years? any you anticipate looking forward? #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: #SonomaCoast #PinotNoir continues to grow, and the profile of #Napa #Cabernet swinging back to the middle from being highly ripe, over-oaked which is great from a #foodpairing perspective, I think we'll see more non #chardonnay & #sauvblanc coming up too #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Peep do you get to travel at all with your work - any fav #wine places you have been and what's on wish list to visit @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: No travel for work, we live & work in #winecountry which has benefits unto itself. I'm dying to see #Germany #Australia and to go back to #Portugal or #Alsace one day, those have been my favorite trips over the years #SommChat #SommTravels

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @camparirocket how did you end up in your current position as #Wine Director at @TheRestaurantMW? #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: My GF @carina_mb and I wanted to leave LA after a couple years of gridlock on the 405, I took a job @TheRestaurantMW running food thinking I could put my head down & study for the @MasterSommUS Advanced exam, I worked hard just kept involving myself w/ the wine team #SommChat ...

Micah Clark @camparirocket: When I first started I didn't even tell them I was into wine or sitting the exam, I was just excited to work at a great #restaurant and be pushed by my team. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @camparirocket when you are not drinking #wine, what do you like to drink? #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: my @Twitter handle is camparirocket so that should give you some idea...all sorts of amari and bitters, especially @campari and @Cynar, I always love to explore new breweries out here in #california #craftbeer and @timwendelboe or @stumptowncoffee #coffee #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat Peep - for the #wine pairings do you make those on your own or do you include @TheRestaurantMW #chef does chef ever create dishes around wine U have on list @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: The menu is @CKostow baby- he and his team make amazing dishes which change all the time, but we always work around the food and his creativity. When new dishes come out we'll taste them and figure out what supports the food in the best way... #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: the whole #Somm team has a say in the matter, that's how the #manzanilla and #fino came to be, we had these #matsutakes that we couldn't pair with anything and then it clicked- #sherry!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @camparirocket what characteristics do you look for to add a #wine to the @TheRestaurantMW list?

Micah Clark @camparirocket: 1. Delicious 2. we want to showcase #napawine or #californiawine whenever possible, but it's not requisite 3. we want to showcase small producers because what's the point of going to dinner if you see the wine all over the place 4. classic wines from classic regions #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @camparirocket do you have any advice for someone just starting out in the #wine industry?

Micah Clark @camparirocket: There are two ways to learn about wine: drinking and reading. Read everything you can, don't discount the glossy publications like @WineSpectator @Decanter. @EricAsimov is one of the greatest wine writers out there. My rule is never buy the same bottle twice #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat peep if you have not gone into the #wine work world what would be your dream job @camparirocket

Micah Clark @camparirocket: I always had a pipe dream of being a rally car driver or probably something else in the agricultural field, but luckily I feel in to the #wine rabbit hole

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm if you did not have this great job in #Napa right now, where else would you like to live and work in the #wine industry @camparirocket & any Master Somm U would really like 2 work with?

Micah Clark @camparirocket: I'd love to be able to work abroad at some point and see how another culture enjoys wine- maybe in #Spain or #Australia, I'd love to spend time with @winedogboy being from #KansasCity, and I love how @winejames and @BobbyStuckeyMS represent the #wineworld #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk w/ #Sommelier and #wine Director @TheRestaurantMW Micah Clark @camparirocket! #SommChat

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

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Please join us in thanking Micah @camparirocket from @TheRestaurantMW for his time #SommChat

Micah Clark @camparirocket: Thank for all the questions @keepercoll and the #SommChat world. It's been a blast to kick the day off with you all! Now back to @TheRestaurantMW and #12DaysofChristmas #JeremyFox #RusticCanyon