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

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: We’d like to introduce you to Master of #Wine Barbara Philip on @keepercoll #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Barbara Philip, MW on @keepercoll to say hello & so she knows you're here! #WineWednesday #SommChat

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

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: As we ask Barbara Philip, MW our Qs, you can ask Barbara Philip, MW your Qs to @keepercoll as well! She’ll do her best to answer all Qs in the order they come #SommChat

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

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Let's start talking #wine with Master of #Wine Barbara Philip on @keepercoll #WineWednesday #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: Hi every1 - really excited to be here on #SommChat today - looking forward to all of you questions on #Wine

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: @keepercoll congrats on becoming the first #Canadian female to achieve the MW designation in 2007 what inspired you to pursue this? #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: It was my love of #wine & curiosity to know as much as I possibly can - the challenge of pursing the Master of #wine designation was enticing #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: @keepercoll can you tell us about BC Liquor’s history?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: @keepercoll BC Liquors is 96 years old - a Govt owned retail chain that competes with independently owned #wine & #spirit shops in #BC #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how did you get involved with BC Liquors and how long have you been involved? What is your role?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: Shortly after #MW I found out that 1 of buyers was scheduled for retirement and I pursued the job - been here 9 years... #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: I manage the categories for all of the #european #wines as well as sparkling and Fortified #wines from around the world #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm are you adding #UK Sparkling to your list and if so which ones? Do you have access to large parts of #Europe or is it hard to get #wines to #Canada?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: YES, I have actually purchased 3 #UK bubbles: Bride Valley Vineyard, Gusbourne, and Ridgeview in last 18 months. Was excited to see Gusbourne sell out quickly.... #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: I am lucky to have access to large part of #wines from #europe to get into #Canada - rely on my #wine importers for logisitics #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can you share some exciting #wines from #Canada that you would suggest to look for?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: Blue Mountain Sparkling, #PinotNoir from Cedar Creek, #Chardonnay from Quails' Gate, Tantalus #riesling and Burrowing Owl #Syrah are some #wines from #Canada to try #SommChat of course they are many more!

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: @keepercoll Barbara, can you describe a typical week of your work? #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: 2 types of typical weeks - one is when traveling and one when in office. Both involve a lot of tasting #wine When traveling, usually do extensive tasting in AM, maybe 60-80 #wines, then #winery Visits in afternoon… #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: PM is connecting with #winemakers and industry in the area that I am visiting and eating local food. In office, evaluating #wines offered by importers, working on mkt strategies 4 stores, & training staff. We have 197 stores! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: @keepercoll how did you first become interested in #wine? #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: First became interested in #wine by working in #restaurants - started as server and then worked up to #Sommelier. In #Canada in 1995, @WSETglobal was the program offered which set my path to #MW #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @keepercoll what is #winemaking in #Canada like? #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: #winemaking in #Canada is still in experimental stages- we are working on finding best methods that work for different varieties in different regions #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm @keepercoll how has achieving #MW helped your career #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: #MW helped me by giving access to #Wine industry on international level as ppl are interested in welcoming #MWs to their #wineries. They know when you are MW and asking questions, you are serious #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: @keepercoll Can U share UR experience as a #Judge at @texsomiwa and why it is good for a #winery to enter #wines? #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: To me there R 2 things that make it worthwhile to be a #Judge at a competition - to discover interesting #wines & to meet and taste with other #wine professionals - @texsomiwa delivers on both counts at highest level... #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: In addition @texsomiwa is super well organized which is critical to making the competition worthwhile . For #winery, you get honest evaluation from top professionals as #wines R tasted blind & if awarded, great chance for marketing #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what #wine regions do you see making great strides in the wine world and what do you drink when not drinking #wine?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: So many regions R exciting right now, such as #Beaujolais #LanguedocRoussillon Southern #Italy, cool climate #Australia & dynamic regions in #Spain like #Ribera Sacra #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm does #BC Liquors sell only to consumer or to #restaurants as well?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: We do sell to #restaurants - they are required to purchase their #wines from BC Liquors; however they are not limited to what we carry on shelf - they have access to other items at importers, just clear through us #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm any trends, positive and negative in #wine industry in last 3 years ?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: In #Canada, 1 of most surprising trends has been @WinesOfPortugal - they R showing strongest rate of growth right now. Dry #rose is still showing tremendous growth…. #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: Right now high alcohol, ripe #wines are not seeing same growth in #Canada as the other 2 categories #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how do you keep your palate fresh when tasting 60-80 #wine in the morning and how do you take notes?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: Keep palate fresh by taking walking breaks & do like salty mineral #water. Prefer to take notes in phone so don’t have to lug around paper & notes are automatically saved 4 future in the cloud #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how is the pricing for #wines in #Canada compared to northeast #US

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: I think Shelf prices in #Canada for consumers are fairly similar to northeast #US #SommChat

Courtney Quinn @Path2Wine: Q. Barbara @keepercoll what was your topic for MW dissertation or research paper? #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: #MW paper was on #pinotblanc in #okanagan Valley – to discover if it would be signature grape variety for area - #SommChat

Courtney Quinn @Path2Wine: Very interesting! I tasted some great dry and late harvest Pinot Blanc a few years ago in Okanagan Valley. Wish we saw more of them in US.

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat peep: where are the largest mkts in #US that carry #canadian #wine?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: #BC #wines are found in State of #washington and #newYork always offers diverse #wine selection. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what are some goals you hope to achieve in the next few years in #wine?

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: would really like 2 find & promote small producers who R working organically & 2 preserve biz & land for future generations. Personally would like 2 improve lang. skills 2 help communication when traveling to see #winemakers in other countries #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk with Master of #Wine Barbara Philip on @keepercoll #WineWednesday #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: It was great to have Barbara Philip, MW join us today on @keepercoll for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did! #WineWednesday

KeeperCollection @KeeperCollection: Please join us in thanking Barbara Philip, MW for her time #SommChat

Barbara Philip, MW for @keepercoll: That went by so fast - thx 2 all for your very interesting questions - I really enjoyed my appearance on #twitter #SommChat