@Whiskyplz

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn about #wine from owner & beverage director Justin Vann @Whiskyplz from @PublicServiceTX !

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Justin 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 Justin Vann @Whiskyplz 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: W so many participants lots of gr8 Q's R asked! Even if u dont ask 1--give a S/O 2 @keepercoll & @Whiskyplz 2 let us know u R here! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Let's start talking #wine with #Beveragedirector Justin Vann @Whiskyplz ! #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Hey gang welcome to #SommChat ! Do you want to party or do you like to party – here we go!

Son of Ed @b_becker_72: I do like to party. Please advise #SommChat

Bru @marcbrubaker: I like party. #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how many accounts do you buy for and how different are the accounts @Whiskyplz ?

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Responsible for 5 diff places – all VERY different. @PublicServiceTX Better Luck Tomorrow Bar in the Heights, T Rex downtown, Mala Sichaun and also oversee #wine at Okra Charity Bar downtown #houston #SommChat LOTS of SPREADSHEETS!

Sandy Wasserman @SandyWasserman: Good morning @Whiskyplz need to get my ??s in early…How did you get into #wine business and who are your mentors? Thanks 1 of 2 #sommchat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: I got into #wine bc it was the only thing I could concentrate on. I was a poor student and wine kept my attention. #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Original mentors were Guy Stout MS Chrisopher Bates MS @sommelierbates and Eric Hastings @tattoodsomm lots of others that have helped along the way #SommChat

Sandy Wasserman @SandyWasserman: Q2 @Whiskyplz What wine made you open your eyes to #wine & What do you like to drink? Thanks #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: The #wine that is most memorable is 1982 Gruaud Larose, which I tasted at U of H Wine Appreciation Class. It made me stop everything I was doing and focus on wine. #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: @SandyWasserman Very into cool climate #australian #wines like JamSheed #Shiraz – it is really good – lots of different cuvees – try them #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: @SandyWasserman I made #wine once out of #grape Concentrate and it was a disaster! I did not clean my equipment and it made penicillin instead of #wine #SommChat I definitely do not ever want to make again, just want to sell wine!

Eric Hasings @tattoodsomm : Hey Justin…what has been the most difficult adjustment becoming an owner/operator from working on the floor? @SommChat @Whiskyplz #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: I would say that nobody sat me down and told me it would be so much more stressful – wish someone had told me I was going to be worried all the time. #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: To be clear I worry less now than 3 yrs ago, but still stressful! #SommChat

Cameron J Douglas @CamDouglasMS: It’s intense!

Eric Hastings @tattoodsomm: How have you seen your own bar, @PublicServiceTX evolve over the 3 years? @Whiskyplz @SommChat #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: The biggest change is that we have steadily increased the complexity of #Cocktails @PublicServiceTX – have gone fr NO cocktails to full cocktail program finally including shaken cocktails in the last 2 mths #SommChat

@CharlesComm: Q @Whiskyplz What is your favorite #whisky and/or wine that you serve at Public Services and Theodore Rex? #SommChat @keepercoll

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: @CharlesComm For #Whiskey price and quality in mind @PublicServiceTX I like Pikesville Rye and we only serve #beer and #wine at T Rex. #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: For #wine @PublicServiceTX about to get a new #rioja producer Alegre Valganon from @RareWineCo that I am pumped about. At T Rex, really excited to pick up Presquile #PinotNoir with consulting by @erailsba & brought in by @IanRootstock #SommChat

Charles Comm PR (@CharlesComm): @Whiskyplz Have there been any trends in the industry you did not see coming? #SommChat @keepercoll

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: I did not see #naturalwine trend becoming as big as it has but I embrace it in my programs #SommChat

Eric Hastings @tattoodsomm: How have you seen your own bar, @PublicServiceTX evolve over the 3 years? @Whiskyplz @SommChat #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: The biggest change is that we have steadily increased the complexity of #Cocktails @PublicServicesTX – have gone fr NO cocktails to full cocktail program finally including shaken cocktails in the last 2 mths #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: We have greatly increased the number of #wine offerings such as going from 8 #sherry to over 20 now and going fr 4 #madeira to 25 now! Won’t stop until ppl stop buying it #SommChat

Jill Zimorski @jillzimorski: Heeeeeyyyyyy! #sommchat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Jilllllllll whats up?!?! Jill is cool! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Whiskyplz tell us a little bit abt your role as #Beverage Director & #wine buyer for #wine & #whisky bar @PublicServiceTX in #HTX. #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: it’s very satisfying bc I get to study and shop for every type of alcohol that exists, more or less. It’s a lot of breadth and less depth and keeps me really engaged, but it helps me scout for all of other accounts in #Houston

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm how many accounts do you buy for and how different are the accounts @Whiskyplz

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Responsible for 5 diff places - all VERY different. @PublicServiceTX Better Luck Tomorrow Bar in the Heights, T Rex downtown, Mala Sichaun and also oversee #wine at Okra Charity Bar downtown #houston #SommChat LOTS of SPREADSHEETS!

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm what #wine regions do you think are offering the best BTG offerings PQR right now?

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Old World answer is #loire – still incredible values and New World answer is #Australia #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Pascal Janvier Coteaux du Loir #Loire is amazing on quality and price #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: It is brought in by @KermitLynchWine ask your rep or @lylerailsblack next time you see him #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Whiskyplz for the #wine list at Theodore Rex do you consult with #chef Justin Yu @tetsujustin or select the #wines yourself? #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: #Chef input is valuable but the person I most consult with is Bridget Paliwood who is the T Rex #Sommelier – I get to write the list, but she is the #wine presence during service #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can you describe your path of work in #wine industry and are you pursuing any certifications – why or why not @Whiskyplz

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Started as server when I was 18 years old, & I took Level 1 and 2 when I was 21. Very lucky to become floor #sommelier at 22 at Vic and Anthonys in #Houston, did stint @CentralMarket in #beer & #Wine & then OxHeart #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: I passed Advanced when I was 23 and then at age 25 I hit a brick wall when I sat for the MS – it was brutal, but I recently started studying for it again! I am a gluten for punishment #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Whiskyplz have you done any traveling to learn about #wine, if so where? #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: I think I may be the worst travel #sommelier in the world. I have only been to #Spain – drank #wine did not visit the vineyards! So I would say #france is very high on my list! #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: @Whiskyplz What advice would you give to someone who is just starteing out in the #wine industry? #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Whether you plan to take a test or not you must study. You must be humble and you must make friends. Always Treat your reps & colleauges with repsect #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Can you share your biggest learning experiences regarding #wine during Hurricane Harvey @Whiskyplz #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: It was very alarming not to have a job to do for over a week for me. What was really hard was watching my Chef Justin Yu get 2 feet of floodwater in his #restaurant – he was open 1 day and then closed for a month! #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: We were lucky not to lose very much #wine in the Hurricane and grateful not to sustain permanent damage to business and lives. Lesson though is drink #wine during the #hurricane #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm if you were not in #Houston, what would be your top 3 #wine markets you would want to work in and why @Whiskyplz

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: I almost moved to #SanFrancisco but stayed in #houston to open OxHeart which is now T Rex. It would be super fun to buy #wine in #NYC but really glad I stayed in #Houston 3rd would be #London #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: If you were not a #Sommelier what would be your dream job @Whiskyplz

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: I can’t imagine being far from the #wine World so if not a a #Sommelier I would probably write about wine #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Q fr #SommChat #Somm can you provide some fav #wines you pair at your Asian restos @Whiskyplz

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: #Houston has such diversity of Asian food so difficult to say specifics, but N broad terms, pair w/ Off dry whites, sparkling #wine, & saison #beer Specifically, for Sichaun, red wines can be difficult look for light body reds with carbonic maceration – they work best #SommChat

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk w/ Justin Vann @Whiskyplz ! #SommChat

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

KeeperCollection @KeeperColl: Please join us in thanking Justin @Whiskyplz for his time #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: Until next time gang, it has been a pleasure to chat with you on #SommChat

Justin Vann @Whiskyplz: #SommChat Wow, hour over already? We certainly welcome everyone to come visit us in the vineyard, it is really a special place. Otherwise, hope to see you when I am in market and thanks for taking the time to get to know me a bit better.