00:00 Introduction and Background

01:57 Exploring Alcohol Knowledge and Education

09:59 The Journey of Starting a Winery

19:48 Navigating the Wine Industry and Regulations

30:10 The Differences Between Master Sommelier and Master of Wine

39:47 Blind Tasting and Personal Preferences

49:46 Conclusion and Future Endeavors

How many times can different organizations call you a master???

Doug Frost is one of only a handful of people alive to hold both the Master Sommelier and Master of Wine titles. That alone would be reason enough to sit down with him. But what makes Doug different isn't just his knowledge, it's what he’s chosen to do with it.

When the world got quiet, when most of us were reeling from uncertainty, Doug started something super cool: a winery. Not because the timing made sense, but because the mission did.

In this episode, we talk about what it means to pursue mastery in wine, spirits, business, and life…how to keep curiosity alive across decades, how to taste with honesty, and how to build something real when the ground is shifting underneath you.

This one’s not just for the sommeliers or the wine nerds. It’s for anyone wondering how to keep showing up. For your craft, your people, and yourself, even when nothing goes to plan.

Expect to Learn:

• How Doug Frost became one of the world’s top alcohol experts
• What it takes to start a winery during a pandemic
• Key differences between Master Sommelier and Master of Wine programs
• Why launching a wine brand in the U.S. is so legally complex
• How COVID-19 shaped the wine industry
• Why blind tasting matters more than you'd think
• The current challenges in wine distribution and consumption
• Tips for preparing for advanced wine exams
• How spirits education shaped modern bartending
• Why mezcal holds a special place for pros like Doug

Links:

• Echolands Winery

Call to Action:

• Go to Walla Walla and see Doug and Echolands!

Service starts now.

I talk mostly to people in and around the service industry space. I'm looking to hear from the people I wish I could have talked to when I was coming up in restaurants. Said another way: I am trying to make sense of this wild, beautiful mess of a life, and help others that are feeling similarly confused and/or lost. You can find more of my work at ⁠⁠⁠my blog⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠, and all my social links are at the bottom of that page.

Classic Episodes You May Like:

-#3:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠My 1st and Most Powerful Conversation with Shane Alexander⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-#10:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Nat Harry, cocktail expert!⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

-#14:⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠Dr. Shalini Bahl, mindful marketing⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

As always, I’m just here taking notes, trying to figure out what it all means.

Cheers