Today we are talking, walking, and learning about top notch beverage education in the Mile-high city. Specifically, we are talking about Metropolitan State University of Denver’s Hospitality Learning Center (HLC) and High Tech Beverage Lab. Our tour guide is Professor Michael Wray.
In the Glasses (1:30)
Steph:
2012 Chateau de Pommard Chassagne-Montrachet 1er Cru, Beaune, Burgundy, France
Val:
Barrell Whiskey, Infinite Barrel Project’s February 12, 2018’s bottling
First, our Tour Guide
Dr. Michael Wray has decades of collegiate teaching experience within culinary, brewing and beverage management and hospitality management industries. He holds a a Ph.D. in Education Leadership from the University of Colorado, Denver and multiple credentials in food and beverage, including Sommelier Diploma, Certified Wine Specialist, Master Certified Food Service Executive and Certified Culinary Instructor.
Dr. Wray consults with companies in restaurant design, menu and recipe development, and has provided instrumental input into the vision for a public/private partnership that led to the creation MSU Denver’s hotel and hospitality learning center (HLC) and complementary laboratory classrooms. He also developed the framework for the brewery partnership with Tivoli Brewing Company, leading to $7 million facility enhancements to the Tivoli Student Union, establishing integrated learning laboratories for students studying brewing.
(Complete Bio from MSU)
Walking Tour – for a Podcast?
It was just the way it turned out. We had so much audio, but it was not in interview form as much as it was in “walk and talk” mode. There was also so much we wanted you to see! *This video picks up five minutes into the actual podcast episode this week, (no intro, no other segments) so the timestamps are displayed differently in the blog.*
We have a lot of pictures that we didn’t want to just jam into the blog, so we posted a few. The rest are in video form; it was our attempt to match the photos with the audio.
Meanwhile, Tour Highlights!
The food and beverage demonstration theater – first stop (08:05)
The sensory analysis lab (13:19)
If you listen closely, you can hear Val’s mind being blown.
50 shapes of stemware? (15:30)
Smell your dishwasher. Do it. (18:16)
This IPA glass, though! (19:30)
Tequila glasses? They exist too. (22:00)
A “beery” clean glass (23:46)
Get your stemware here! (26:15)
Think the shape of stemware doesn’t matter? What Dr. Wray has to say (27:11)
Just in case you had that burning wine question in the back of your mind…
For more information on the School of Hospitality, Events and Tourism, including their degree programs in Brewery Operations, Restaurant Management, and Travel and Tourism Management, visit https://www.msudenver.edu/hospitality/.
Next on W25 LoCo: Tivoli Brewing, an on-campus brewing facility
Releasing in late January, the 2nd W25 LoCo edition will be discussing brewing education in what just may be one of the largest on-campus, operating breweries.
Pod Quiz! (31:38)
Last week we asked …
Between Cabernet de Saumur and Cabernet d’Anjou, which one is required, by law, to have at least 1% residual sugar, and is therefore made in a sweeter style?
The answer: (Cabernet d’Anjou has to have a minimum of 1% RS by law, making it off-dry to sweet; Cabernet de Saumur has to have a MAX 1% RS by law.
This week’s Pod Quiz: Cuvée. It has several meanings. Can you think of at least three? Also, did you know it could be used outside the wine world
Cheers to WTSO, Our Show Sponsor! (33:19)
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Patreon Love (34:02)
Thank you to our patrons who support us on our Patreon crowdfunding platform!
*We do read all the names on the show, and feature the list on our Support page.* Your support helps fund monthly syndication & publication costs, equipment & software upgrades, shipping & marketing.
Connect (35:15)
Between each weekly chat you can find us on the social spaces @WineTwoFive, and play in our private FaceBook group called Wine Two Five Community!
Connect with Val on Twitter @WineGalUnboxed and everywhere else as @VinoWithVal.
Steph is in all the social spaces as @TheWineHeroine.
You can also find us on the My Wine Society App. There are also channels on travel, wellness, events, wineries and more.
