How important is blindtasting and what role does narrative play in communicating the story of Italian wine?
These are just two of the questions addressed at a wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum masterclass in Chicago last month.
The 45-minute masterclass brought together two Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) Italian Wine Experts, Stephanie Johnson DipWSET & IWE and Torrence O’Haire IWE, for an informative tasting of VIA benchmark wines. The session was moderated by Alessio Planeta.
The importance of Blind tasting and the VIA approach
Torrence approached the tasting from the perspective of his role as a sommelier and educator, explaining the significance of the VIA approach to wine tasting, which goes deeper into the wine’s body by exploring the texture and feel of a wine, with the emphasis on what distinguishes a wine rather than what it has in common with other wines. He also emphasized the importance of blind tasting for establishing the quality of a wine, communicating the character of a wine to a guest, making pairing recommendations, and integrating it into diverse wine programs.
Using storytelling and narrative to engage consumers
Stephanie approached the wine tasting from her perspective as a journalist and critic, emphasizing how Italian wines tell the stories of people, places, cultures, and evolving styles. Beyond the simple style and quality of the wine, how do its characteristics fit into the narrative of that wine?
Together, Stephanie and Torrence emphasized their diverse perspectives while sharing how the VIA wine tasting methodology has sharpened their approach to Italian wines, both in writing and in hospitality.
The wine tasting
The three-stage approach to the wine tasting emphasized the importance of blind tasting – not just as a fun parlour game, but as an important mechanism for dispassionately establishing the quality of a particular wine, bearing in mind that context can affect the way you perceive and evaluate a wine. As well as tasting insights, participants also gained a deeper understanding of how critical and service driven lenses can complement one another in appreciating Italy’s extraordinary wine landscape.
The wines featured in this wine tasting were:
- Suavia Soave DOC Classico “Monte Carbonare” 2022
- La Colombera Colli Tortonesi DOC Timorasso 2022
- Castello di Monsanto Chianti Classico DOCG Riserva 2020
- Elena Fucci Aglianico del Vulture DOC 2021
The Vinitaly International Academy
The Vinitaly International Academy (VIA) aims to be the gold standard of Italian wine education. The Academy’s principal objective is to foster a global network of highly qualified professionals, led by certified Italian Wine Ambassadors and Italian Wine Experts, to support and promote Italian wine throughout the world. The VIA wine Certification Course launched in April 2015 as a five-day intensive training to teach qualified wine educators, journalists, and trade a highly specialized curriculum of Italian wine. To date, there are 464 certified Italian Wine Ambassadors from 52 different countries, with 22 of them also holding the superior title of Italian Wine Expert.
The Speakers
Stephanie Johnson and Torrence O’Haire are both VIA graduates, each achieving the distinguished title of Italian Wine Expert (IWE).
Alessio Planeta, Stephanie Johnson IWE and Torrence O’Haire IWE
As well as being a certified IWE, Stephanie Johnson holds a WSET Diploma in Wine & Spirits. Her wine career spans the journalism, retail and restaurant sectors. She joined Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2013 and later served as Italian Wine Editor from 2016 to 2024. Stephanie has judged at international competitions such as the Concours Mondial du Sauvignon in Bordeaux and 5StarWines – the Book in Verona. She has led masterclasses for top sommeliers in New York City and presented at major industry events including Vinitaly and wine2wine Business Forum in Verona. A passionate educator, she teaches WSET Level 2, Level 3, and Diploma courses at NYC’s International Wine Center. Her upcoming venture, SteepleJack, will spotlight the heroic stories of Italian wine producers, blending deep expertise with compelling storytelling.
Torrence O’Haire is a sommelier, wine educator, and hospitality group beverage director. He spent years as a chef, culinary instructor, and food writer in West Michigan, with a pop-up restaurant and a brick-and-mortar location of his own before the burnout set in. A lifelong student, he pivoted to studying beverage, collecting wine, beer, spirits, and sake professional accreditations, with which he transitioned to restaurant consulting and education, specializing in Italian food, wine, and culture. In 2016, he and his husband moved to Chicago, where Torrence continued as a culinary school professor of wine. He became the Corporate Beverage Director for the Gage Hospitality Group in 2019, and continues to teach and write while managing the wine programs for the group’s diverse collection of restaurants. He is also the Chicago Ambassador and reviewer for Star Wine List, as well as Chicago’s representative from Alto Adige Wines.
Alessio Planeta, CEO of Planeta Vini, was born in 1966 and has been instrumental in expanding the family’s winemaking legacy. After studying agricultural sciences, he continued the pioneering work of his uncle Diego Planeta, introducing the first Planeta wines to the market in 1995, including the award-winning Chardonnay. Alessio oversees the production of over 2.4 million bottles annually and has expanded into olive, almond, and chickpea cultivation with a focus on sustainability. In 2023, he was named “Winemaker of the Year” by Wine Enthusiast’s Wine Star Award, recognizing his impact on the global wine industry. Alongside winemaking, he supports cultural activities and wine tourism projects that reflect Planeta’s commitment to excellence and sustainability.
Available Now in Podcast format
Listen to the full audio recording of this session:
About Vinitaly.USA Chicago
Vinitaly.USA Chicago is a major Italian wine expo that connects Italian winemakers with U.S. industry professionals, including importers, distributors and buyers. The event, held at Chicago’s Navy Pier, serves as a strategic platform for business, networking, and promotion of Italian wine in the American market. It features tastings of over 2,000 wine labels from 250 companies, as well as B2B events, masterclasses, and the wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum.
About wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum
Since 2014, wine2wine Vinitaly Business Forum has been Veronafiere’s leading event for professional development and business growth in the global wine sector. The special edition in Chicago connects Italian producers, U.S. buyers, importers, distributors, and educators under the theme “Global Strategies, Local Opportunities”, with a focus on:
- Targeted strategies for the U.S. market
- Panels on communication, trade, and consumer trends
- Wine tastings with Italian and international benchmarks
- Networking opportunities
- Wine Spectator’s OperaWine 2026 wineries announcement
- Vinitaly International Academy Pinning Ceremony
