Battle of the Somms
Learn to taste wine like an expert with Master Sommelier Mia Van de Water.
Battle of the Somms is part wine class, part blind tasting, part gameshow, and 100% entertaining.
About the Experience
In each episode our host, Mia, explores a topic in wine tasting with help from two expert guests.
Once the lesson is done, you test your new skills with two Battle Wines, after which our expert guests blind taste the same wines for your entertainment and education (but mostly entertainment).
Can the amateurs beat the experts? Can the experts make enough snarky remarks to each other? There’s only one way to know for sure…
Think you have what it takes to taste wine like a pro? Come find out, at Battle of the Somms!
Meet Your Host
Mia Van de Water earned her Master Sommelier diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2018. Previously a sommelier at 3-star Michelin restaurant Eleven Madison Park, she now runs the wine program at Cote Steakhouse in NYC.
In 2014, Mia passed the Court of Master Sommelier’s Advanced Exam with the highest score of the year. In 2015, she represented the US at the Chaîne de Rôtisseurs Jeune Sommelier Competition International Final, and in 2016 she was named one of Food & Wine’s “Sommeliers of the Year.”
Despite what the Battle of the Somms poster may lead you to believe, Mia does not own any Napoleon hats.
Public Shows
Upcoming shows
All shows are at 8:30pm Eastern unless otherwise noted.
After each live show ends, ticket holders receive a link to a recording that is available for two weeks after the show. So if a particular episode doesn’t fit your schedule, that’s not a problem — you can enjoy the show whenever it works for you!
Summer season TBA!
What’s included?
Participant tickets
Each ticket includes a tasting kit with four unlabeled 4oz servings of wine.
You also have the option of getting a $25 credit toward your favorite bottle from the tasting – plus a 10% discount on that bottle and any additional purchases – at a top NYC wine shop (which can ship anywhere that wine can be shipped).
Spectator tickets
If you’re the type who prefers to watch, our Spectator tickets are for you. For a steeply discounted price, you can watch the episode live, learn about the day’s topic, and witness the epic battle between our expert co-hosts.
Spectators do not receive tasting kits.
Details
Guests access Battle of the Somms using Zoom. Each episode runs approximately 90 minutes.
If a show’s time doesn’t fit in your schedule, that’s not a problem! Ticket holders have access to recordings of the show for two weeks after it airs, and can enjoy it whenever they like. Just refrigerate your tasting kit and pull it out whenever you’re ready to enjoy the show.
Private Events
If your group likes wine, Battle of the Somms is a fantastic option. Whether your group are complete beginners or experienced collectors, BotS is a great opportunity to enjoy a few glasses of wine together, learn something interesting, and be blown away by just how much wine knowledge leading experts actually have.
The private version of Battle of the Somms works just like the public shows (see above). The only differences are that the event is customized in exactly the way you want, everyone in the audience is part of your group, and the primary host may not be Mia (we work with many of America’s leading Master Sommeliers to provide private events).
What’s included?
Tasting kit
Every member of your group will receive a tasting kit with four unlabeled 4-ounce bottles of wine.
Expert hosts
Your event will be hosted by a Master Sommelier, who will be joined by two other experts. Master Sommeliers are the Navy Seals of the wine world – there are fewer than 200 in the United States.
Custom Options
Expertise level
Whether you're a group of complete beginners or experienced wine collectors, we've got you covered. Just let us know how basic or advanced you want your event to be.
Wine mix
We can’t tell you exactly what you’ll be drinking (that would spoil the fun), but we can certainly accommodate a preference for red or white wine. Choose from all red, all white, or two of each.
Hosts
All BotS events are led by a Master Sommelier, who is joined by two other expert guests. For an additional fee, you can make your private event an all-star affair, with all three hosts being Master Sommeliers.
Custom glassware
If you’d like your guests to receive a glass imprinted with a logo or other graphic to commemorate your event, we would be happy to arrange that for you. Additional charges apply.
Topic
If you really know your stuff and want to hone in on a particular topic, you can choose among a range of subjects from the fundamental (acidity, oak, etc) to the nitty gritty (pyrazine, fermentation techniques, etc).
Details
Duration
Battle of the Somms is generally a 90 minute event. One-hour and two-hour options are also available.
Scheduling
Please book your event at least two weeks in advance in order to give us enough time to put together a team of wine experts for your show and ship a tasting kit to each member of your group.
Cost
For non-corporate private events, the base charge for Battle of the Somms is $2,000 for up to 8 guests. Parties larger than 8 are welcome, with a charge of $100 per additional guest.
Pricing may differ for corporate events. If you are interested in creating a Battle of the Somms event for your team, please contact us using the form below.
If you would like all three hosts at your event to be Master Sommeliers, please add an additional $400.
For a two-hour event, please add an additional $300. There is no cost difference between 60 and 90 minute events.
These prices include shipping costs for the tasting kits.
Other
Battle of the Somms is a 21+ event.
Note that Battle of the Somms is not available to guests in Alabama, Delaware, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, or Utah, as these states prohibit the shipment of alcohol. Battle of the Somms is only available within the continental United States.
Book your private event!
Complete this form to get the booking process started.
