Nick Fildes - Sam's Wine Club Sommelier & Symposiarch
- Spike James
- Aug 21, 2020
- 2 min read
The sorcerer’s apprentice.
You might say that Nick was born into a life of wine.
His father, a bottle blond Egyptologist, Harlequin and bon viveur, gave him a childhood introduction to his own passions for history, travel and Italian football. As well as a love for fine Italian reds.
On drinking a 2005 bottle of Masi Costasera Amarone, he remembers thinking, ‘Aah, I get it now.’
Then he met George Bergier, who showed him a much bigger world. Other colours, other countries and other styles. Wines that make food sing. And vice versa.
The day after his 18th birthday, head throbbing with a Barolo hangover, Nick started his first shift at Sam’s Chop House. Under the watchful eye of George.
He has been studying wine ever since. On the job, in life and in the classroom. His Wine and Spirit Education Trust Level 3 qualification was achieved with Distinction and impressive scores – including 90% on the blind tasting.
That’s talent right there.
Nick has worked in famous wine bars, gastro pubs in the Northern Quarter and restaurants. He has imported wines directly from Tuscany. And he was the stand-out candidate to pair with George to create a wine club with a difference.
Nick is an expert at translating wine speak. We have all heard of tannins, acidity, ripeness, body, nose and palate. Wine jargon is wonderful, extensive and elaborate, a great thing to be “in the know” on. But to some the it can seem a little elusive, pompous and pretentious. This is where Nick shines. He’ll talk you through what we mean, he’ll give you comparisons, he’ll help you expand your vocabulary in a way which you can engage with. And this is why he is our Symposiarch. The approachable new generation of wine expert.
In ancient Greece “symposiums” were essentially parties where people got extremely drunk and discussed the matters of the day. The Symposiarch was the toastmaster, the host and the conversation starter. And this is exactly what Nick brings to the wine club and our Wine & Food Tasting Events.
Sam’s sommeliers share a passion for wine and food matching, for visiting wine growers and for learning more about their subject every day.
It’s a career and a lifestyle journey in one. Something they’re only too happy to share.
In bullet points
o Nick has tasted over 20 vintages of Lebanon’s incredible Chateau Musar. His dad, Al has drunk 32 now at the last count
o Nick’s favourite wine is Super Tuscan Sassicaia
o But the best wine he has ever tasted is a Henschke’s astonishing Hill of Grace from the Adelaide Hills
o His favourite pairing is merlot-heavy right bank Bordeaux and lamb – “huge flavours, not my favourite wine, but together… wow!”
offline unscramble is a great way to learn and have fun at the same time!
Mình có lần lướt đọc mấy trao đổi trên mạng thì thấy nhắc tới bong88 trong lúc mọi người đang bàn về các nền tảng trực tuyến, nên cũng tò mò mở ra xem thử cho biết. Mình không tìm hiểu sâu, chỉ xem qua trong thời gian ngắn để quan sát bố cục và cách sắp xếp các mục nội dung tổng thể. Cảm giác là trình bày khá gọn, các phần rõ ràng nên đọc lướt cũng không bị rối, với mình như vậy là đủ để nắm thông tin cơ bản rồi.
This was a genuinely fascinating read about Nick Fildes! It's clear his journey from that Masi Costasera Amarone epiphany to becoming the Symposiarch is steeped in genuine passion and incredible mentorship. I particularly enjoyed hearing how he translates complex wine jargon into approachable insights – that's a true gift. His impressive WSET scores and blind tasting talent really highlight his expertise. For anyone needing to organize their work, especially if they're compiling notes or images for a presentation, I found Merge JPG to PDF Online to be incredibly useful for tidily combining multiple files.
What a fantastic read! It's truly inspiring to learn about Nick's journey from a childhood appreciation of Italian reds to becoming a Symposiarch, making wine accessible and engaging. His ability to demystify "wine speak" and his passion for food pairings, like the merlot-heavy Bordeaux with lamb, truly shine through. It's clear he embodies that approachable new generation of wine experts. For anyone working with notes or articles like this, I highly recommend checking out Markdown to Doc for effortlessly converting content.
What a fantastic read about Nick Fildes! It's truly inspiring to see someone so dedicated to their craft, especially with such an engaging journey from a "bottle blond Egyptologist" father to becoming a Wine & Spirit Education Trust Distinction holder. His ability to demystify "wine speak" and act as a Symposiarch, making wine approachable and enjoyable, is precisely what makes a great sommelier. Learning about his love for Italian reds, the Masi Costasera Amarone epiphany, and even his favorite pairings like Bordeaux with lamb, highlights his depth of knowledge and passion. For anyone who appreciates the finer details and wants to convert complex ideas into clear, understandable formats, much like Nick does with wine, then I'd highly recommend checking out…