Many of our members have a special interest in wine as collectors, producers, and those learning more about wine or other crafted beverages.  To accommodate those members, the Société Mondiale du Vin (“Mondiale”) was created to promote the enjoyment, knowledge and understanding of fine wines and crafted beverages.

Only members in good standing of the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs may be members of Mondiale.  A person, professionally involved in the wine and spirits industry or an amateur connoisseur with special interest and knowledge of wine and crafted spirits, seeking membership in the
Société Mondiale du Vin, must complete an application and have his or her Bailli approve of the application and process it through the National Office.

The framework of Société Mondiale du Vin provides for professional and amateur participation, with one of its goals being to provide help, encouragement and support for the young professionals who are to be the best sommeliers of the future.  The Chaîne conducts each year a competition to find the best young sommelier in the United States with the winner of that competition then participating in the international competition.  The United States winner in 2011 was Ian Cauble, of Half Moon Bay, California, who went on to the international competition in Athens, Greece, and won its gold medal and was declared the best young sommelier in the world.

The Chaîne Foundation raises money each year that is distributed in the form of scholarships not only for young chefs, but also for young aspiring professionals in the oenological field.  The Chaîne Foundation has raised and given away more than $3,000,000 since its inception.

New members of the Mondiale are inducted at special ceremonies and receive a tastevin (tasting cup) which is then worn on their regalia.  Professional members also receive a plaque to be displayed at their place of business.

The Grand Echanson (currently Bruce Nichols, of Naples, Florida) plans and directs a National Mondiale event each year.  It includes multi-course dinners with wine paired with each course and other special tasting events.  Recent national events have been held in Oregon, Santa Barbara, Sonoma and other wine producing areas.  The next National Mondiale event will be held from May 3 – 6, 2012, in Napa Valley.  You can now access registration materials.

Examples of local and regional Mondiale events include the following:

• Vertical Tasting of 6 vintages of Chateau Margaux and Dinner
• 11 year Vertical Tasting of Chateau Pichon-Lalande and dinner at Rainwaters with Madame May-ElianeLencquesaing
• 10 year Vertical Tasting of Moraga at Estancia, followed by Mondiale dinner with other wines
• Blind Tastings of recent California and Oregon Pinot Noir releases
• Blind Tastings of recent California Chardonnay releases
• Vertical Tasting of 7 vintages of Chateau Lynch Bages and Dinner
• Blind Tasting of 1995 Cabernet Sauvignons
• Vertical Tasting of 10 vintages of Chateau DucruBeaucaillou (from the Chateau) and Dinner at Thee Bungalow
• Tasting of the Great Wines of the World (minimum rating of 95 points by Robert Parker and the Wine Advocate™ for all wines brought by members) at Member’s Home
• Tasting of wines from the 1985 vintage from California and Bordeaux (comparative blind tasting) at Member’s Home
• Dinner at local Chaîne Member restaurant with Winery Owner/Winemaker Dick Steltzner and Vertical Tasting of 8 Steltzner Wines
• Wine Spectator™ Top 10 Wines from 2002 at Member’s Home
• Far West Regional Tasting of Australian wines at Arterra lead by representative of The Grateful Palate
• Wine Spectator™ Top 10 Wines from 2004 at Member’s Home, with Champagne and other wines generously provided by the host
• Tasting of the wines of Jean-Pierre Wolff and Wolff Vineyards at Savory (afternoon and then dinner)
• Tasting of 2002 French Red Burgundies at Member’s Home (afternoon)
• Chilean Wine Tasting at Rainwater’s and Dinner
• Far West Regional Tasting of Spanish Wines with substantial Spanish tapa servings at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, followed by Dinner at the Ritz Carlton
• Wines from your collection (members brought wines from their collections/cellars) tasting and dinner at The Third Corner
• 10 year Vertical Tasting of Ridge MonteBello (in magnums) and Dinner at the San Diego Marriott Hotel and Marina
• Vertical Tasting of Domaine Serene at a member’s home
• Far West Regional Tasting of Premium Tequilas with dinner
• Vertical Tasting of Verite (all vineyard designations) at a member’s home
• Very high end Single Malt Scotch Tasting at Savory with knowledgeable speaker and bagpipes and accompanied by appropriate food paired with each scotch
• Far West Regional Tasting and Dinner with Ric Forman of Forman and Cheryl Emmolo of Emmolo, and both of Rossi-Wallace, with their wines paired to courses, at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel, a tasting followed by dinner
• BYOB dinner at Stella Mare in Santa Barbara – each couple asked to bring a bottle of superb wine to share with others (22 people and 30 bottles, including 1964 Petrus, Aubert, Chateau La Gaffeliere, Rudd, Merry Edwards, Staglin, etc., nothing but terrific wines)
• Sit down tasting of wines of Christopher Creek Winery with their owners, Fred and Pam Wasserman, and then dinner with courses paired to their wines at The Shores, La Jolla, California
• Riedel Wine Tasting with Georges Muller at the 50th Anniversary Chapitre in San Diego, with cellared wines generously provided by San Diego and La Jolla Bailliage members
• Japanese dinner paired with wines at Sushi On A Roll
• Premium Vodka and Caviar Tasting

Let your imagination run wild as to others that have been held or that may be held in the future.

Click to download the Societe Mondiale du Vin Manual