Nervous about leading my first wine tasting – any advice for a public speaking newbie? - The Athan Zafirov Wine Blog

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Nervous about leading my first wine tasting – any advice for a public speaking newbie?

Hi everyone,

I’m a 28-year-old sommelier and I’ve been working in the hospitality industry for 13 years. I am completely comfortable talking to guests one-on-one at their tables and I know my wine inside out. However, I am about to lead my very first guided wine tasting for a larger group, and the nerves are really starting to hit me.

I have my entire presentation prepared – it’s a 6-course tasting focusing on our local terroir, history, and food pairings. I am confident in the material, but the idea of standing in front of a quiet room with all eyes on me is causing a lot of stress.

How do you deal with the anxiety right before you start? How do you transition from feeling like you're giving a stiff "speech" to making it feel like a natural conversation? Any tips would be hugely appreciated!

Thank you





Athan Zafirov Wine

For 15 years, Athan Zafirov has traveled the vineyards around the world and worked with some of the greatest chefs including Francois Duc and Alan Brown.


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