“Strong Water” Book Review: An Interview with Tim Gaiser, MS
Tales of a Master Sommelier’s Life in Food, Wine and Restaurants
This month it was a pleasure interviewing renowned Master Sommelier, Tim Gaiser. In 2009 Tim was my favorite instructor at the Culinary Institute of America, Napa Valley. With his second book, Strong Water: Tales of a Master Sommelier’s Life in Food, Wine and Restaurants, Tim Gaiser, MS regales us with his early days as a restaurant sommelier while also offering useful suggestions and information on dining, ordering, and enjoying wine. I specifically asked Tim to address three subjects for our Wine Wanderings subscribers including:
*Why the title, Strong Water?
*What is so important to know about cork velocity (sparkling wine)?
* What advice should you ask a restaurant sommelier when ordering wine?
About the Book
Strong Water: Tales of a Master Sommelier’s Life in Food, Wine, and Restaurants offers a captivating journey through the world of wine and culinary experiences. Tim Gaiser shares his entertaining and insightful stories from decades in the industry. This collection of essays covers:
Humorous restaurant experiences and memorable wine encounters
The evolution of a professional wine taster’s palate
Behind-the-scenes looks at the life of a sommelier
Unforgettable travel adventures in wine regions around the globe
Reflections on the connections between music, food, and wine
“With wit and wisdom, Gaiser demystifies the world of fine wine while celebrating the joys of sharing a great meal. Whether you’re a wine enthusiast or simply enjoy a good story, “Strong Water” provides a delightful blend of humor, expertise, and passion for the finer things in life.” – Amazon review, 2025.
Chapter 19: Cork Velocity
“The velocity of gases expelled from the bottleneck reaches almost Mach 2, twice the velocity of sound.” – Tim Gaiser, MS
An excerpt: Bottles of sparkling wine are under considerable pressure—somewhere between 70 and 120 pounds per square inch, depending on the kind of wine. This is greater than the air pressure in an average car tire. Which means that a sparkling wine cork, when released from the bottle, travels at great speed. According to an article in the Washington Post, a Champagne cork leaves a bottle at approximately 25 miles per hour. However, recent studies have shown that eh gases around the cork can achieve much greater velocities of nearly twice the speed of sound.
What to Ask a Somm When Ordering Wine
In my opinion this is one of the strongest chapters of the book. Once a sommelier makes an appearance at your table, be sure to relay pertinent information to them including:
* “This is a style of wine I really like.”
* “I really don’t like X kind of wine.”
*“Here are some wines I’ve enjoyed in the past. What do you have that’s similar?”
*Pricing: “I’d like to spend $50-$60 on a bottle,” or “Please suggest a wine you really like for under $85.”
“Do a little preparatory work before you go to the restaurant….Take a look at the menu first to see what you want to eat…..Give them an example of a wine you liked in the past….There should then be some back and forth on price. That’s really the last piece of information they need….They should then offer you 1-3 possibilities of what to order.” – Tim Gaiser, MS
About Tim Gaiser, MS
Tim Gaiser MS, author, wine expert, educator and lecturer, became a Master Sommelier in the 1990’s and is currently one of only 269 in the world and one of 172 in North and South America. He is the former Director of Education and Education chair for the Court of Master Sommeliers. He has served as a lecturer at the Culinary Institute of America and an instructor for Napa Valley Wine Academy. I reviewed Tim’s previous book “Message in the Bottle: A Guide to Tasting Wine,” April 4, 2023, Click here to see past review.
What I Am Drinking This Week (No Dry January)
2020 The Crusher, Petite Sirah, California $15
Wine Enthusiast, 90 Points. It is our club’s go-to by-the-glass wine…a steal.
2023 Bending Branch Estate Picpoul Blanc, Camledge Vineyard, Texas Hill Country, $34
New Release. An elegant, polished white wine, from the grape known as “the lip-stinger.” 2025 Silver award Forth Worth Stock Show & Rodeo International Wine Competition.
Lucien Albrecht Crémant d’Alsace Brut Rose, Alsace, France, $20
James Suckling, 90 Points
This wine has impressive notes of apples, peaches, and apricots, with a creaminess to the long finish.
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(Editor’s Note: Please read “What I Wish I Could Tell the Surgeon General,” by Karen MacNeil, Author, The Wine Bible.)
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Wine Wanderings Editorial Calendar
Winemaker For the Day: Custom Wine Blending: A Winery’s Highest Ranked Event for Members to Create Their Own Blend
Curious About Wine? Language, Terms, Pronunciation Explained
What is the Wine Custom Crush Business?
Barolo & Barbaresco, What’s New and Powerful in Italy’s Piedmont Region?
Demystifying a Wine Tech Sheet. What Does It Mean? Why Should You Care?
Tablas Creek and the Rhone Rangers of Paso Robles, an Interview with Jason Haas, Proprietor
An Interview with Mike Lewellen, Managing Partner, Lucas & Lewellen Winery, Santa Barbara
10 Tips for Planning Your Next Trip to Paris
Malbec: Domestic and International Finds
Barolo and Barbaresco: Let’s Get an Update
The Real Cost of Wine Tariffs: Economic Impact on Local U.S. Restaurants
The Magic of Tuscany: Touring the Region
Live from Kentucky’s Bourbon Trail: Where to Taste with Tourism Tips
Book Review: Big Macs and Burgundy
Travel Opportunities
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Cruise with Wine Wanderings: Cruise Travel Reminder: River Seine – Paris – Normandy – Giverny on AmaWaterways
Cruise the Danube on AmaWaterways with Wine Wanderings and Wölffer Estate Winery, April 20, 2026, Romantic Danube.
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