Our guest today on The Wine Talks is Edwin Raben.
One of the most renowned wine professionals in the Netherlands with an impressive track record in both the national and international wine world.

Edwin began his career at the very top of gastronomy, working as a chef and sommelier in leading restaurants and hotels. During this period, he was named Best Sommelier of the Netherlands no fewer than four times. Internationally, he also made a strong impression, including a third place at the World Sommelier Championship in Paris. These achievements firmly established him as an authority in tasting and evaluation.

Beyond his work on the restaurant floor, Edwin has played a significant role within the profession for many years. He served as chairman of the Dutch Guild of Sommeliers, was a member of international examination committees, and is regularly invited around the world as a lecturer, speaker and jury member.

Through his company Edwines, he combines consultancy, wine selection and education. He is the founder of the Edwines School and an accredited educator for the Wine and Spirits Education Trust. In addition, he is the only WSET Level 3 Spirits docent in the Netherlands and Belgium. His strength lies in translating complex wine knowledge into clear and accessible insights without losing depth.

In this episode, we speak extensively with Edwin about his craft, his vision on quality and the wine regions that continue to fascinate him. An important theme is California, a region he knows inside out and for which he also develops educational programs. We discuss the evolution of Californian wine, stylistic differences compared to the Old World and how identity and terroir are becoming increasingly important.

A conversation with a true professional who does not just judge wine, but truly understands it.

In this episode we tasted the following wines:

• Blazon Chardonnay
• Bernardus
• Maggio

You can taste along and order your 3 wines here

Would you like to learn more about california go to Edwinesschool and use Wijngesprek in the comments section to receive 50% off!