Know Wine, LLC is just that: a way for you to get to know wine. Do you already know wine? Work with Know Wine, LLC to enhance your tastings, curate pairings, or learn new grape varieties. Know nothing? Know Wine, LLC will introduce you to fun ways to taste, pair, and enjoy!

About Us

About Know Wine, LLC

We offer well-researched presentations in a variety of formats, from serious seminars to party pairings to appeal to wine enthusiasts at all levels.

At Know Wine, LLC, we believe that every sip tells a story. Bruce Smoller ensures that each educational session, event, or class, is crafted to enhance your wine journey and deepen your appreciation for this exquisite beverage, all the while stressing that drinking and tasting wine are meant to be fun!

Meet Bruce Smoller

I have had a passion for wine since my days living near Napa Valley. I have been seriously studying wine for more than a decade and have now passed three of the six parts of the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust (WSET) level 4 (Diploma level). Along the way I have also completed the Italian Wine Scholar and French Wine Scholar programs (Wine Scholar Guild), the Spanish Wine Expert course, and master level courses in the wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Alsace, Loire Valley, Rhone Valley, Champagne, Cava, and Rioja, all with honors. I also have under my belt courses in wines from Portugal, Croatia, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany, as well as specialist courses in Port wines and Sherry wines and in depth courses in the wines of Mt. Etna and Barolo. My wine studies are not limited to Europe, however, and my wine educational transcript also includes courses about wines from California, Oregon, and Texas, Argentina, Canada, Chile, China, Georgia, South Africa, Australia, and New Zealand. I have been formally certified as an educator for the WSET program, as well as for the Wine Scholar Guild. I teach wine courses at Daemen University and Finger Lakes Community College and was the Nominated Wine Educator for the New York Kitchen. In my spare time, I am Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry.

Selected Presentations

How to Taste (not Drink) Wine
How to Pair Wine and Food
Pairing Wine and Cheeses from around the World
Around the World (of Wine) in 80 Minutes
Good wines for < $20; Do they exist?
Wines of France
Wines of Spain
Wines of Italy
Wines of Germany
Wines of Greece
Wines of Austria and Hungary
Wines of Chile
Wines of South Africa
Wines of Argentina
Wines of the United States
Wines of New York
Wines of Australia
Wines of New Zealand
Wines of Israel and Lebanon
Chardonnays from around the World
Wines of the Black Sea
Rieslings from around the World
Sauvignon Blancs from around the World
Cabernet Sauvignons from around the World
Cabernet Francs from around the World
Merlots from around the World
Chillin' with the reds
Wines of the Loire Valley
Beyond Riesling - A Survey of Finger Lakes Wines

Courses Taught Previously

Wine and Spirits Educational Trust Level 1
Wine and Spirits Educational Trust Level 2
Wine and Spirits Eduational Trust Level 3
French Wine Scholar (Wine Scholar Guild)
Italian Wine Scholar, Parts 1 and 2 (Wine Scholar Guild)
The Art and Science of Wine (Daemen University)
A Tour of the World Through Wine (Daemen University)
Wines of the Iberian Peninsula (Daemen University)
Wines of Europe (Finger Lakes Community College)
Wines of the World (Finger Lakes Community College)
Wines of Northern Italy

Previous Venues

Private residences
Restaurants (Rochester, NY)
Wine and Liquor Stores (Rochester, NY)
Wine Bars (Rochester, NY)
Wine Bars (Buffalo, NY)
Rochester Oasis
Independent Living Facilities
National Convention Centers
New York Kitchen
American Wine Society
Women for Wine Sense
Daemen University
Finger Lakes Community College
Verona, Italy (Orbridge Tours)

Our Services

Know Wine, LLC offers a range of services, including private tastings, in person and virtual wine classes, wine credentialing courses, and corporate events.