Eddie Osterland

Eddie Osterland, M.S., is a nationally acclaimed speaker and event industry consultant on food and wine. He is also a consultant on the subject, working with event planners and hosts to customize corporate and private parties and special occasions, adding his unique perspective and creating unforgettable culinary experiences.

In his keynotes, Eddie breaks down how wine can improve the culinary experience, enlightening audiences on how to bring wine or beer appreciation into their gatherings for greater fun and social rewards through his principles of power entertaining. Whether it's during dinner, after dinner or a series of conference workshops, Eddie's customized programs provide a fun and educational addition to conferences, meetings and executive retreats.

For the last 25 years, while sharing his philosophy of power entertaining, his clients have included Fortune 500 companies such as General Mills, IBM, American Express, Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, and Procter & Gamble. As the exclusive Master Sommelier for Jetset Magazine and author of an upcoming book, he is passionate about sharing his quest for all to achieve the best of the best.

Eddie was trained at the French L'lnstitut d'oenologie at Universite de Bordeaux for his D.U.A.D. degree and was the first American to receive the Master Sommelier Diploma, which is the highest international distinction that a professional can attain in fine wine, beverage and food service.

• 1. Power Entertaining with Food & Wine... A "during dinner" keynote address

  Eddie's signature "during dinner" event. Eddie will utilize pairs of wines to enhance your dinner, and will work with your chef to custom-design a dinner unlike any others you've seen. Eddie discusses the concept of "food-wines" and demonstrates why some wines enhance food flavors better than others. This is highly entertaining...with an explosive start-up, followed by humorous anecdotes and true stories.

• 2. Learn Something New!

  All too often people seem to adhere to a strict set of rules (protocol) when it comes to entertaining with wine and food. What's that all about? It's time to learn how to do it differently. Listen to the way Master Sommelier Eddie Osterland would like to see you do it. Go way beyond the expectations of your clients/guests: use the right glasses, use large-format bottles, chill the reds, decant the wines, serve the best foods and wines first, serve pairs of wines that teach your guests about food-wines. Push the envelope and entertain from the position of Power...your guests will be impressed!

• 3. Passport to the Wines of the World

  Use Eddie to custom design an international wine tasting reception to "kick-off" your meeting. This can be either a pre-dinner wine & light food reception, or it can replace dinner if done with more substantial hors d'oeuvres. Participants will be issued Passports that direct them to various stations that feature delicious wines and appetizer combinations from the most famous wine producing regions of the world. Eddie will work with your chef to create these unique food and wine combinations. These can include selections from France, Italy, Spain and Germany, to New Zealand, Australia, Argentina and Chile as well as the United States.

• 4. Wines of the World (2 sessions)

  Appellations, microclimates, classified growths and grand crus... the details are endless! While these may seem complicated, they will be explained in an easy-to-understand manner. Recognize the influence the winemaker has on designing flavors to fit the market demand. Comparisons will be made between the different styles of Cabernets, Pinot Noirs, Chardonnays and Sauvignon Blancs from France, California, Germany, Spain, Italy, Australia and New Zealand. This series is designed to quickly bring someone up to speed with techniques for using restaurant wine lists and an overall knowledge of the major wines of the world today.

• 5. What Makes a Wine Tick (limited to 72 persons)

  The experienced wine taster has the ability to analyze wine by separating it into its constituent parts. They understand their own personal strengths and weaknesses, and have the ability to discern flaws amongst wine qualities. This is a component tasting session, derived from the Université de Bordeaux School of Oenology. It is the only way to truly understand the world of subtlety in fine wines. Participants will taste flights of over 40 wines that have been adjusted to help demonstrate how to thoroughly evaluate both qualities and flaws in wine. It will change the way you look at wine forever!

• 6. All About Beer!

  This course is for regular beer fans as well as the discriminating host who wants to serve the right style or brand instead of wines. Like wines, beers have their own traditional styles. Eddie will identify the most important styles, ranging from hoppy British bitter ales to the dark lagers of South Germany, from the classic Pilsners of Bohemia to the arcane fruit beers of Flanders. Often, beer is the more appropriate choice of beverage, especially when assertively flavored foods are involved. Come explore a wealth of new classics and learn what real beer aficionados keep in their refrigerators.

  Blind-Taste Beers From:

  -Germany

  - Czechoslovakia

  -Begium

  -Japan

  -England

  - Ireland

  -China

  -Holland

  -U.S.A

  Learn what kinds of foods best accompany lagers and ales and kick your entertaining up a notch.

• 7. Corporate Retreats

  Most team-building exercises aren't this much fun! In this event, participants are divided into tasting teams. After being trained how to score wines like the Master Sommeliers, teams compete in a "blind-tasting challenge." Votes are tabulated, awards are presented, and everyone has a great time (win or lose)! The ultimate in corporate entertainment, this venue is ideally suited to staff rewards & incentives, client entertainment, team building and other company social events.

• Eddie shared his expertise of "How to Entertain at the Highest Level". From the word go he grasped everyone's attention giving them both unique and interesting tips on entertaining and making certain your guest look forward to, and hope for, a future invitation. Eddie was funny delightful to work with and every guest had the oportunity to spend a few minutes with him as he was very approachable.

  YPO, Mountain State Chapter

• Eddie was able to share his tremendous knowledge about wine and proper pairing with food, for the benefit of all in attendance. I received rave reviews from our sales staff about the event, and have since gotten feedback from them using the skills he provided in working with our foodservice clients. Not only does Eddie have the knowledge that comes along with being the first Master Sommelier in America, he shares the knowledge in a fun and entertaining way that has your guests enjoying the wine and Eddie's humor.

  R.W. Smith & Co.