Welcome to Episode 2426 of the Italian Wine Podcast in which Jessica Dupuy interviews James Tidwell MS, CWE, the founder and producer of the TEXSOM Conference and TEXSOM Awards.
The Italian Wine Podcast is proud to be a Media Partner of TEXSOM for the second year in a row, supporting one of the most influential wine events in North America.
Join us at TEXSOM 2025 as Texas-based wine journalist Jessica Dupuy interviews top writers, journalists, sommeliers, and wine professionals at this highly influential wine event. In this special series, Jessica will delve into the experiences and insights of key attendees, exploring career paths, challenges, and the latest trends in the wine industry.
This special TEXSOM series is made possible thanks to the support of the Texas Department of Agriculture’s Uncork Texas Wines program, celebrating and promoting the vibrant culture of Texas wine.
More about today’s guest:
James Tidwell is a Master Sommelier, Certified Wine Educator, writer, and speaker. He founded and produces the TEXSOM Conference and the TEXSOM Awards. He was a consultant on The World Atlas of Wine 8th Edition as well as the forthcoming update to the Oxford Companion to Wine, contributes to the annual Hugh Johnson Pocket Wine Book, and is an editorial committee member for the Classic Wine Library. His articles have been published in World of Fine Wine, Lonely Planet, and other outlets.
James was a Grand Jury judge for the Wines of Portugal Challenge 2022 and 2023, Regional Chair for the USA and Central America at the Decanter World Wine Awards (DWWA) 2023, and a judge for The World of Fine Wine magazine’s World’s Best Wine List Awards. He was selected Rising Star Sommelier 2007 by StarChefs, nominated as WSET’s Outstanding Alumni 2017, nominated for the Person of the Year in Wine Enthusiast magazine’s Wine Star Awards 2019, and was named one of Wine Business Monthly’s Wine Business Leaders 2021.
Connect:
Website: https://texsom.com/people/james-tidwell-ms-cwe/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winejames/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-tidwell-2ba68823/
More about today’s host:
Jessica Dupuy covers wine, spirits, and travel from Austin, Texas. She holds a Diploma with the Wine and Spirit Educational Trust, is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, and a Certified Specialist of Wine and Spirits through the Society of Wine Educators. Dupuy’s work has appeared in Food & Wine, Wine Enthusiast, Imbibe, Texas Monthly, Forbes, SevenFifty Daily, GuildSomm, VinePair, and Southern Living. She recently published, The Wines of Southwest USA in addition to six regional cookbooks. Her forthcoming book, Italianity, with co-author Andrea Lonardi MW explores and celebrates the culture of Italian wine. (Release Spring 2026). She also co-hosts podcast, Another Bottle Down.
Connect:
Website: https://www.jessicadupuy.com/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessica-norman-dupuy-86486a4/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jessicandupuy/#
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Until next time, Cin Cin!