Private tastings, curated pairings, and corporate wine experiences led by James De Smet-Bacon, Wine Educator and Level 3 Certified Sommelier.
James De Smet-Bacon has spent a lifetime following wine back to the people, places, and stories that shaped it. His path has carried him from England to Brittany, Omaha to Palo Alto, through wine shops, cellars, classrooms, and more than a few unforgettable tables.
A Wine Educator and Level 3 Certified Sommelier, James brings history, humor, and a host’s instinct to every tasting. He helps guests notice more, trust their own palate, and understand what is in the glass without ever making the evening feel like a lesson.
With James, wine is not simply poured. It is revealed.
The wine James dismissed became the glass he never forgot.
It began at a trestle table by the harbor. Seagulls circled overhead, boats knocked against the dock, and the air carried diesel, seaweed, and salt. The oysters had come from the water that morning. Beside them was a glass of Muscadet, a wine James had once dismissed as cheap plonk back in England.
On its home turf, it came alive. Light, bright, and faintly fruity, it was a flawless match for the briny oyster in his hand. The pairing was raw, unpretentious, and completely convincing.
That glass began a lifelong journey from Brittany to Stanford, through cellars, tastings, and classrooms around the world. It is still why every JB Wine Services experience begins with curiosity rather than a lecture.
Aroma is where memory, place, and flavor begin to connect. James helps guests slow down, notice what is already there, and trust their own senses. Many arrive convinced they cannot taste what others describe. They leave knowing they can.
It begins with scent. White flowers, citrus, herbs, spice. The first clues arrive before the wine ever touches your palate.
Those aromas begin to connect with something familiar. A garden, a kitchen, a season, a place you have not thought about in years.
From there, the wine starts to reveal where it came from. Soil, climate, landscape, and growing conditions begin to show themselves in the glass.
Then comes the sip. Flavor, texture, acidity, and finish bring everything together, turning instinct into understanding.
Transform your living room, dining table, or backyard into a private wine salon. James curates bottles tailored to your tastes, guiding you and your guests through the fundamentals of sight, smell, and palate. Stories unfold, techniques are shared, and every glass becomes part of a conversation. Wine education wrapped in unforgettable hospitality.
Wine finds its true magic in the right pairing. From oysters kissed by Muscadet to dark chocolate paired with Pinot Noir, James creates guided experiences that surprise and delight. A journey through contrast and harmony, where each pairing reveals how food and wine elevate one another.
Step beyond casual sipping into a guided journey that builds both knowledge and confidence. James introduces the fundamentals of tasting, including acidity, tannin, and body, and connects aroma with memory through blind pours and interactive exercises, so guests learn to trust their senses and taste without pretense.
Move beyond the typical cocktail hour. James designs interactive tastings that bring colleagues together in a shared journey of discovery. Blind tastings spark curiosity, pairing challenges encourage collaboration, and approachable storytelling keeps every participant engaged. The result: laughter, connection, and a team that leaves both educated and energized.
We've repeatedly (six times so far!) hired James to curate and run private tasting events for friends and colleagues. A loyal and passionate following has enjoyed impeccably planned events ranging from a fascinating alcohol and cheese pairing event to an ale tasting featuring 29 different styles of ale to a Graham's port tasting so innovative it caught the attention of the Symington family and Adrian Bridge all the way back in Portugal. James' breadth of alcohol and cheese knowledge is only rivaled by his understanding of how to select the perfect bottle for your unique taste buds and price range. For the most informative and entertaining night of your life, just ask James to plan you an event. You will not be disappointed.
James crafted unparalleled tasting experiences that allowed novices and enthusiast alike to dive hard first into the depths of the grape and beyond. From explorations in Malbecs to an examination of Lustau Sherries, and even a broad tasting of fine alcohols and cheeses, these tastings sparked delight, passion, conversation, and devotions that have lasted years beyond the tasting.
Tell James about your occasion, your guests, and what you have in mind. He’ll shape the wines, format, and experience around your goals and budget.
“Wine begins in the soil. The story comes alive in the glass.”