

Susan R Lin
Master of Wine
Master of Fine Arts - Classical Piano
Wine & Performing Arts
Susan R Lin MW, MFA
I create memorable experiences through music and wine.
I am a Master of Wine and a Master of Fine Arts in Classical Piano and Musicology.
My joy is bringing music and wine together through musical branding and bespoke experiences.
Each creation is highly personalized, thoroughly researched, designed to bring out the spirit of your brand and raison d'être.
I approach my craft through an interdisciplinary lens, inspired and forged by my background as a high tech program manager, performing arts program developer, and as a classical pianist and dancer.
My work is rooted in academic research and professional experience in program management and event/program development spanning multiple countries, organizations, and cultures in the wine, performing arts, and high tech industries.
I have worked with San Francisco Symphony, Google, San Francisco Ballet, Biondi-Santi, Belmont Wine Exchange, and more.
My research and work have been featured on Decanter, Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, GuildSomm, WINELIFE, Robb Report, Tim Atkin MW, and more.
I was named Master of Wine after passing the rigorous MW exam and the publication of my dissertation
‘Influences of Classical Music on the Perception of a Brut Non-vintage Champagne’.
WHAT I DO
Wine/Spirits & Music Experiences
Wine/Spirits & Music Branding
Judging and Evaluation
Conference and Panel Speaking
Piano Performance
Audience & Program Development
Business Development
Partner & Customer Cultivation and Relationship Management
Cellar Curation, Wine & Food Pairings, Wine & Spirits Programs
Writing
QUALIFICATIONS - RESUME
Master of Wine (MW)
Master of Fine Arts in Classical Piano and Musicology (MFA)
Classical Piano study with the late Thomas LaRatta, pupil of Rudolph Ganz
Stanford Certified Program Manager (SCPM)
Diploma in Wine & Spirits (WSET Level 4 Award - DipWSET)
Sommelier, Certified by the Court of Master Sommeliers
Certified Specialist of Wine (CSW)
French Wine Scholar (FWS)
Italian Wine Scholar (IWS)
WSET Certified Educator

Media
By Susan
Research Paper:
Influences of Classical Music on the Perception of a Brut Non-Vintage Champagne - Institute of Masters of Wine (scroll down to '2021 RPs')
Video:
The Experience of Music and Wine - Classical Music and a Brut Non-Vintage Champagne - Wine Scholar Guild (requires membership)
Deep Dive into the Master of Wine Program with Susan R Lin MW - Inside The Drinks Business, Beverage Trade Network
What is the Role of a Master of Wine: Susan R Lin - Beverage Trade Network
Busting Myths about Wine with the Master: Susan R Lin - Beverage Trade Network
The Voice of Wine Episode 1: Susan R Lin - The Wine Jokers - Alben & Aghen Gherardi
Susan Lin on Grandpa, How Music Affects What's in Your Glass, and Perspective - Trish Glose - Hungry for More
Podcast:
Wine Pairings: Music and Food - GuildSomm (section begins at 4 minutes in)
The Remarkable Wines of the Loire Valley - VinePair (with David Keck MS)
Articles:
The Power of the Story: Influences of Narrative in Shaping Wine Perception - GuildSomm Feature Article
A Sensorial Symphony - Tim Atkin MW
Science vs. Romance in Wine - GuildSomm MW Perspectives
Media about Susan
The Power of Music - How Brahms Might Make Your Wine Taste Better by Lauren Eads - Decanter
Brahms and Bliss: Wine's finer with classical music because it enhances our perception of taste, study finds - The Daily Mail
Harmonizing Music & Wine with Susan R Lin MW by Prithvi Nagpal - Beverage Trade Network
Klassische Musik und Wein: "Zum Champagner lege ich Brahms auf" by Gerald Franz - Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (German) faz.net
Master of Everything by Karin Leeuwenhoek - WINELIFE Magazine (Dutch) winelife.nl
Busting myths about wine with the Master of Wine: Susan R Lin - USA Wine Ratings
Masters of Wine: Susan R Lin by Zelda Molenaar - MyWineLife.nl
Vino, donne e leadership (Wine, women and leadership) - Book by Barbara Sgarzi (Italian) - see excerpts about Susan here
10 New Masters of Wine - Feb 2021 by Patrick Schmitt - TheDrinksBusiness.com
Belmont Wine Exchange's Susan Lin named Master of Wine - WineBusiness.com










I create delightfully thought-provoking experiences
