The Grapevine: The Sommelier
By Elspeth Brown
Growing up with no exposure to wine, I had little knowledge of it. At Johnson & Wales University, Professor Kathy Hawkins taught my Intro to Dining 2 class, opening my eyes to many new ideas. It was she who taught me how to taste the terroir in a wine. I began to appreciate its different nuances and became interested in wine for the first time in my life.
A couple of weeks after I graduated from culinary school, Professor Hawkins asked me if I would like to join some other students in taking The Court of Master Sommeliers introductory course with her. It was an intense two-day class covering wine and spirits, proper wine service, and blind tasting, followed by an exam. To my great delight, I passed, obtaining the first level of sommelier certification. During the celebration, I toasted Champagne to Professor Hawkins for opening up a whole new world for me.
A sommelier is a wine steward who is a trained and knowledgeable wine professional, normally working in fine dining restaurants, and who specializes in all aspects of wine service as well as wine and food pairing. There are 147 Master Sommeliers in the United States, with 23 being women. The Court of Master Sommeliers offers four examinations, each harder than the one before. The fourth and final certification requires the submittal and acceptance of an application to become a Master Sommelier before taking the exam.
The sommelier is the general public’s lifeline to the wine world. When you sit down for a meal in a fine dining restaurant, the sommelier is there to help you pair the perfect wine with your dinner. He or she purchases the wine, beer, and liquor for the establishment, and creates the beverage menu. He or she is also the person who will pair with your dinner an obscure yet appropriate grape varietal that you may have never chosen.
As a sommelier, I have worked in fine dining restaurants, but I have spent the majority of my career in my wine store expanding customers’ wine appreciation. Eventually, I plan to take the second Master Sommelier exam consisting of blind tastings, a written exam, and a service practicum.
If you are shopping in a specialty wine store, hopefully there will be a sommelier there to assist you. The sommelier should always make the customer feel comfortable and excited about trying new wines. I get the most satisfaction from introducing a new wine to a customer who loves it so much that the next time they come into the store, they have me pick out all their wines.
To truly have a love and appreciation of wine, one must have knowledge—and some very enjoyable experiences tasting. A sommelier whom you trust and one who knows your palate can help expand your tastes and options. They will select gems of wines for your special occasions and the everyday glass with dinner.
Enjoy and have fun!
Elspeth Brown is the owner of Maggie B’s Wine & Specialty Store, 10C South Main Street in Weaverville. For more information, visit maggiebswine.com or call 828.645.1111
