The craft of fine wine making has created an industry that has lasted for thousands of years. All over the world wines are being created from the finest vines for the finest pallets. How will anyone ever know where to begin with the enormous breadth of choices and categories?
The job of the Sommelier is to be the absolute professional when it comes the many varieties of wine. A Sommelier will be called upon to give a recommendation on which type of wine fits any given situation. Whether you need to know the best drink to match your meal or how to have the grandest time at a summer picnic the Sommelier will know just what is best.
What would you say to this being a career choice for you? The path of the professional wine connoisseur can be a difficult and complex one to follow. What helps along the way is an inherent love and passion for your craft and the product.
Where to begin
Step one on your journey for wine self-enlightenment is to expand your palate and seek out the personal experience found from tasting the wide varieties of wine available to you. Through this experience you must find a deeper knowledge for where these delicate drinks come from and just why they exist.
The discipline of note taking is a difficult and tumultuous journey to follow through. Luckily this version of it allows you to taste wine. The sommelier starts off as a studying taste tester. Learning the skill of professional wine assessment is key to creating a deeper understanding of the decadent liquid. Finding similarities between drinks and what each note of flavor is will be the most exciting part of your training!
Once you have built up a greater knowledge for the many wines out there you must get quite comfortable with the other major part of the job, serving the wine. This can be more of a practice makes perfect area of expertise but is absolutely essential to finding success. The art of opening and pouring a bottle of wine cannot be understated or taught quickly.
Work within the industry
The business of hospitality can be a fantastic section of the industry to hone your skills as a sommelier! Many restaurants are wine centric and can be a great way to get your foot in the door. Otherwise an upscale bar or even a banquet hall can afford opportunities for you.
Learning to present yourself should be a major focus on this part of the career path. Standing strong and confident with bottle in hand is key. The well-groomed and properly dressed individual can seem quite professional but true confidence goes a long way in gaining trust with a customer.
Certified!
The final and most obvious task to becoming a sommelier is attaining your degree! Some may tell you that certification is not necessary in this job field. The growing competition for this lucrative career creates an unhealthy environment to get hired within. A certificate not only proves your worth but helps you stand out in the crowd!
Lauren Welch