Some Facts About a Sommelier and info on wine courses
1. Is not just a waiter. A Sommelier learns the tastes of his customers. They teach and explain the different types of wine by matching up the wine with the customer. Their goal is to please their customers with not only the perfect wine but with the perfect food as well. They are totally passionate about wine and people.
2. Is a wine steward who oversees a wine cellar. They stock the cellars of fine dining establishments.
3. Consults with the chefs in order to determine what wines will best complement the food. Knows how to serve the wine with the correct glasses and the ideal temperature. A great deal of information is learned through a Sommelier course.
4.. Men make up 95 percent of Sommeliers. They work on the restaurant’s wine list and work with suppliers. It is their responsibility to maintain the restaurant’s wine cellar. Sometimes the Sommeliers actually become celebrities in the foodie world and write wine articles, host wine tastings, conduct tours of vineyards, etc.
5. Needs to be up-to-date on beers, ciders, ales, and cigars (after-dinner ones). The Sommelier must be familiar with the restaurant’s menu and their selection of wines.
6. Chooses a variety of wines including good, lower-cost ones and higher-priced vintages. Note: a single bottle of wine can cost thousands of dollars. An important responsibility is choosing the House Wine. Knows about every single wine in the cellar and every dish on the menu. Chooses both a wine that complements the food and knows when to select one that will provide a contrast.
7. Some serve as a wine consultant for restaurants. They can even compete with other Sommeliers throughout the world by taking an exam and showing off their skills including their blind tasting talent. This type of job is definitely for a “night person” since it involves wine with dinner. Traveling can be a big part of their job visiting vineyards and wineries around the world,
8. Need Sommelier Training and Certification to be a Professional.
The Epicurean Institute is located in Italy. They specialize in the study of wine, food and hospitality working with American and Italian team of food, wine and culinary world leaders. Their Enrollment Office is in Totowa, NJ. No matter where you may live be it in NYC, Italy, England or Dubai, here’s their contact page: http://www.epicureaninstitute.com/contacts.html if you have any questions about being an Italian Sommelier or one from anywhere else.
