Wine Wednesday-Sommelier

Clearly I enjoy wine. Drinking. Discussing. Learning. This. Does NOT make me a wine expert, a Master of Wine nor a sommelier.

                                         

 About a week ago when the word sommelier came up in conversation, the party on the other end said "SOm-uh-WHAT?"

Sommelier is defined as:
                      a wine steward or a waiter in a restaurant in charge of wines.

This is a very narrow definition as a sommelier is responsible for the procurement of wines in restaurants or even large stores, wine storage, cellar rotation, and offering expert service and advice to the wine consumer.

To achieve the prestigious title of "Master Sommelier" takes years of grueling hard work, self study and a refinement of palette. Typically somewhere between 3 (if you are very lucky and very good) and 10 years. Much to the surprise of some, it is not about drinking multiple bottles of 2 Buck Chuck or even expensive wine every night. It IS equivalent to studying for and obtaining a PhD.

The very word, sommelier, previously conjured up images of a waiter (read:male) in tails, a towel over one arm and nose in the air. Giving more the impression of arrogance rather than sophistication or service.

photo courtesy of Madison Beer Review

I feel a strong need to dispel this myth.
Partly because I recently read "Demeanor of the Professional Sommelier" as defined by the Court of Master Sommeliers.  (as part of my own self study)
http://www.mastersommeliers.org/Resources/Documents/Professional%20Somm%20Demeanor%20Jan%202013%284%29.pdf

The first two bullet points struck such a nerve.

• It is imperative for a sommelier to display a quietly confident but not arrogant attitude and to demonstrate superlative hospitality throughout beverage service.

• It is important for sommeliers to put themselves in the role of a server; no job or task on the floor is beneath the role of a sommelier; he or she does whatever needs to be done in the moment to take care of the guest. 

There is nothing beneath you.
             Confident WITHOUT arrogance.
                             A role of a server (meaning to serve).
THIS isn't exactly the mental picture I had conjured up. How ZEN! How Yogic!

And partly because several months ago I had the distinct honor to meet Oklahoma's own
(and only) Master Sommelier. And she (Yes! SHE!) has utterly dispelled my myth.

According to the Court of Master Sommeliers website there are 186 Master Sommeliers worldwide.  
                                           186 on the entire planet!
In North America there are:
                              101 men and
                                                exactly 17 women.

Oklahoma has one, yes only one. Master Sommelier. And she is not only 1 of 186 but
                                            1 of ONLY 17 women.
                                           This thrills me to no end!

Image courtesy of Randa Warren website

http://www.randawarren.com/default.html

I have had the great pleasure to attend a few classes with Randa Warren. Her wine knowledge, naturally, blows me away. Every time I attend a class though I walk away touched by her patience, kindness and overall demeanor. One that quietly states humility and service as well as a joie de vivre.

Will I ever become a Master Sommelier? A girl can dream, right?  It's a path I'm exploring. But I'm not sure I have the dedication and discipline to achieve something of this magnitude. Along the way though, I'll enjoy some wine, work on a humble attitude where nothing is beneath me, try to be helpful and of service to others and maybe, just maybe open up to life's lessons with less judgement. That's part of it, right?

    Salute~

February 6th now = Waitaingi Day

Today is an anniversary of sorts. But not a good one. Not one to be celebrated. In fact, it's the 20th anniversary of a horrible event in my family.
I dread February 6th. Every. Year.

20 years ago, on this day.

3 days before my 21st birthday, when I should have been celebrating a rite of passage.

I was devastated and in mourning.

It was the day my grandpa died.

Murdered. Actually.

And every year, I walk around with a tightness in my chest, either on the verge of, or in tears and it's a personal hell. And it generally carries through to my birthday. (Which has been hard to really celebrate)
Until now.

Truly, the shift began last year, while in New Zealand during this time. We were going to celebrate my 40th birthday at the Marlborough Wine Festival on the 9th (Again. Thanks NZer's for throwing me a heck of a bash).
We were encouraged to go to the Waitaingi Day celebrations.

Held each year on 6th February, this holiday commemorates the signing of the Treaty of Waitaingi in 1840, the founding document of New Zealand.

As we made our way to a particular celebration in Akaroa on the South Island, That fear and panic began to once again grow. I tried to breathe through it. Tears filled my eyes. I did the best I could. But once we arrived I was taken with the people, the landscape, the celebrations. I did bring it up with my husband and we discussed. Mostly, he just listened...as he does. My mind was filled with this new (to me) and wonderful event.

A few days later we made our way to Blenheim for the wine festival. 
I had a GREAT birthday! The best one of my adult life.

I had been dreading this day. This BIG anniversary. But today there's been a shift. Nothing is going to change the fact that today is THAT day. The only thing that can change is how I process it and react to it. So I am recognizing and publicly acknowledging it. But no longer am I going to allow the violent actions of someone else ruin my day. Or my birthday.
Having pleasant memories of something else doesn't change things but it does help.

Today.
I'm remembering my grandpa with love, fondness and happy memories.

And in my heart I'm celebrating with my friends in NZ.

Happy Waitaingi Day!