Being a sommelier hasn’t been easy. As a woman of color, I’m at a disadvantage, as the wine and spirits industry is dominated by white men. In an era where hospitality and service is glamorized by documentaries like Somm (if you haven’t seen it, check it out on Netflix) and Esquire’s show UnCorked, I can’t tell anyone about what I do for a living without hearing about someone’s experience watching these things on TV and asking if I’m a master sommelier.
I study for my wine exams almost as much as I do for the MCM program, particularly as I gear up for an exam four days before graduation. I work 14 hour days 5-6 days a week, and I never get weekends to myself. I have to blind taste wines constantly, and can’t eat foods that are too hot or too spicy in fear of harming my tastebuds. It’s exhausting! With all of that said, I LOVE what I do, and think I have the best job, ever.
Marketing myself as a sommelier is as important as marketing well made wine on the floor. Having a job to actively understand why a product costs what it does, what the value in it is, and enthusiastically sharing it with people is the most essential way to marketing myself as a wine professional, albeit not trational.
#rantover
What are the pet peeves about other’s perceptions about your job? Let me know in the comments! Also, if you’re interested in learning more about wine and life in wine- check out my website/social media.
https://www.wineandwear.wine
https://www.instagram.com/wineandwear/
Cheers,
B
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