The most wine-savvy job in history—Sommelier
There is a group of people who are not involved in the wine production process, but they know the wines from all over the world very well. In their hands, every bottle of wine is alive and can be paired with the most perfect dishes, even those that are not. They can also tell you little stories that are well known to everyone.
This is a job that 99% of people in the world don’t know about right now - sommelier.
Sommelier is a very important profession and role in the wine industry. To become a qualified sommelier, you need to have very rich professional knowledge and perfect grasp of details. You must pass the assessment and obtain the formal sommelier qualification. A certificate of qualification is required to be considered a true sommelier.
About the birth of a sommelier
Sommelier (sommelier), derived from the ancient Italian word "somigliere", is used to describe a restaurant waiter who is good at wine. As early as the ancient Greek period, there were positions in wine tasting societies dedicated to selecting wines for Roman emperors. During the Renaissance, the complete Latin style of wine selection and serving was truly "revived" in the Italian court. In the 18th century AD, the Piedmont region in northwestern Italy, close to France, had the earliest Sommelier, who was responsible for selecting the best wine for the Duke of Savoy to pay tribute to the court. Its responsibilities span the research, evaluation and enjoyment of wine, and it has a very precise and professional direction. In the following century, "somigliere" was gradually assimilated by French civilization into today's "sommelier".
What is a sommelier like?
A good sommelier must not only have basic knowledge and skills about professional wines, but also know how to design wine garnishes, have the ability to appreciate wine, have a solid foundation in wine tasting, be familiar with wine purchasing requirements, and be good at managing the wine cellar. . A sommelier must have basic aesthetic accomplishments, a sensitive sense of fashion, and noble taste in order to have good appreciation and truly understand wine.
In hotels or restaurants in different countries and with different requirements, the duties of a sommelier often cover a series of tasks such as purchasing, management, and wine list arrangement. The abilities they need to master are not only limited to wine tasting and cultural etiquette, but also involve food, humanities, psychology and other broader, more complex and more professional fields. Therefore, a good sommelier, like the chef, is often an important yardstick for measuring the taste level of a hotel or restaurant.
What exactly does a sommelier’s job do?
The daily job of a sommelier is to provide customers with the wine quality characteristics of each bottle of wine based on the wine list, and to make food suggestions that match the wine appropriately; to ensure that each bottle of wine is in its best condition when delivered to the guest. situation; finally, display the wine bottle in front of the customer, open the wine, pour the wine, and perform a series of correct wine service services.
When guests don't know which wine to choose, they can ask the sommelier for advice, which is one of their regular jobs. You can even learn different types of wine knowledge and winery stories from the sommeliers, because they have very rich professional knowledge of wine, and they are well aware of the human geography and historical stories of wine.
If you don’t know what side dishes to choose, you can also ask the sommelier for advice, because sommeliers know best how to pair wine and dishes to achieve a balance in taste and bring out their respective flavors.
The actions of the sommelier when opening your wine are also wonderful artistic interpretations. You can watch how he elegantly rotates the wine cork with the wine knife, then tilts the wine and slowly pours it into the clear crystal glass. , showing a beautiful and elegant curve in the cup. When the pour reaches the perfect third position, gently rotate the bottom of the bottle and quickly close the bottle. Such a clean and neat finish is a feast for the eyes.
Source: https://kknews.cc/food/klpe4ev.html
Drinking temperature of wine
1. red wine The suitable drinking temperature for red wine is between 13℃-18℃ Full-bodied, rich-flavored red wines should be served at a higher temperature Light-bodied, delicate and elegant red wines are best served at a lower temperature
2. White wine The suitable drinking temperature for white wine is between 10℃-15℃ Full-bodied, oak-aged white wines should be served at a higher temperature White wines with light body, pure fruit aroma and high acidity are suitable for drinking at a lower temperature.