Category Archives: Food and Beverage

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From Bartender to Sommelier: The Story of a Blossoming Wine Expert

Erin Burke, of Westerly, RI, has recently become the newest member of a rapidly growing family. Burke, 35, from Westerly, RI, has just passed the Court of Sommeliers first level test to become a Master Sommelier. Burke currently works as a bartender at The Windjammer, a popular beach bar located in Westerly, RI. She recently traveled to St. Louis, MO to try her luck at taking the first level sommelier test, which requires, on average, years of preparation.

SMG Burke from Ryan Jacobson on Vimeo.

Burke began her bartending career nearly twelve years ago, and has since traveled the world working as a bartender and/or wine consultant. During her time in St. Louis, Burke took a twenty hour review class, accompanied by a intensive class about how to identify wines based on their sight, scent, and taste.

For the past 2 years Burke has been preparing to be one of the leading female sommeliers on the East Coast. Her preparation has included reading multiple wine books, subscribing to popular wine magazines, and attending wine tasting events across the tri-state area.

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Burke plans on taking the second level of the Court of Masters Sommelier Course in December and has an extensive preparation program lined up to help her prepare for the challenging level two test.

“The level 2 test requires test takers to sample multiple wines and predict their grape varietal, the counrty the grape was grown, and the vintage, simply by tasting the wine. The experts say that the best way to prepare is to practice, practice, practice. So that is what I am doing. I intend to be fully prepared for the tasting portion of the test by the time December rolls around” says Burke.

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In addition to taking the tasting portion of the sommelier test, Burke also has the added pressure of studying for the written portion of the test, which includes questions about the different regions, and types of wine from all over the world. The preparation for the examination is extensive, and Burke has recruited many of her friends to help her with the process.

“This process is nearly impossible to complete by yourself” says Burke. “Without the help of family and friends, the studying process for the Court of Master Sommeliers is incredibly difficult.”

Burke has been touring the Connecticut Wine Trail for a few months, and hopes to visit all of the vineyards by the end of the summer to help with her preparation.

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4 People Every Wine Lover Should Be Familiar With

 

The majority of the big names in the wine industry all have one thing in common: their status as Master Sommeliers. While you do not need to be a Master Sommelier to open and operate a successful vineyard, a Master Sommelier, without question, is whom you want to approach for advice with anything involving the beverage industry. With only 229 Master Sommeliers in the world, here are some of the names that are helping to change the face of the industry for the better.

 

Brian McClintic took the Master Sommelier examination back in 2011, and not only did he pass on his first attempt, his preparation for the examination, and his journey to becoming a Master Sommelier was documented in the 2013 film, “Somm”. By following him on Facebook, you can stay updated with all the latest news about the Court of Master Sommelier family, and the newest information on the sequel to “Somm” titled “Somm: Inside the Bottle” which is does not yet have a release date.

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Another young Sommelier changing the face of the industry, is Dustin Wilson. Wilson, like his friend McClintic, also passed the Court of Master Sommeliers exam in 2011, and his journey was also documented for the film “Somm.” Based in New York City, Wilson often travels around the world for Sommelier related events and you can follow his adventures on Twitter, as he tweets on a regular basis. While it is his personal twitter, and used for both business and pleasure, most of his tweets revolve around wine, and the beverage industry.

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A third expert in the wine industry is Karen MacNeil. Macneil is known as one of the “foremost wine experts in the United States”, and is the author of the wildly popular “Wine Bible” which is recognized as “the most comprehensive and authoritative book on wine written by an American author.” Her Linkedin profile displays her impressive career in the wine industry and proves her expert status.

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Finally, Craig Collins also became a Master Sommelier in 2011. Connecting with Collins on Google+ is a great way to stay informed of wine and beer related events and festivals in the Austin, TX area. You can also stay connected with Collins through his twitter account.

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The wine industry is constantly changing, and now, more than ever, twenty and thirty-somethings are emerging to become the next great Master Sommeliers. Also, more woman than ever are advancing in the ranks of the industry, as proven by the Facebook post by McClintic. Here is a list of the 229 Master Sommeliers around the world, and the year in which they earned the coveted title.

 

 

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Court of Master Sommeliers Growing at a Rapid Pace

Established in 1977, the Court of Master Sommeliers has set the bar for excellence in the beverage service at the highest level.  Only 229 people in the world have passed the examination; a number that continues to grow each year. There are four stages in the journey to become a “Master Sommelier.” The first, an Introductory Course and examination includes a “fast paced review for a day and a half, with a theory exam at the end of the second day.” On the Court of Master Sommeliers America Facebook page  or the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide Facebook Page you can find photos and videos of Introductory Classes happening around the country, and around the world respectively.
Screencap of the Court of Master Sommeliers US Twitter feed.

Screencap of the Court of Master Sommeliers US Twitter feed. (Screencap by: R. Jacobson)

The second step towards becoming a Master Sommelier is to take the Certified Examination, which candidates are strongly encourage to wait at least 3 months following successful completion of level 1, in order to have time to prepare and study for the examination. With over 9,000 followers on Twitter, the Court of Master Sommeliers frequently updates their Twitter with new testing dates, test results, and announcements to keep all potential Master Sommeliers in the know.

The third step of the process is a 3 day Advanced Course, and an additional 3 day Examination which is divided into 3 parts:

* Practical restaurant beverage service and salesmanship in a dining room setting.

* Written Theory

* Deductive Tasting of 6 wines

The fourth and final step in becoming a Master Sommelier is the Masters Theory Examination, followed by the Masters Practical and Tasting Examination, which will test the candidates on extremely specific details on a wide range of topics.

Using #courtofmastersommeliers on Instagram will allow you to find photos and videos of potential Master Sommeliers successful completion of each of the stages in the process. You will also find groups of friends “studying” together, by sharing bottles of wine, and trying to use the deductive method of tasting to determine the grape varietal, where the wine was produced, and the vintage.

The 2013 documentary, “Somm” follows a group of friends on a quest to become Master Sommeliers. The documentary chronicles the men as they dedicate their lives to passing what has been called “the most difficult test in the world.”

Local restaurateur Erin Burke recently completed level 1 of the process, and says “the two day review and examination were extremely fun and interesting, but challenging, and no joke.” Burke plans on taking the second examination, the Certified Sommelier Examination in the fall, and hopes to eventually become one of only 23 (number as of date of publication) woman to have passed the level 4 examination.

Some of the tools that Burke uses to help her prepare for the level 2 Court of Master Sommeliers Examination. (photo by: R. Jacobson)

Some of the tools that Burke uses to help her prepare for the level 2 Court of Master Sommeliers Examination. (photo by: R. Jacobson)

Erin Burke's wine rack to help prepare her palate for the deductive tasting portion of the level 2 Court of Master Sommeliers Examination. (Photo by: R. Jacobson)

Erin Burke’s wine rack to help prepare her palate for the deductive tasting portion of the level 2 Court of Master Sommeliers Examination. (Photo by: R. Jacobson)

 

For more information on the Court of Master Sommelier, or to register for the Introductory Examination, visit their website.