What Is a Wine Sommelier?
A sommelier is a trained wine professional who specializes in wine service, wine tasting, and pairing wine with food. Modern sommeliers learn about the characteristics of different grapes and growing regions so they can connect wine lovers with the wines they’ll enjoy most.
Where Do Sommeliers Work?
Sommeliers work everywhere from small wine shops to fine-dining and Michelin-rated restaurants, to wine and spirits distribution companies, and even as ambassadors for specific wineries and wine regions. They write and teach about wine and use their expertise in grape varieties to guide guests toward the wine they’ll best enjoy. Their work also turns up in television shows about food and wine, websites dedicated to wine culture, and books.
Trained sommeliers are certified by the Society of Wine Educators, the Wine and Spirits Education Trust, or the Court of Master Sommeliers. Some also work as instructors or professors at culinary schools, teaching aspiring cooks and future sommeliers how to pair food with wine based on flavor profiles.
What Kind of Training Does It Take?
Becoming a sommelier requires years of training, and in the United States, several exams are required to earn the title. To become a Certified Sommelier, candidates pass three exams through the Court of Master Sommeliers, covering blind tasting, theory, service, and salesmanship. Before taking them, candidates are strongly encouraged to undergo rigorous training.
AJA’s Certified Sommelier
The Malibu Coast AVA, where AJA Vineyards is located, is a wine region in Southern California known for a range of reds, whites, and rosés. At AJA, Amanda Greenbaum is a Certified Sommelier who is involved in all of our operations and uses her extensive knowledge of wine to help craft some of the finest wines on the Malibu Coast.
Amanda fell in love with wine at 14. After graduating from UCLA, she studied at the International Culinary Center and became a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. She has interned with winemakers around the world, and brings that knowledge and experience back to AJA Vineyards.
Try some of AJA Vineyards’ wine today and benefit from Amanda’s knowledge and experience.