Rock Star (part 2)
Irony is a funny thing.
Yesterday’s post was born of an idea that had been steeping my mind’s pot for a while. I never paid any attention initially because I had convinced myself, or so I thought, that I had matured. Let me re-phrase that— I had matured, but there’s still a human side to me. There’s still me, a girl who has commanded the rites of her soul in every aspect of her life. The same someone who cried when she found out that she passed her level two of the Court of Master Sommeliers (a dream I had worked on for eight years). I worked very hard to achieve status in the wine community by attending as many tastings and taking endless notes, I worked events that I had hoped would lead me to other opportunities, I slaved the concepts that stayed open til 3 a.m. in hopes of someone noticing the strong commitment I had to moving up, sharing knowledge, translating the language of wine in words that are user friendly.
I cared about this stuff a lot. It was important that I always spoke to my guests in a way that I could relate them, and they to me.
I continued on this path because I believed:
“Patience and real work is how you get it”.
Gary Vaynerchuk
I passed my certified sommelier exam on Tuesday, March 30, 2015. I remember that day so vividly. I remembered the hotel we stayed at, my family came with me for support. I was so thankful they were there. It was the best part of the trip, having them pick me afterwards. That day, that moment, goes down in my history as one of the greatest days of my life.
Yesterday the system failed me. In fact, it failed anyone who’s worked as hard as I have (I worked eight years to get to point B). It is not possible, in my humble opinion, for someone to decide to become a certified sommelier and achieve this papered title in six months. No way. It isn’t. But yesterday, after I wrote my story, I found out someone did just that. I happen to know this person’s service style. They can’t open a bottle of Champagne without a loud pop carrying through the dining room, yet somehow this person passed.
Some might say she was lucky. But let’s be honest — it isn’t about luck either. It’s about respect, seniority and wisdom.
A seasoned sommelier is someone who has had many wines. I know I am still a ways from that point, but after 13 years in this industry — I’m grateful to have tried many amazing wines.
I’ve had multiple vintages of Sassicaia. The picture above features three bottles that I kept. Notice the way the label changed as well as the DOC designation on 1996’s bottle.
I kept these bottles because they have a story. Because this is chance that many of the new somms will never experience. That’s called wisdom.
I keep my notes because it’s invigorating to read them after so many years. That’s called respect.
These two simple points represent someone who has given her time (aka seniority) to something she loves, unconditionally.
But when the system fails, the new generation of somms quickly assume that entitlement is on their side. And it appears justly so when the system awards them certifications after only less than a half year’s training and studying (and partying).
And I don’t think that’s fair. But I don’t have to stand by and witness it.
As I stated in yesterday’s post — I don’t think giving up is wrong or unnecessary.
My pride is everything to me. It’s not cocky to say or think that either. It’s my sanity and if I don’t believe in the system anymore, why would I want to be a part of it.
My wine journey is my own destiny. And despite the change of events I’ve shared, I wouldn’t change it for anything. The truth is, working as hard as I did — made me appreciate it all the more. It made me fall in love with the beauty of wine and how it represents something different for any one person. I love the history that entwines within that first sip you intake. It’s a story about the vineyard worker and whatever was going on in their life at that very moment. It’s the winemaker and his/her thoughts for that vintage. How they came to choose its style and influences. It’s about the delivery — when the wine has completed its time according to the winery’s wishes. Every day that wine holds a different place in this world. Its breath evoking different nuances each day. This is why I fell in love with wine.
Not just cause I wanted to be a somm.
Like I said yesterday, I don’t want to be rock star cause everyone is, or wants to be. I just wanna be someone who loves to share what I know about this nectar born to us as a gift of enjoyment, as a gift of time and memories. Since I gave up on the system, the beauty in this lesson I am sharing is this:
‘It’s not about proving anything anymore, it’s just about what I love’.
And no one in the world could ever take that away from me. Just like no one could take away the feeling of accomplishment when I passed and my family was there with me to share it.
