Sommelier Quotes

Drinking wine was not historically limited to people who could afford it. Western and European culture turned it into an elite thing. Winemakers were farmers and field workers. Everyday people. And that's who should enjoy and have access to wine. ~ Andre Hueston Mack

I only really fake it anymore with sommeliers who are being really snotty to me and I don't want to take their grief and so I try to do something to kind of throw them off or put them on the defensive, even if I don't know what I'm talking about. ~ Alton Brown

When the sommelier Enrico Bernardo moved to Paris from Italy nearly two decades ago, the world of French gastronomy brutally rejected him. No matter that he had won the competition for best sommelier in Italy; when he asked 30 restaurateurs for work in their wine cellars, all turned him down. ~ Elaine Sciolino

The general manager is kind of like the step into darkness when you reach the top of the league. As GM, you're responsible for everything, including the maitre d's and the sommeliers - all these people who have their own agendas. But you probably make less than the maitre d' and have a lot more work and a lot more headaches. ~ Joe Bastianich

I feel like you can't judge a book by its cover, that's always been the story of my life. I can walk into any restaurant and people would be floored to learn that I know what I do about wine, let alone that I ran one of the best wine programs in the world. ~ Andre Hueston Mack

The common myth is that African Americans aren't well-educated about wine, but in truth, we're like everyone else. We like what we like – high or low. A $100 bottle of wine can taste as awful as a $2 bottle, and the opposite is true, as well. If you know what you like, buy it. But don't just buy it because it's expensive. ~ Andre Hueston Mack

They bragged of what they would be doing if they hadn't gone into this wretched industry: they'd be a curator (possibly the one job where you'd make even less than you did now), a sommelier (well, make that two jobs), a gallery owner (make it three), a writer (all right, four - clearly, none of them were equipped to make money, ever, in any imagining). ~ Hanya Yanagihara

People should have fun with wine. A bottle should sit on your dinner table like all of the other condiments. ~ Andre Hueston Mack

Henry tipped his head back, flared his nostrils, and sniffed gently - he had a memory, both clear and absurd, of being in Maurice's a month ago with his ex-wife, smelling the wine the sommelier had just poured, seeing Rhonda there across the table and thinking: 'We sniff the wine, dogs sniff each other's assholes, and it all comes to about the same. ~ Stephen King

When I was dating and the wine list was presented to my male companion, I tried to ignore this unfortunate faux pas. But this practice still goes on ... Closing note to all servers and sommeliers: please include women in wine selection. Okay? ~ Alpana Singh

Black vintners in this country make some really great wines. Explore a wine list and you will find at least one of our wines in the best restaurants. Buy a bottle for your table, and let management know you appreciate them including a Black winemaker in their stock. ~ Andre Hueston Mack

Some people say, "What difference does it make what color the winemaker is that made the wine? Judge the wines off their own merit." Like, of course. And I do believe that my wine is judged off its own merit. But the fact is that when you walk into places and people can't believe that you're the principal or you're the owner or you made the wine, it's mind-blowing to me some days. It's like, wow. That's why we need to continue talking about it. ~ Andre Hueston Mack

Yeah. He wants to be a ... what do you call those guys?" "A sommelier?" "Right. Said he wanted to see your collection." "At fifteen he's already decided what he wants to be?" "Lots of guys have." "Is that wise? To limit your options at such a young age? ~ Ryu Murakami

alfresco
the sommelier decants
a red sunset ~ Scott Mason