If you didn’t get a chance to head over to my very good friend, Chuck Kanski’s Rosé Tent Tasting last year at Solo Vino – you missed out!  Here’s your chance again.  With over a hundred rosés to taste and buy, you’ll have a chance to dip into every corner of the world with these wonderful spring sippers!

Plus, if you haven’t had a chance to try the new Croatian wines in the city from Korta Katarina Winery, I’ll be there pouring their rosé!  Come on over and see us!

Details…

After weeks of losing my mind over piles of books, grocery bags with stacks of flash cards and reading more than 2,000 pages of ‘review information’ from such books as The World Atlas Book of Wine, I’ve done it.

I’ve certifiably driven everyone in my group of family and friends crazy, made myself a bit loonier and am taking my first breath in weeks.  Wound up?  Probably.  I may have slept last nite for the first time in weeks, and it feels good.

I’m happy to report that I am a Certified Sommelier again, this time through the Court of Master Sommeliers.  Spending four days with some of this country’s most influential wine brains!, makes you think twice yet empowers you to want to move on with your wine education.  I know I use this saying alot, but…’If you think you know something about wine, think again!’  It’s a world that is much much larger than any one person should even be allowed to think about.  Yet for some, it is all they think about.   Just like a good wine, BALANCE is the key to everything in life.  If one can consume, hold and then extend that knowledge – one will certainly be left with the secret to life, balance. 

I heard a Roosevelt quote last nite (I won’t tell you where I heard it, on a very popular television show…) but it made sense as I continue on this journey with the Court of Master Sommeliers. 

        “Keep your eyes on the stars, and your feet on the ground.”

So, that is exactly what I plan to do as I move forward with my wine education.  Because at the end of the day, it’s not always about what you know, but how you present it.  And, half the battle of almost everything in life comes from ’lack of presentation’.  With that, we go back to the basics. 

          Which leads me right back to the start of this conversation. 

          What does it mean to be a Sommelier?   Humility. 

Today, as I sat in a ten hour lecture with four Master Sommeliers thru the Court of Master Sommeliers preparing for what seems like the hardest tests known to man of ANY subject, this question came up.  And its answer…HUMILITY.

Humility, here’s what Dictionary.com has to say:

hu·mil·i·ty:  the quality or condition of being humble; modest opinion or estimate of one’s own importance, rank, etc.

Important, don’t ya think?  While there are many folks that think they know a lot about wine, and I think I know quite a bit, you haven’t held a candle to the guts of wine until you’ve taken these lectures.  Seriously.  While today was a great review for my first two tests, I realize that I will be ‘bleeding’ the names of every single village, chateau, plot of wine, grape specie and style of wine known to man before I am threw.

While Humility is certainly important, and it most definitely is in a profession like mine when you are in front of zillions of people a day teaching them about a subject that can be very intimidating to some, there are many things that one should know about becoming a HUMBLE SOMMELIER.  Plus, I’ve truly been wanting to answer this ‘WHAT IS A SOMMELIER?’ question on my website for a very long time.  So, I suppose here’s my chance as it came up today in class.

A Sommelier is someone (now) that is CERTIFIED as a wine expert.  A Sommelier is not only someone that knows the every inside and out of wine, but also of cocktails, liquors, cigars, sake and beer.  Becoming a CERTIFIED SOMMELIER is not something that you can do online, like some of the now certified positions of the beer world, or even say that you are one just because you’ve spent X amount of years ‘in the industry’.  It is a full process.  And, it will make you NOT want to drink wine for fun, while in the process of becoming.  Trust me.

When I went through the process and became CERTIFIED, I took some of THE greatest wine courses that I could – through the International Sommelier Guild.  I took the full three level ordeal, which was almost a two years sitting in classroom, drinking eight hours a day, and passing three major tests.  The percentage of passing is low and the rigorous activity of testing is crazy.  My final was two days and a full 18 hours of…(something that ends in double LL).  But, gave me an appreciation of wine that cannot replaced.

What I have brought to my career, however, is much more than just passing some tests.  I have worked in all levels of restaurant service.  From the beginnings as a restaurateur’s child bar backing, tending, cleaning grease traps to managing bars, banquet halls, and four and five star restaurants.  In addition, I’ve put my time in from a winery perspective.  Managing and operating on all levels of a winery’s floor, I have worked the vineyard, played in the lab, sorted, punched down and rolled a few barrels or two – not to mention managed all levels of hospitality including:  tasting rooms, wine clubs, marketing and sales.  And last, ah yes, the wonderful and most glamorous position in the wine industry  - Distribution.  While it’s a ‘humbling’ job, it is one that was probably some of the crucial experience that I’ve had in this industry.  You grow a very thick skin, a snappy tongue and a ferocious attitude.  It’s tough, fast, furious and an incredible experience.

With practically a life built around ‘what I wanted to be when I grew up’, my experience in this industry has really been a wonderful, life-changing book full of adventure.  And now, as a full time educator, wine consultant, and dabbling in Eastern European wine branding with various filming and writing positions involving media – my life, I can say is (and I always say this) never boring!  Thank goodness for a wonderful spouse, family and network of supportive friends that pardon my absence with my work around the clock.  It’s always a whirlwind.

So I thought I’d share.  It’s been on my ‘to do’ list for quite a while now to write this ‘What is a Sommelier?’ bit.  I think it’s important that people know because there are so many folks out there that SELF PROCLAIM or speak on behalf of wine or even educate in personal settings, when they do not have the credentials to do so.  I’m not saying that you need to be a Sommelier to ‘talk’ about wine, but I feel like I needed to say something on behalf of us who have worked our tails off to get to where we are.  There are too many folks that talk disrespectfully about the world of wine, saying you shouldn’t drink this or that.  Or even that think that they are above what’s being poured.  Are you kidding?  If it wasn’t for the Two Buck Chucks of the world or even White Zin, man…none of us would even had a job.  Besides, what was the first wine you ever drank?  Bet it wasn’t Chateau Petrus.  So, as I sweat this Master Sommelier degree, I thought there probabaly wasn’t a more appropriate time to write about the FACTS.

But truly, all us real wine dorks out there want…is for you to drink what you like and drink more of it.  That way we’ll ALL have jobs.  I mean, that’s really what it’s all about.  We’re just here to give you the tools to understand a wee bit more, know what to look for on a retail shelf and every once in a while (if you care), impress your friends with your ability to pick out the best darn bottle for under $15.  That’s what this crazy world of wine is all about.

So pick up a glass + Cheers, from your favorite Certified Sommelier!

So I’m in Seattle.  And, I have to tell you, there is truly nothing like Seattle.  It’s such a great city.  Really.  If you’re looking for fun, colorful, lively, fresh and open to anything – try Seattle.  Not only are the steep-inclining city streets fun to walk up, but the peeps that you meet on the street seem to be even more colorful.  I guess after being away now from the Pac NW for over three years, I forget the vivacious energy of this seaboard city.

I’m here, after a fairly decent flight, and am honed in on more Sommelier testing.  I’ve decided to fun full boar with the Master Sommelier examinations, if they’ll have me…  I am here to take the first two tests, which only just RE-certify me as a Sommelier.  Then, once they approve and of course, I pass – I’m on to their Advanced Levels.  It’s a chore, I must say.  I forget the amount of studying it took me the first time, and I keep saying to myself,   “Why am I doing this again?!”  There’s really nothing enjoyable about it, except…I got to come to Seattle to sit my exams!   I know, I know – I’m supposed to be studying as I type, but I had a GREAT foodie experience so I thought I’d share.

Outside of the collective 80′s outfits (that truly put my roller skating outfit to shame last week), the amount of energy that Seattle has to offer is truly electric.  It’s fun to be in a city this size again and feel its youthfulness.  It’s awesome, but what’s even more awesome??  The amount of food and drink one can consume while here.  And, it’s level of creativity.  I’ve always said that the Pac NW had it made when it came to food and drink.  The enthusiasm for something fresh, new and fun is contagious.  Every restaurant that you look at from the street seems to have its own vibe.  And vibe is exactly what I found when looking for a quick bite tonite in between studying Alsation sugar levels.

The Purple Cafe and Wine Bar - wow.  I have a feeling that if you’re looking for a place to go and be seen in Seattle, this might be the spot.  But to be seen from my end, wasn’t my ticket.  I, in fact, was looking for some small eats and anyone that would serve me a half glass of wine.  Since I’ve fallen into a quandary with Chenin Blanc and Viognier, I thought I’d find a place that would allow me to have a half glass of each varietal while enjoying some food.  I found it.  The Purple was JUST what I was looking for.  Even for a Saturday nite, when I arrived at 6pm, the place seem to already have a buzz.  Not only is the atmosphere cool with views of the slanted streets outside, but the intrigue of the ‘tapas’ styled food and the wines by the glass and flight had me at its first ‘hello’.

The menu lined out with amazing little eats and with each one, a very unique wine pairing to suit.  The whole menu was filled with fresh flavors coming out of every region, but the wine list…killer.  Not only were you able to drink your ‘common’ varietals by the glass or flight, but you were able to pick from grapes that you only wished you could drink by the glass.  Check it out some time if you’re in the area!

Here’s what I had…a starter of  Fused Sweet Pepper Goat Cheese on a baby crostini and a Dungeness Crab Salad topped with olive oil and sweet beats.  OMG.  Then, I had a Mini Pesto Pizza with Feta, Onion, Baby Peppers, Goat Cheese and Oregano.  Seriously, every palate whistle went off.  And my pairings, although not deliberate, seemed to work out okay.  The first one a surprise.  A very dry Chenin Blanc from Horse Heaven Hills AVA of Washington from a winery called:  McKinley Springs.  Crisp, minerally and really refreshing.  The wine took on some almond notes as it warmed up.  Nice with the Crab.

And, the Chateau de la Selve Viognier, a nice little Vin de Pays.  Turns out is a small little biodynamic wine-making team.  I loved it.  Not the perfumey style of Viognier that you’d find in a warmer climate, but still did the trick.  Again, minerally yet firmly supple.  Does that make sense?  And really, the Viognier was actually pretty good with the crostini.  The sweet pepper bit I guess was something I was craving.  But it all worked out.

I was inspired when I left thinking about the lay out of the wine menu, how it was written.  It was fun, intriguing and made me want to go back the next time I’m in town.  High on my list of recommendations.  Good service, great food and a great selection of wines to choose from – what more do you need?  Why do some many over think this ‘Wine Bar’ bit and then end up messing it up?  It doesn’t take much to WOW peeps over.  On the contrary, I’m a pretty tough cookie to impress.  If you’ve got my vote, then it’s probably pretty good.

With the smell of fresh spring blossoms in the air, the season could not be more delightful here in Minnesota’s Twin Cities!  I L-O-V-E this time of year when the season is just right.  Today with all the gorgeous fresh smells and just the right temperature, I was suddenly in the mood to drink rosé and fresh white wine by the gallon.  With a sort of, bopping all over town, kind of day I tasted through a slew of great Minneapolis restaurant wine lists.  But…after a day of tasting wine and meeting with some of my favorite folks in the restaurant industry, I ran into one good glass of rosé at the end of my day…so I thought I’d share. 

You know, I’m always intrigued by my old friends at the Westin Hotel, BANK Restaurant.  They change the wine list up often, they rearrange their varietals and keep the list always looking fresh with new finds.  The wines are geared some seasons to fit the national travel of the hotel and some seasons are geared to fit just the right season with some really stellar producers.  I think they’ve hit the nail on the head this season!  I’m digging a lot of their new wines. 

But one, I could NOT pass up on writing about… the 2009 Anne Amie ‘Midnight Saignée’ Rosé (of Pinot Noir)- Willamette Valley, Oregon.  Man, this was good!  While I’m already a fan of Pac NW rosés, and not usually of Anne Amie’s wines (I had run into the wines quite often when I lived in the Willamette Valley), this wine came as a huge surprise.  I think after today, I’m going to have to look more into their portfolio again.  (A short little ditty on the French term ~ Saignée: means to ‘bleed’ off the juice from its original limited contact with the grape skins.)

My notes on the 2009  Anne Amie Rosé :  Soft and juicy with hints of fresh watermelon, lightly scented rose petals, hints of fresh lavendar, juicy kiwi – the glass was filled with everything spring.  Fresh, yet not over extracted with over-ripe fruit.  Filling, yet refreshing.  And certainly reminded me more of a Provence Rosé than a new world American Rosé.  I loved every drop of it!  And, probably could be found on a retail shelf for no more than $15-$18.  Excellent and today, my favorite rosé of the 2009 vintages I’ve tasted so far!

Thought I would share what some of my favorite peeps are up to on one my favorite restaurant lists…if you get a chance, check out BANK Restaurant at the Westin Hotel, downtown Minneapolis and get a glass of that rosé to celebrate the season!

Thursday night, days after my birthday, I got together with girl friends to celebrate my ‘wonder years of the 80′s’ in real rockin’ style.  Ever wonder how a sommelier spends her birthday?  Some years it’s spent drinking those crazy spendy bottles from the cellar that are only allowed to be touched just a couple times a year, some years it’s baseball games as my bday always falls on someone’s home opener, some years it’s kickin’ it in the backyard with friends and family, some years it’s a must that I ski out west due to those awesome mountain spring snow storms and some years, it’s eating jelly beans because the day falls on Easter.  But this year, I went so far as to celebrate twice!  Once on the day of my birthday, with a fabulous Argentinian wine tasting (www.famigliameschini.com) with friends and family and once with a group of my favorite gals – Roller Skating!

Roller Garden, ever been?  It’s a nice little spot over in St Louis Park that celebrates roller skating with only the best.  They have a variety of nites to skate to that range from Disco to R&B.  Thursday nites are R&B and, I can now say from experience, that is one of THE best nites to skate.  The roller kids that come to play, after 8:30pm for 25 + over (yikes, that was us!), are pretty darn serious.  The rhythm, the motion, the skating…awesome!  And, the music along with some of the rink’s characters – untouchable.  Only the best come to skate and show their moves.  Unfortunately, the birthday girl had little to no skill.  I guess my days of acting as ‘roller queen’ (when I was 12) are only memories that I can live with. 

Because Roller Garden prohibits alcohol, and thank God they do, the Roller Girl group that I went with decided to ‘quench our thirsts’ with a little pre-game app and bubbly hour.   Now my gal pals, they like ALL kinds of wine.  They don’t always go for one color over another.  They seem to, for the most part take a sip of everything from the cellar when the wine flows at my house.  But there is one type of wine that is never passed up when the girls come to play…bubbles.  Bubbles are a favorite of mine and well, has to be some what of a prerequisite as a fav if you’re friends with me.  I thought I’d share a few that we had pre-roller skating that helped to loosen the clan up, not to mention were ALL fabulous for a beautiful spring nite!

Schramsberg Brut Rosé:  One of my absolute favs.  And, really can’t be touched (in my opinion) when you’re talking California Sparkling.  L-O-V-E.  That should say enough.  Soft, supple with a slight hint of freshly ripened strawberries.  Yum.  And, on the shelf for under $40, I love it.

Argyle Brut:  This was my ‘house wine’ on Sundays when I lived in Oregon. And, it’s still a favorite American Sparkling for me.  Crisp, clean, appley and very reminiscent of Oregon varietals.  Lite, clean and refreshing.  Perfect for any occasion.  One of the best American sparklers for under $30. 

Bollinger Special Cuvée:  While the Frenchies are hardly every affordable any more, this one is good for a special occasion and won’t necessarily break the bank.  Bollinger.  That should say enough, right?  Creamy, yeasty, full bodied with hints of toasted brioche and more.  It’s like sippin’ the stars, oh wait! that’s Dom Perignon…but still, delish.  The Bollinger, on the shelf for roughly $60.  A very nice wine for the price and one of my favorite true Champagne houses.

If you’re looking for one smokin’ hot winery out of Napa, California…here it is – Chappellet Winery!  Such an amazing portfolio along with just ‘salt of the earth’ winery folks.

 While they are particularly known for their big, meaty Cabernets – I personally,  love their soft and sumptuous Chardonnay as well.

Here is a moment with Steve Tamburelli, Chappellet’s General Manager, talking about what makes those Chardonnays so special:

There is never NOT a season that I don’t drink rosé, BUT with the beautiful spring weather upon us, and ALL the new vintages of rosé on the shelf, now is probably one of THE most exciting times for rosé.

I have a very good pal (also an avid CRUSH PAD reader) that sent his recommendations along to me.  I thought I would post what he and his wife are drinking right now.  He has some GREAT tips for the season.  Check ‘em out:

There are many things that make a ‘great pairing’ or a ‘great bottle of wine’, but none really better (in my opinion) than the company of great friends or family to enjoy it with.

Last nite, at one of my many Cooks of Crocus Hill Classes – undoubtedly Twin Cities Best Wine Classes – I finally met my match with a tricky group of friends and family that collaborated to make this class, just a couple of days before my birthday, a class I would never forget.  Trying to throw me off guard with my  6yr old school photo that had been ‘discreetly’ placed at the front of class, everyone seemed to be in on the secret except for me!  As three family members entered the class trying to find a seat without being noticed, I jumped to greet them while introducing them to our class of 35 students.  While it had been almost 20yrs since our last meeting, the reunion was quite emotional.  With a smile plastered across my face for an entire 3 hours, they ended up convincing Cooks to keep the 30 year old picture in front of the class for the entire class period.

With a phenomenal class and outstanding participants (as always!), the pairings yes were wonderful (if I don’t say so myself).  With my right hand chef, Mike Shannon, at the helm of the grill as I paired up a worldly selection of Cabernets to everything ‘Steak and Cabernet’, the class “oohhed and ahhhed” at the lovely foods and wines in front of them.  Starting out with a fat Sonoma Cab, thru the works of a soft, yet earthy Italian Cab blend, a minty New Zealand blend, a sizzlin’ and spicy Chilean, a gamey South African to a 1993 Margaux Bordeaux (delish!!), the pairings seem to fit perfectly with every bite taken.

Yes, the wines were killer and the food, sensational…but at the end of the day, pairings are and should be, what you make of them.  While most would say you have to have just the right ingredients to make THE perfect pairings, mine have always come from experience.  Because wine is already 90% experience, whether it was a moment, or a sip that you savored or the conversation that was made over a glass – it is the company that you keep, the experience that you create and those that you share it with that make the wine and the pairings spectacular.  With that said, my Pairings last nite were incomparable.  With a fabulous crowd to celebrate with and my family in the audience to share it all with – the nite was a perfect pairing of wonderful friends old and new and a perfect family surprise.

Cheers to those who made my evening very special and for creating that Perfect Pairing!  Salut.

Apparently not!

Last nite as Bon Jovi and his team of five hit the stage at the Xcel Center in St Paul, the lights honed in and the crowd jumped to their feet. With a full house, a truly packed 18,000 strong, the Twin Cities came to get a little Bad Medicine from one guy by the name of John Francis Bongiovi.  While the crowd was seriously row to row chucked full of screaming fans, my husband and I laughed as we looked at our immediate neighbors on floor level.  I said to him, “Now I know what others are thinking when we go to Dave Matthews concerts!”

With a collection of women screaming every time Bon Jovi swirled his hips to the right (oh and to the left), to the 50-60 year old pot bellied men accompanying their wives, the crowd catered more to the Budweiser stand than any other beverage counter on site.  With the holding of one another from behind, swaying to and from to the words of some of his slower ballads (you know the look!) – I felt like I was back in Wisconsin at a VFW dance.  Pretty funny. 

However, it was exactly what the doctor ordered.  If you were looking for someone to give Love a Bad Name or you wanted to recall the words of Bon Jovi’s ever-famed Livin’ on a Prayer - you got it.  It was nothing shocking.  And, exactly what I thought it was going to be.  From Jon’s unbuttoned leather shirts, the drummers cut off sleeveless black t-shirts to Richie Sambora’s red leather snake skinned pants (still fitting!), the band was exactly what I had pictured.  Every word, I mean every word was sang by the crowd remembering it like it was yesterday.  All the way down to Lay Your Hands On Me sang by Sambora, the words evoked memories of the lusty Bon Jovi posters I had hanging from my walls in high school! 

The Star Trib, I’m afraid, had it right this time.  While they are horrible at trashing every single band that comes to the Twin Cities, I think they got it exactly right last nite when they wrote:  Bon Jovi like Applebee’s.   Like I said, you got exactly what you were looking for.  From the big rock, all sing along choruses to the hot booty shaken of Bon Jovi and Sambora’s sexy leather jackets – they probably put on a performance like that every nite.  Not too bad for a group of rockers who have still managed to keep it in shape at 50 years old! 

And, to cinch it all up.  The wine pairing…well, it paired beautifully to the loose, over-sapped out, fruit bomb with absolutely no boundaries – just down right slutty - 2007 Turley ’Cedarman’ Zinfandel from Howell Mountain that we had for dinner.  Since our return home from Burgundy, my husband hasn’t been able to get back into Pinot Noir just yet, so when he suggested a Turley Zinfandel we both giggled and said, ‘why not!’  And, to not much surprise the wine was exactly what I thought it was going to be.  Going in with some expectation for delivery – knowing that the ticket price was high – it was right where it was supposed to be for Turley’s wines.   Over the top, sweaty, loose, booty shakin’, certainly suave and easy enough to sing along to.  And, if you had a second glass, you wouldn’t even be able to say your name (16.3% alcohol!!)  Bon Jovi and Turley’s Zin would have been best friends.  Fun to drink, but I’m not sure I need to go back – for a long time!

If you didn’t get enough and want to wake up tomorrow morning with the same Jovi hangover, he’s there again tonite!  Some, I’m sure as back for seconds, but just as the Trib said this morning…It’s going to be interesting to see how he’ll change up the same play list of songs.   

Rock on Bon Jovi, Rock ON!