Page 48 - Southern Oregon Magazine Winter 2019

neck of the woods | prof ile

While many have a passion for wine and few turn that passion into a written theory and the service demonstration. From there you’re eli-
career, for the first time, Neuman Hotel Group employs a Certified gible to test for the Advanced Certification, Level 2. This is a three-day
Sommelier. The Group crafts an employee development plan for each course, requiring you to pass the same three components as Certified,
staff member, taking the interests of their employees to heart, and even but at a more advanced difficulty level.
helping fund education. As a part of this plan, Jennifer Williamson,
Restaurant Manager and Sommelier of Larks Home Kitchen Cuisine Jennifer took the advanced test and passed on her first try. This is quite an
in Ashland, completed Level 1 Sommelier. Jennifer continued her accomplishment, as many have to take the test multiple times. Some never
education, completing full certification through the Court of Master pass. Jennifer shared that the testing isn’t only about wine. Participants
Sommeliers, an international organization that offers tests throughout must also be able to answer questions about craft cocktails and ask the
the United States and Canada. appropriate questions to ensure cocktails are made to specification.

The definition of a sommelier is a wine steward, a definition that barely There is another level, Master Somm, and this title is the highest cer-
scratches the surface of what the designation entails. Becoming a som- tification in wine service. There are only 273 total in the world. In
melier is a true labor of love. The first step of certification through America there are 182 (153 are men and 29 are women). The process
Court of Master Sommeliers is passing the introductory course, a of becoming a Master Somm is said to be one of the hardest tests in the
prerequisite for all other levels. After that, you must pass the next world, as was documented in the movie Somm.
test within three years of the introductory course to become Level 1
Certified. If you don’t take and pass the test within this timeframe, you I had the pleasure of connecting with Jennifer to learn more about her
must start over. The test includes three components—blind tasting, sommelier certification and her passion for wine.

46 www.southernoregonmagazine.com | winter 2019