Thursday, 18 August 2022
Meet the JournalistsPremiumAucklandWellingtonCanterbury/South Island
CrimePoliticsHealthEducationEnvironment and ClimateNZ Herald FocusData journalismKāhu, Māori ContentPropertyWeather
Small BusinessOpinionPersonal FinanceEconomyBusiness TravelCapital Markets
Politics
Premium SportRugbyCommonwealth GamesCricketRacingNetballBoxingLeagueFootballSuper RugbyAthleticsBasketballMotorsportTennisCyclingGolfAmerican SportsHockeyUFC
NZH Local FocusThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay of Plenty TimesHawke's Bay TodayRotorua Daily PostWhanganui ChronicleStratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu Courier
Covid-19
Te Rito
Te Rito
OneRoof PropertyCommercial Property
Open JusticeVideoPodcastsTechnologyWorldOpinion
SpyTVMoviesBooksMusicCultureSideswipeCompetitions
Fashion & BeautyFood & DrinkRoyalsRelationshipsWellbeingPets & AnimalsVivaCanvasEat WellCompetitionsRestaurants & Menus
New Zealand TravelAustralia TravelInternational Travel
Our Green FutureRuralOneRoof Property
Career AdviceCorporate News
Driven MotoringPhotos
SudokuCodecrackerCrosswordsWordsearchDaily quizzes
Classifieds
KaitaiaWhangareiDargavilleAucklandThamesTaurangaHamiltonWhakataneRotoruaTokoroaTe KuitiTaumarunuiTaupoGisborneNew PlymouthNapierHastingsDannevirkeWhanganuiPalmerston NorthLevinParaparaumuMastertonWellingtonMotuekaNelsonBlenheimWestportReeftonKaikouraGreymouthHokitikaChristchurchAshburtonTimaruWanakaOamaruQueenstownDunedinGoreInvercargill
NZ HeraldThe Northern AdvocateThe Northland AgeThe AucklanderWaikato HeraldBay Of Plenty TimesRotorua Daily PostHawke's Bay TodayWhanganui ChronicleThe Stratford PressManawatu GuardianKapiti NewsHorowhenua ChronicleTe Awamutu CourierVivaEat WellOneRoofDriven MotoringThe CountryPhoto SalesNZ Herald InsightsWatchMeGrabOneiHeart RadioRestaurant Hub

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
Lifestyle

Up-and-coming superstars in the wine industry

18 Jan, 2012 12:00 AM5 minutes to read
Cameron Douglas is New Zealand's only Master Sommelier. Photo / Paul Estcourt

Cameron Douglas is New Zealand's only Master Sommelier. Photo / Paul Estcourt

By
Jo Burzynska

VIEW PROFILE

A new breed of restaurant star is on the horizon.

Forget celebrity chefs - in restaurants across the world it's sommeliers who are fast becoming the new superstars. Not so in New Zealand's establishments yet. Although a growing assemblage of clued-up young hospitality professionals, increasingly backed by international qualifications, means this could be set to change.

A sommelier is a wine waiter, there to suggest wines, train staff in wine matters and often compile the wine list.

Though this role used to fall to the manager of the establishment, more restaurants are employing a sommelier, or, more likely in NZ, at least having a specific member of staff available to answer wine questions.

"Businesses are still a little afraid to explore the role as they feel it will cost money, but it's really an addition to the front of house service," notes Cameron Douglas, New Zealand's only Master Sommelier. "But we're getting there as more restaurants recognise the role's value."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Douglas is on a mission to make the profession better appreciated in the country, and better educated.

Wine waiting wannabes can now take the internationally informed and recognised Court of Master Sommeliers qualifications taught by Douglas, which kick off next month: "Anything to move the profession forward and dispel the myth of its snobbery," he says.

"The sommelier should never give the impression they know better, but subtly recommend and educate if guests are interested," asserts Therese Herzog of Marlborough's Herzog Restaurant, one of the few establishments outside Auckland with a sommelier. "Most of our guests love to learn about a new grape varieties or how a wine is grown or made."

Thankfully the old school of snobbish sommeliers is evaporating like wine from an abandoned glass, with the profession refreshed by a new wave of young, widely travelled and open minded professionals driven by a desire to share their passion for the product rather than use their knowledge to intimidate their customers.

In the States and Australia, where the sommelier is more widely regarded as an essential part of a fine dining establishment, sommeliers are increasingly being viewed as cutting edge opinion leaders. This is something recognised by New Zealand's wine industry, which regularly flies over Aussie "somms" to keep the country's wines at the forefront of their recommendations.

"In my travels I've been so impressed at the ability of sommeliers to describe in accurate detail virtually all wines on a list from current vintage through to the aged wines, as well as provide well informed and well matched food suggestions for each," notes Villa Maria's Sir George Fistonich.

Related articles

Lifestyle

A mixologist's guide to cocktail drinking (+ recipe)

05 Jan 10:00 PM
Lifestyle

Don't be chicken, wing it with riesling

08 Jan 04:30 PM
Lifestyle

Wine savvy with a look to the future

15 Jan 04:30 PM
Lifestyle

Wine and dine with a dozen show stoppers

19 Jan 10:00 PM

However, we lag behind other countries in embracing sommeliership. "This is a skill that is sadly lacking in New Zealand," laments Fistonich. "It's important both for our wine and tourism industries to recognise the importance of such a role, as it would drastically enhance the enjoyment of the high quality food and wine experiences that we have to offer."

Jeremy Ellis, a New Zealander who has been working as a sommelier for more than a decade agrees the time is ripe. "I believe the role of sommelier is incredibly relevant, even more so as people's wine knowledge broadens, but generalises in the same moment," he observes. "The diplomacy in communicating and guiding such people is becoming more and more important, especially in restaurants with broad wine lists."

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Far from being there for the wine novice, the sommelier's services are most often harnessed by buffs who realise this professional should know their wine list inside out, as well as the dishes on the menu, putting them in a strong position to make the best combinations between the two.

"Don't be afraid to ask for a recommendation," urges Douglas. "A good sommelier will read your needs and take you on a journey in your comfort zone or outside." So if there's a wine professional in the premises, make use of their services and allow them guide you on a vinous adventure.

ADVENTUROUS CHOICES

UP-AND-COMING VARIETY
Seifried Nelson Gruner Veltliner 2011
$21

A newcomer to our vineyards, this gruner veltliner is made by a family which shares the grape's Austrian lineage. It's a great example, with fleshy stonefruit wrapped around a core of zesty lemon and mineral salts. (Direct from the winery.)

ALTERNATIVE RED
Obsidian Weeping Sands Waiheke Montepulciano 2010
$35.20

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

If you're stuck on shiraz, why not try this full-bodied alternative. Made from an Italian grape, Obsidian's Waiheke montepulciano abounds with opulent, supple boysenberry fruit supported by an earthy spicy undertone and ripe tannins. (From LiquorKing, specialist wine outlets.)

ITALIAN STYLE
Sopra Sasso Valpolicella Ripasso, Italy 2009
$27-$30

Ripasso is a style of wine that sees valpolicella enriched by being fermented on the skins left behind from the making of the region's dried grape wines. This one is smooth with rich black cherry fruit, cinnamon spice and notes of dark chocolate. (From La Barrique, The Wine Barrel, Advintage.)

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Lifestyle

ROYALS

Chilling words of Queen's 'crossbow intruder' revealed

17 Aug 10:29 PM
ROYALS

Meghan and Harry trying to 'create woke royal family'

17 Aug 08:57 PM
ROYALS

Prince Charles shares rare opinion on Netflix's The Crown

17 Aug 08:38 PM
ROYALS

Scary Queen health rumours swirl

17 Aug 07:30 PM
LifestyleUpdated

Chocolate lovers' sweet revenge on haters of 'woke' Whittaker's

17 Aug 06:24 PM

Most Popular

Wet, warm and windy: Auckland and Northland battered by heavy rain overnight
New Zealand

Wet, warm and windy: Auckland and Northland battered by heavy rain overnight

17 Aug 09:25 PM
Nelson to New York: TV's David Lomas and an emotional reunion of long-lost father and son
Entertainment

Nelson to New York: TV's David Lomas and an emotional reunion of long-lost father and son

17 Aug 08:59 PM
Live: 'Frightening, out of control' - Nelson residents flee as river bursts; Auckland also in firing line
New Zealand

Live: 'Frightening, out of control' - Nelson residents flee as river bursts; Auckland also in firing line

17 Aug 08:33 PM

Advertisement

Advertise with NZME.
About NZMEHelp & SupportContact UsSubscribe to NZ HeraldHouse Rules
Manage Your Print SubscriptionNZ Herald E-EditionAdvertise with NZMEBook Your AdPrivacy Policy
Terms of UseCompetition Terms & ConditionsSubscriptions Terms & Conditions
© Copyright 2022 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP