What Is a Sommelier, and Why Does It Matter?

No snobbery, no pop quiz, and absolutely no judgment if you like what you like.

Picking something out when you don’t feel like you know much about it can be intimidating. In the beverage world this often leads people to fall into the groove of only purchasing the same, comfortable picks, over and over again.

We call that a rut.

More Than Wine

Hi! I’m Cassandra and I am a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers (often shortened to CMS) and the owner of Grape & Grain at the Top of the 17th Street hill in Cody.

While the French word “sommelier” has been pronounced in numerous ways – seriously, it’s French, I’m pretty sure most of us feel like we are saying it wrong no matter what. Master Sommelier Emily Wines explains it by saying: “Some – All – YEY!.” But honestly at the very heart of it you could call me a Beverage Nerd and I would be just fine with that.

While my education is rooted in wine, what I do is not limited to wine. Beverage knowledge stretches across wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, and increasingly non-alcoholic options. The title can sound fancy, and there are definitely some snobs to be found out there, but my job is to help people choose beverages that fit the meal, the moment, the budget, and the people they want to share them with.

The Right Bottle for the Right Moment

Bringing a special bottle to a host’s home or trying something new with a friend or loved one can make the time together more enjoyable. And it doesn’t have to be expensive to be good.

I enjoy helping people navigate beverage options in their price range, and I especially love getting someone to try something new!

With my education through CMS I got all kinds of nerdy with different soils, climates, grape varietals, cultures, production methods, and regional laws. When I say every glass is filled with history, I truly mean it. Wine, beer, spirits, cocktails, and even non-alcoholic options all have stories behind them. They come from real places, real traditions, real ingredients, and real people.

Tastings: A Fun Way To Learn

And while I will never know everything, I love learning. Even more than that, I love sharing my knowledge on what makes beverages unique in a way that is helpful, not intimidating. Here, curiosity won’t kill you – it’ll reward you.

This is one of the reasons why I love doing in-store tastings. Tastings are a fun non-committal way to learn what you do and don’t like. I mean, there are definitely worse ways to learn something new.

At Grape & Grain our in-store tastings are from noon to 6pm. We call them ‘Tasting Tuesday’ for a featured spirit or beer & ‘Wine Wednesday’ to showcase a different wine each week. The tastings are meant to be approachable and casual. Just be willing to taste something new, and make your curiosity work for you.

The Door is Open

Whether you want to ask about what to serve with steak, the difference between bourbon and whiskey or have a situation where half your guests drink wine, the other half only drink beer and a few that don’t drink at all, these aren’t silly questions, they help me point you in the right direction.

So swing by and see me or reach out anytime. No Snobbery, no pop quiz. No pressure to spend more than you want to. Just good drinks, good questions, and hopefully a little more confidence the next time you pick some thing out.

[Community Contributor]

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