We were having a relaxing, enjoyable evening, and we decided to watch the 2012 documentary, Somm. The movie is about four guys who are preparing to take the Master Sommelier exam, which is one of the most difficult exams in the world to pass. The people being tested must have a thorough knowledge of the history of wine and how all different types of wine (and cigars, sake and whisky) are made; another part tests their ability to serve wine, to include recommending the type of wine for a particular meal and the correct serving temperature; and the third part is a blind taste test of six different wines that the person must describe in detail and then identify the varietal, region, and year of the wine in a fixed (and very limited!) amount of time. In the film, only six people pass the particular year's exam out of 100 people invited to take it. I highly recommend the film if you have an interest in wine.

The film made me think about what I love about wine. I was fortunate to attend a wine conference last summer. We attendees were able to taste wines and sake from around the world, doing comparisons of different varietals or determining what wine matched best with different foods. It was fascinating to be around people who have such a pleasurable profession. One learns so much about history and cultures. I am a history and geology buff, so identifying why an area, such as the Loire Valley in France, has specific types of wine that were made to go with specific local food to suit a particular king is fascinating. And part of the uniqueness of one part of the Loire versus another has to do with the geological formations in which the vineyards are planted.

Being a Master Sommelier is not for everyone who loves wine. I love learning about the various aspects of wine, and I love trying different varietals from around the world. I have received one certification, and I will probably continue taking classes to broaden my knowledge about the historical traditions and learn about new developments in the field. My interest is in tasting that sublime nectar that comes from a lot of hard work that has been developed and refined from traditions started well over 7000 years ago. There is a connection to the winemaker, to a culture, and to history in each sip.

I take my hat off to all the men and women who are in the service industry, both knowledgeable wait staff as well as sommeliers of all levels. It is definitely my goal in life to stay on the "being served" side of the table, engaging in discussion with these fine people and partaking of the vintners expertise!

As I said, it was an interesting and entertaining movie. And it certainly gave my husband and I a topic of conversation for several days!