Inspiration for Mommelier

It’s early November in the NYC area and we have the good fortune of balmy 60-degree weather. Such a treat that I have taken the computer outside today for a special blog dedicated to the inspiration of Mommelier. The warm weather makes me think of how Mommelier was born. About a year ago, while living in truly balmy Miami, I hosted an at-home holiday wine tasting fête for some girlfriends. We all had so much fun and realized I had to do something with my love of wine and friendship. Wine some way, somehow is meant to be part of my life; and not just to drink.

Where did this love of wine come from? A few years back, I lived in Paris and had the good fortune of doing a short internship at O-Chateau, a wine tasting venue focused on French wines. There I would listen Olivier give fantastic wine tastings (if you go to Paris you must go!). What struck me most was that he was not always focused on educating people on the most well known wines, but on the “stuff that’s good to drink.”

In that spirit and with a budget in mind, I decided that for my party of about 10 dear guests, I would do a party based on the lesser known regions and appellations of France. I had so much fun deciding on the wines, making the program, and hosting a fun party and it seemed like they all did, too. So much so that my lovely friend, Lauren, said I had to do something with this interest. About a month later, I was out to dinner with some of my girlfriends and Lauren came up with the brilliant name, Mommelier. For her creativity and push, I am forever grateful. Mommelier as a name summarizes all that I try to be…a mom and hopefully one day a somm.

I am also grateful for my friends in Miami who believed that this should be something I take up and still write to me to give me encouragement. This year, instead of hosting an amateur wine tasting party at my home (wish I could!), I will instead be inaugurating the holiday season at the Intenational Wine Center in Manhattan where I will start their WSET Foundations course. I hope to complete all levels of the WSET exam and will write to you along the merry way.

To all those who made me pursue a true passion, thank you and happy holidays! Santé!

For those interested in what I served that fateful night, here you go! All wines, aside from the bubbly ($32), were less than $22. In my opinion, the Médoc (Bordeaux) drinks exceptionally well for the price and I proudly pour it at nice dinner parties. I also found an amazing coupon last year to Total Wines that made it even more reasonably priced. Perhaps we’ll be lucky enough to score another one this holiday season!

Loire Valley: Ch. Du Jaunay Muscadet, Sevre 2011, 88 pts from Wine Spectator

Provence: Dom Fontanyl Rosé de Provence 2012

Rhone: Halos de Jupiter Nimes Rouge 2009, 89 pts Wine Spectator

Languedoc-Roussillon: Col des Vents, Corbières Rouge 2011

Bordeaux: Ch. Lanessan Haut-Médoc 2003, 91 pts Wine Journal

Champagne: Montaudon Brut, 91 pts Wine Spectator

Photo: “Another crappy day at the office… 14Th Street Tower” by .craig is licensed under CC BY 4.0