As one of the foremost wine experts in St. Louis, sommelier Alisha Blackwell-Calvert has been responsible for assembling wine lists at some of the cityâs top restaurants. Passionate about turning people on to lesser-known bottles, one of her fondest instances of pushing people toward something new was when she highlighted an Israeli Cabernet at the former Reeds American Table.
âI had this cabernet from Gilgal [vineyards] in Galilee as our glass pour, and it was just so delicious,â Blackwell-Calvert recalls. âI wasnât sure how people would react, but they loved it. The response was great, and I was so happy that St. Louis responded to a Cabernet that was not from France or the United States.â
This Shabbat, we find ourselves celebrating the 7th Day of the Festival of Pesach and preparing for this weekâs special reading of the account of Kriat Yam Suf, the crossing of the Sea of Reeds, which tradition posits took place on this day. And yet, though we are knee-deep in our Passover c…
illustration: Gerry Selian
VinePair wine enthusiasts, we hear you! Readers have told us how hard it has been to discover new wines during the pandemic. Somms are in short supply, as many restaurants are still closed. Online wine platforms have algorithms that prioritize the same big brands, and many customers are still picking up their wine shop orders curbside. So we reached out to wine professionals we admire to ask for their help. With the challenge to build a 12-bottle case for under $250, these wine pros sifted through hundreds of bottles to find the best case possible so you don’t have to. (And for wine pros who work with a brand, we also let them choose one of their own wines to highlight.) Then, we choose a retailer that ships nationally, and the pros only learn which retailer they’ll be choosing from after they accept the challenge. Their only guidance? Find wines that will wow wine enthusiasts.
With income down at most restaurants, freelance drink experts can help keep the bar profitable
It’s no secret that restaurant managers work long hours, deal with constant stress, and often eventually seek more lifestyle-friendly work. A natural thought progression for any beverage professional who has spent years working in the restaurant business often leads to: “How do I transition from working the floor to something else? What do I do next with my career?”
For many of the intrepid ones, they’ve developed themselves into beverage consultants for hire that can leave the daily grind, but still circle back and offer their expertise to restaurant and bar operators.