“Sommelier” Traces Back to a Pack Animal

Hello, you have A Way with Words.

Hi, this is Jan. I’m calling from Santa Rosa Beach, Florida.

Hi, Jan. How are you doing?

Hey, Jan.

I’m great.

Welcome to the show. What’s going on?

Well, I’m actually from Indianapolis. I happen to be in Santa Rosa Beach on vacation this week.

But I have an interesting question for you. I work as a sommelier. I’m a full-time sommelier at a fine dining restaurant.

How cool.

Yeah.

So you’re a wine expert.

It’s a pretty nice gig.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay.

Yeah.

And I’m also a member of the Guild of Sommeliers.

I’m certified through the Court of Master Sommeliers.

And by the way, a little background, I have a bachelor’s degree in linguistics and a minor in French.

And despite all of that, I can’t tell anybody what the word sommelier means.

But you bring in your game.

She’s like, all right, let me give you my credentials.

I’m super awesome, but here’s the thing I don’t know.

Whoa.

Okay.

Where did you get your master’s in linguistics?

I have a bachelor’s in linguistics from Indiana University.

Very good. Good school.

I think the more interesting question is how did you get from there to being a sommelier?

Yeah. What’s the path?

Well, I would say that was my midlife crisis career change.

I always had a passion for wine, and I decided to start studying it and make it a career.

So instead of drinking alone, binging on Netflix, you decided to make it legitimate.

Exactly.

Well, if you know French, then you probably know that it goes back to the idea of a pack animal, right?

Actually, no, I didn’t remember that. It’s been a few years since I started French.

Okay, okay. Yeah, yeah, the word sommelier, and actually the word sumpter in English.

A sumpter is a, it’s a related word that means a pack animal.

But originally a sommelier was somebody like an officer in charge of provisions, an officer who was in charge of the things that the pack animals carried, whether for royalty or in the military.

And over time, that word got applied specifically to somebody who deals with provisions, deals with stuff.

And then it narrowed even further to become the word for someone like you who’s in charge of all those wonderful things.

So the general sense that is carried through the centuries is a procurer of the treats and delights.

Supplies, yeah.

Yeah, the supplies.

How interesting.

Yeah. And then the pack animal transfer is really interesting that the word for the animal should then be transferred to the person. I wonder if it started as slightly pejorative or humorous.

I don’t know.

Basically calling the guy a donkey or an ass.

Oh, I don’t think that’s…

I don’t like where this is going.

I don’t think it’s going there.

You sound wonderful, Jan. I doubt that that applies.

So, Jan, it seems to me that there are lots of sommeliers who come from surprising backgrounds, like you have a linguistics background, for example.

Yes, I think that’s true.

You know, I’ve met many, and they do come from just a varied background.

Some people do start out young in the restaurant business, and then they are able to—they just really get interested in wine through that and then, you know, pursue it.

But a lot of people come from a varied background.

If I wanted to break into the business, what’s the main skill that I need to have?

Patience for practicing.

You know, it’s like any other skill.

It’s learned.

And a lot of people think that, you know, oh, you must have a fantastic palate.

Well, I have a decent palate, but most of it is tasting and remembering.

And remembering what you’ve tasted and being able to apply that to then different wines or different foods in terms of your memory of tasting.

Grant, I think, you know, we’ve gone to Indianapolis before.

I think we’re due for another trip.

I want to see the cellar.

Where can we find you?

Actually, I’m going to stay in the cellar.

I am at a fine dining steakhouse called Peterson’s,

And actually in Fishers, Indiana,

Which is just right across the street from Indiana.

Wonderful.

Thank you so much for your call, Jan.

My pleasure.

Thanks, Jan.

Thank you.

Bye-bye.

Take care now.

Bye-bye.

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