Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/882780
28 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2017 Dear Good Somm Bad Somm, It's really hard to be humble as a sommelier when I'm addicted to self-promotion. The problem, thanks to social media and my new website, is that I've become more famous than am ualified ny suggestions Sincerely, Barely Legal Dear Barely Legal, You're in a very fortunate position. For many, it takes time to build a career as a sommelier. The skills necessary to be successful come from hard work and putting your nose to the grindstone: My only advice is to ride that wave as long as you can! Sincerely, Good Somm Dear Barely Legal, Judging by the tone of your question, it sounds like you're bitter. In fact, yours is more of an answer than a question. The only thing I can say is, yes, it is annoying when somms create websites about themselves and lie about their background while posting pictures of wines they maybe don't understand. And maybe theyre not super-ualified, but because theyre so sey or dandy or weird, they get recognition. But that's just where the industry is going—so, suck it up. One day there won't even be a need for sommeliers. The job will be done by some "somm app" designed by a 14-year-old kid in Silicon Valley. The app will do all the work while the job of the somm will only be about the pocket square, the facial hair, the tattoos and the Instagram feed. Yours, Bad Somm Dear Good Somm Bad Somm, I'm a somm and my wife recently took me to a three- Michelin-starred restaurant for my birthday. I really wanted to drin one of great ieslings they had on the list, ut wasn't sure how to pronounce the German wine words! I picked a ottle of domestic auignon lanc instead t was ust ut definitely not hip or sommy as eing paranoid hould hae ust taen the chance Thanks, Tongue Tied Dear Tongue Tied, You never know unless you take a chance! It's easy to do things within our comfort zones in life, but you should never be afraid to learn from someone who may know more than you. One easy way to get around the pronunciation is to ask the sommelier how it's pronounced by pointing at it on the menu. Just go for it! Sincerely, Good Somm Dear Tongue Tied, Lieber Zunge gebunden, Du bist ein Idiot! Sehr dumm! Sie verdi - enen es nicht, deutschen Wein zu genießen! Sind Sie nicht bewusst von "Google Translate"? Du bist nicht sehr hip! Yours Truly, Bad Somm Thank you again for the thoughtful questions. Hope you enjoyed our answers, and with any luck you are receiving the help you truly need. Follow us at @goodsommbadsomm on social media and/or visit our page www.goodsommbadsomm.com.