Meet Jessica Marie Taylor: Head Sommelier and Assistant General Manager at Maude

This interview has been edited for clarity and was featured in the July 12, 2023 issue of Merobebe.

Merobebe

What’s your go-to wine varietal or region?

Jessica Marie Taylor

As a sommelier, it’s my job to discern all wines equally and fairly, so I make it a point to try as many under-the-radar varieties and regions as possible. That said, Italian wines were what really made me start falling in love with wine as a consumer!

Merobebe

What's your favorite wine-themed movie or book?

Jessica Marie Taylor

It's not a traditional wine movie, but Wine Country is hilarious!

Merobebe

If you could have any celebrity as a personal sommelier, who would it be and why?

Jessica Marie Taylor

Definitely LeBron James. I don't know if you know, but he's a huge wine-o and is always enjoying fabulous bottles.  

Merobebe

How did you become interested in wine, and what inspired you to pursue a career as a sommelier and restaurant manager?

Jessica Marie Taylor

I first started drinking wine when I studied abroad in Spain and really loved it as a consumer. While I was working as a server and bartender, I was initially trying to maximize my time and check averages [note: the average amount your customers spend] – it's easier to open 2 bottles of wine than it is to mix 10 different cocktails!I started studying the wine list at the restaurant I worked at and little by little started growing my knowledge. Others around me began to encourage me to seek my certification and after years of making excuses, I finally signed up for the classes. I started having some success when, of course, COVID hit, but I did get my first management position during that time. After COVID related layoffs, I finally landed as the wine purchaser at a private member's club in downtown Los Angeles where I ran the entire beverage program. 

Merobebe

What is your favorite part of working as a wine director, as opposed to being a sommelier or restaurant manager?Jessica Marie Taylor

I like the flexibility of making the decisions. I get to taste with all the distributors and make the best decisions for the business, focusing on wines that will enhance the cuisine. Where I work now [at Michelin-starred Maude in Beverly Hills], we have a 9 course Chef's Tasting menu with 2 optional wine pairings, so that's a lot of wine that I am in charge of. The perks of running the wine program also include distributors inviting me to tastings. I have the opportunity to learn about and taste some premiere wines from around the world.  

Merobebe

What challenges have you faced as a woman in the male-dominated field of sommeliers?

Jessica Marie Taylor

I honestly have had the privilege of training with women and in positions where women are accepted as leaders. I find more sexism from guests than from others in my field, who are surprised that not only am I a woman but a fairly young woman to have the knowledge and experience that I do. 

Merobebe

How do you think the wine industry can better address issues of accessibility and affordability for a wider range of customers?

Jessica Marie Taylor

That's a tricky question because the business of winemaking isn't a cheap one. There's the actual farming, then the fermentation process, the aging process (which can take years in some cases)... 

Merobebe

What other wine adventures are you pursuing?

Jessica Marie Taylor

I recently started building my own business, a hybrid of restaurant-consulting and consumer events. I haven't launched the webpage yet, but you can find it on Instagram at @Better_Call_Somm. My personal Instagram, also filled with wine content, is @JessicaTaylorLA.