Meet Steph Waters: Sommelier and Wine Bar Tasting Consultant
This interview has been edited for clarity and was featured in the May 31, 2023 of Merobebe.
Merobebe
What first interested you in wine and pursuing a career (and multiple certifications!) in wine?
Steph Waters
I’ve worked in the Employee Benefits industry for 20+ years, coached and umpire women/girls’ lacrosse, and have always been a wine enthusiast. I would visit wine regions throughout the United States and never came across someone that looked like me – a Black Woman in the wine industry. After seeing the movie Uncorked that featured a Black male pursuing his dream of becoming a Master Sommelier, I had an “aha moment” of exploring formal tasting classes.
I attended the Wine School of Philadelphia and took over 25 tasting classes. While attending classes, I became a student of the wine industry and found myself wanting “MORE.” The “MORE” for me was pursuing wine certifications to support my goal of changing the narrative from the wine industry being exclusive to inclusive. Education is the key to opening doors for the BIPOC community and to assist with my long-term goal of opening a wine bar that includes wine tasting, sake tasting, wine education & events, and offering wine merchandise.
Currently, I hold Levels 1 - 3 of Sommelier Certification from the National Wine School, the Wine Educator Certification from the National Wine School, Levels 1 - 2 from WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) in Wine with goals of completing WSET Level 3 and becoming a WSET Wine Educator for Levels 1 - 2. I’m also looking to pursue my WSET Sake Level 1 in 2024!
Merobebe
What does it mean to be a wine bar tasting consultant?
Steph Waters
Being a wine bar tasting consultant means providing guests with “a wine experience.”
Unfortunately, when I traveled for wine tastings before pursuing an education and a career within the wine industry, there was an assumption when I visited wineries that I only drank sweet wines and did not have a [developed] palate.
This still is the misperception the wine industry has for Black women.
I make guests feel at home by welcoming them with warm arms – finding out what their interest is with wine and outside of wine, providing background about the estate winery, walking through the wine offerings, and assisting and/or guiding their wine selections. Wine can be overwhelming at times and it’s important to keep it simple, relatable, and fun.
Merobebe
What are some of the most common questions you get as a sommelier?
Steph Waters
Some of the most common questions I get include what my favorite wine is, what’s the difference between a master sommelier and master of wine, how long wine should be stored after opening, and questions about wine glass types.
Merobebe
What challenges have you faced as a woman in the white male-dominated field of sommeliers, and how have you overcome them?
Steph Waters
When I first started working in the industry, if there was a white male colleague working with me, guests would request that the colleague provide their wine tasting experience, since they assumed he had a broader wine knowledge even though that was not the case.
The wine journey has been amazing due to the network I have developed. I have mentors within the wine industry that support and encourage me – a special shoutout to Arden (Sharrott Winery), Melissa (Bâtonnage), and Matt (The Roots Fund). I also have been blessed to be a part of organizations that are doing the work to create opportunities for diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging within the wine industry.
These organizations include The Roots Fund, The Hue Society, Bâtonnage, Association of African American Vintners, and Women in Wine New Jersey. My sister in wine Stephanie Love of Epicurious One was recently named the 2023-2024 Dream It Live It Partner with Demeine Estates and stated, “Building your own table on the road to inclusion is not easy and you can’t do it alone, but having partners providing support is invaluable and will make you feel seen.”
I couldn't agree more!
Merobebe
Tell us a little bit about the wine scene in New Jersey! What are the 3-5 things newbies should know?
Steph Waters
French American hybrid grapes Chambourcin, Vidal Blanc, Vignoles are well-known in New Jersey where we have over fifty wineries across four American Viticultural Areas (AVAs). These AVAs are
Outer Coastal Plain
Cape May Peninsula
Warren Hills
Central Delaware Valley (shared with portions of eastern Pennsylvania)
In addition, there are 5 wineries in the United States that can legally call their sparkling wines “Champagne” and two of them are in New Jersey: Renault Winery and Balic Winery.
When you do visit wineries in New Jersey, download the Garden State Wine Growers Association (GSWGA) app that includes a passport to New Jersey wine country regions and counties. Be sure to “check-in” on the app and if you visit all the wineries within a year, you will be entered to win a grand prize. Past winners won a trip to the wine regions of Virginia, Chile, Napa Valley, and Willamette Valley.
Merobebe
What are some of the wineries you'd recommend visiting in the area?
Steph Waters
I love all the wineries in the Garden State, but if you’re in the South Jersey area please come visit me at Sharrott Winery, and also visit my wine family neighbors at Kennedy Cellars Winery, Plagido’s Winery, Autumn Lake Winery, Amalthea Cellars, Valenzano Winery, and Bellview Winery.
Merobebe
Lastly, what tips do you have to improve wine-tasting skills and develop your palate?
Steph Waters
Tasting, tasting, tasting is the key to honing your wine-tasting skills. Try to put descriptors (aroma and flavors) when tasting both on the nose (sniffing) and palate (sipping).
I also encourage side-by-side tastings. For example, I love pinot noir and try side-by-side tastings of pinot noir from Burgundy (France), Sonoma (California), and Willamette Valley (Oregon). Even though it’s the same grape varietal, it can taste vastly different from region to region.