Ms. Anne Engel – Netherlands (GM, Sommeliere)

Name: Anne Engel

Nationality: Dutch

At the moment: Netherlands

Sommeliere & Manager

Prerequisite:

Please, tell us a little bit about your first encounter with wine & the wine industry?

I work from my 19 in a restaurant’s, collected wine, and went to much tasting.

Any particular mentors at that time?

learned from different people really much

What specific traits or skills should a Sommelier(e) possess for professional performance and is there any person with that qualities you especially admire within the wine industry?

there are so many people who I admired, the wine world is big, I like authentic people with a passion off what they’re doing, As a sommelier you must love wine but also food people, a open mind, and have fun in everyday learning.

What would be your advice to a young Sommelier(e) i.e. Commis Sommelier(e) where to look finding an adequate position at home or abroad? Any further tips?

Start to learn at home, but spend also later a position abroad, or even better go work a period in a winery…

Active:

When a customer asks for advice on selecting wine what’s in your opinion would be the best approach?

a glass or a bottle, find his or her taste and make a match with the food…you must have a quick fantasie, feel the way off customer thinking and have knowledge from how your chef is cooking…

What’s your philosophy about glasses? Are you working with well known brands or are you considering new brands as well and how do you determine?

I work with Riedel

Wine list:

What are the key ingredients for creating a wine list for a restaurant and what is your opinion on some ridiculous pricing on wine in restaurants, do you have tips on how to determine markup?

I like a food printed wine lists so the wines are coming from Europe, our restaurant is on a very expensive spot in amsterdam, and we pay much tax in Holland, I think it’s a pity but the wines are expensive…. to expensive……but i like also to get my salary

How do you manage to stay on top of the changes in the wine industry?

read much, look on youtube or buy books, go to tasting make visits to wineries.

How would a new vineyard get the attention of someone like you to notice their wine and what’s the best way for producers to improve their chances of being listed?

go to wine fairs and try to get attention from journalists

Favourite pick:

If you were a wine, which variety would you be, and why?

Pinot noir/ burgundy…it is all in a good Pinot noir, it lifts you….mmmhmmm

What are the top 3 types of wine (your faves) would we find in your home wine collection and what’s your desert island wine?

Vosne Romaneê/ Sylvain Cathiard

Bordeaux Blanc/Château Carbonnieux

riesling grosses gewächs/Heymann Löwenstein

vin de paille

Any interesting suggestions about magazines or online platform?

decanter, youtube, wine wine wine, etc

Anne Engel

@ by Dominik Kozlik – Zeitgeist Sommeliers – International Sommelier Positions – www.sommelier-jobs.com