Something to think about humility

It is a moral virtue and the opposite of arrogance, which a human being demonstrates by recognising their abilities, qualities and capacities, and by using them for the greater good, without drawing attention to it. Throughout these last few weeks, I have been in contact with several fellow sommeliers from whom I have gotten several opinions, among those there is a belief by those who are just starting this beautiful career is that those with more experience than them lack humility. Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone, but it can apply to a certain few. At the one year anniversary of the grand Gerard Basset's death, I remembered how he humbly approached others, from the first sommelier greeting him to the last one.

His titles (MS, MW, Diploma OIV, OBE, World Best Somm, etc.) didn't erase his humble and kind attitude. Each time I have met a Master Sommelier, when they see my Certified Sommelier CMS pin (that is only 2 ranks below even if sometimes it feels like a hundred) they have approached me with a lot of humility, offering me support or advice to get to where they are. It is because of that that I would like for subjects like philosophy and ethics to be added to the career, for humility to become standard for academies and associations.

That we learn from the example that was Gerard, to honour him by greeting every sommelier on a party or fair, by introducing yourself and offering them support or asking how can you help them, just like how they are at the service of the customers.

#BeSommelier #BeHumble #BeGerard

by María Laura Ortiz