Brent Braun, Sommelier
He manages an Oregon tasting room, works the floor in a riverfront wine bar + bistro, pours at an urban winery, and wine-geeks out at every opportune moment. He attends numerous trade tastings and industry events. He sips, mingles, and munches in the vineyard with fellow connoisseurs. His basement is filling up with ageing bottles. He's even dabbled in distribution with a local French and Aussie importer. At just 25 years old, Brent Braun is a certified Sommelier.
Being Certified
To prepare for the exam, numerous bottles of bubbly had to be opened (to the point that it bordered on drudgery to drink sparkling) in practicing the meticulous proper service standards. Still more wines were opened for blind tasting practice. Hours and hours went into the study of wine, laws, origins, terminology, producers, spirits and cocktails. Exam day arrived and seemed to stick around for ages, but Braun finally returned victorious---a CMS pin affixed smartly to his lapel and a congratulatory bottle of Hardy's VSOP Cognac waiting for him.
"Yes, victory tastes quite sweet.... oh wait no, that's my Budweiser," Brent jokes that stuffing one's head with nothing but grapes can leave the brain quite overbearingly wine-soaked, and he's ready for a little vacation---"I can drink whatever I want!" Looks like it's all Coors Lite and Millers High Life from here on out! Heeyah.
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