In this our eighth and final episode of our third season we had the pleasure of speaking with Alisha Calvert! In our conversation we talked about:
- Rosé Rosé Rosé
- Somm Slam
- Wince Certification Exams
- Blind Tasting
- So much more!
Alisha’s Bio Alisha Blackwell-Calvert, a St. Louis native, began working in restaurants in 2004 after studying Equestrian Science and Biology at William Woods University in Fulton, Missouri. In 2007, her passion grew for wine and food pairing while waiting tables at fine seafood restaurant Oceano Bistro in Clayton, MO. Blackwell-Calvert was inspired to continue learning and decided to pursue a career in wine sales. She began her rep career with Ionia Atlantic Imports in 2012, where Italian wine became a specialty, followed by wholesale distributor Vintegrity Wine & Spirits in 2015. It was in early 2017 when Reeds American Table approached her with a Sommelier position. Reeds American Table, where she is the current Beverage Director, has received Wine Enthusiast Magazine's award for Top 100 Wine Restaurants two years in a row, the single St. Louis restaurant listed in 2017. Feast Magazine has named her a "Raising Star" for 2018. Alisha is a Certified Sommelier and received the 2015 Walter Clore Certified Sommelier Scholarship for top score at the Kansas City exam that July. She also attained the Certified Specialist of Wine certification through the Society of Wine Educators in early 2015 with a 99% score. Blackwell-Calvert is currently preparing to sit for the French Wine Scholar and Advanced Sommelier examinations. In her free time, Alisha enjoys working with draft horses for Brookdale Farms. The Last Five Sips:
- If money were no object, what bottle of wine would you splurge on and why? Domaine Romanée Conti (DRC) – Pinot Noir
- Who would you love to share a bottle with, living or deceased? Beyoncé
- What are some of the things you do or read to keep up to speed on what is happening in the wine industry? Guild of Sommeliers Website
- What advice would you give you your 22 year old self? Follow your passion. Save Money – Invest and prepare for a better future
- When you finish your day and sit down with your favorite glass of wine, what is on your music playlist? Beyoncé, Nirvana, Green Day, Alicia Keys, Chris Cornell, Marilyn Manson
How you can connect with Alisha on Social Media: Facebook: @exquisitevines Instagram: @exquisitevines and @reeds_stl Twitter: @exquisitevines Resource Links:
https://reedsamericantable.com/ alloywineworks.com http://www.elioperrone.it/en/bigaro.php https://vinepair.com/wine-blog/a-complete-guide-to-wine-from-the-canary-islands/ http://www.foodandwine.com/wine/champagne-sparkling-wine/englands-sparkling-wines-rival-champagne http://beacontavern.com/events/sommslam https://www.guildsomm.com/ http://www.romanee-conti.com/#/Accueil https://www.beyonce.com/