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 Larry O'Brien, MS
Beam Wine Estates
Fine Wine Director, Western United States
email: WINESERVER@aol.com
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I could not imagine limiting this answer to one specific experience. Every time a pull a cork for myself or for anyone with a passion for wine I am anticipating a memorable experience. Wine can be memorable simply because of the quality wine and even more memorable because of the environment in which the wine is enjoyed.
The truth is I cannot honestly define the reasons I chose to pursue a career in the restaurant/wine industry. However, I can clearly remember after my first week at the Wine Merchant Restaurant in Akron, Ohio I was determined to create this career. This was an opportunity to learn more about I subject that held my fascination. Additionally, I learned to take great satisfaction giving great service and sharing my enthusiasm for wine with others. That was thirteen years and in the words of the late Mr. Garcia, "What a long strange trip its been." In my wildest dreams I could not have imagined this passion for wine creating this career I so love.
Wine brought me great pleasure personally. I also learned to take great satisfaction in offering this pleasure to guests and friends. My competitive nature drove my desire to know more than others in my vocation. However, the more I learned about wine the more I realized omniscience was not possible. The people I most admired for their knowledge and passion were the most humble and the most willing to share their skills. Today I positively cherish the camaraderie of those I share this passion with whether I have known them for a long while or we are pulling our first cork together.
The Emeril's experience was the highlight of my sommelier career. I learned so many invaluable lessons in that restaurant I would not know where to begin to describe them. We very successfully joined high volume with incredibly great cuisine and service. The systems of operations and more importantly the people who employed them are superb. Probably the most valuable Emeril's lesson: Mistakes or problems in the restaurant (wine sales) industry are inevitable. The speed and sincerity with which these issues are remedied determines the success or failure of an operation.
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