Breathe
By Sandra Fernández Gaytán* By Sandra Fernández Gaytán* By Sandra Fernández Gaytán* By Sandra Fernández Gaytán
One day 23 years ago I had an inspiration, to dedicate myself to the world of wine and change the history of my country. That inspiration was planted by another woman to whom I owe something of what I value most in my life, she helped me find my passion.Passion is an engine for human beings and it depends on each one of us how we drive it; for me it was the vehicle to leave a transcendence, a positive footprint in people, in my community, in my environment and in my country. You need an engine that starts everything and that is called inspiration. Inspiration is the raw material of ideas, it is what makes you an agent of change.
What do you think the life of a woman dedicated to the world of alcohol has been like in Mexico? It has been one of tremendous discipline, a lot of study and tireless updates, having to prove yourself as a woman and as a professional in every action. My personal life and my professional life are one and cannot be separated. My day to day life is made possible by a very dangerous tool, alcohol. Discipline, being clear about my non-negotiables and learning something new every day have built my image.
I was the first Mexican woman invited by "The Court of Master Sommeliers" - the most important global certification body in the industry - to become certified by them and from there, I have been connected to the world with a glass of wine for twenty-three years.
There is no degree to be a sommelier, just as there is no degree to be a carpenter or plumber. Sommelier is a trade. The sommelier is trained, self-educated, becomes a storyteller and also a creator of experiences and today the world of luxury brands, gastronomy, chefs and travel has experience as a focal point, because experience generates a sense of remembrance and remembrance is emotion.
So, one day, I realized that I had created a company dedicated to generating emotions. I managed to professionalize a profession, and I believe that this is the focal point of my transcendence. Thanks to my university studies in management and my postgraduate studies in gastronomy and hospitality, but also to a corporate and institutional life that taught me a lot about organizational structure, work environment, respect for authority, meritocracy and working for results, I was able to give structure, discipline and networking to that profession and that is why I became an entrepreneur in the industry of emotions and knowledge through wine.
I teach people to taste, to enjoy a glass of wine in a more professional way, to connect with their senses and emotions, and I make possible for them what they think is impossible.
Being a sommelier was my third career and that's where I found my passion. Knowing about wine was a complement to my profession as an administrator, hotelier and gastronome, but it was my first wine class that changed everything. I dropped out on my first day of wine appreciation classes because I didn't think I had what it took to make it in this career. It was impossible for me to detect the green apple and freshly cut grass of a Sauvignon Blanc, the raspberry of a Pinot Noir, the licorice of a Tempranillo. Today it has been two decades of living from aromas, from taste and of working so that every day in Mexico we drink better, so that we sophisticate our sense of taste and smell and so that we sharpen our sensitivity to life and, why not, to this country.
* Sandra Fernández Gaytán
Considered the most important and influential sommelier in Mexico in the field, Sandra has achieved a prolific career in the world of wine, becoming the figure in Mexico with the highest number of certifications in the industry and national awards that have crossed borders. She was the first Mexican to be accepted into The Court of Masters Sommeliers, the first figure to be invited by the Mexican Embassy in Washington DC to give a lecture on Mexican wine, tequila and mezcal. She was the creator of Casa Madero's 3V and 2V wines and in 2014 she founded SFG Estrategias en Vinos y Destilados, a consulting firm dedicated to advising hotels and restaurants creating effective wine lists and education programs for the growth of the sector.
The opinions expressed are the responsibility of the authors and are absolutely independent of the position and editorial line of the company. Opinion 51.
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