Dear friends, family and colleagues,
We have just returned to our desks after almost 3 months of lockdown, hence the delay in our communiqué. This period was spent thoughtfully brainstorming ways in which we could not only persevere in our mission of spreading the passion, culture, history and knowledge of wine, but tenaciously pursuing financial survival and operational transformation amidst a year that has presented all of us with much uncertainty. We are all in this together !
Needless to say, we welcome these times as an opportunity to reiterate, confirm & re-establish our ideals and our values. An opportunity to improve and aim even higher. An opportunity to do better.
The heart breaking occurrences of the past month have left us with a strong sense of bitterness towards the lack of widespread values of inclusiveness and embrace within our society as a whole and our very industry in specifics. The worldwide mobilization, efforts, protests and positive endeavors of not just the #BlackLivesMatter movement but of a vast portion of humanity as a whole, have been a huge source of inspiration for all of us. Despite the sorrow and pain of what happened, at the North American Sommelier Association we feel a great sense of pride shining through. A pride that stems from the solid confidence that our ideals and values of inclusiveness and embrace, of equality and community have been proven for over 12 years now in our actions, not merely in our words. In facts, not chatter. As the ancient Romans would say “verbo volant, scripta manent”…words fly, text stays.
Anyone who is, has been, knows or is accustomed to the North American Sommelier Association knows quite well that this school, this organization, this fellowship; was founded and built upon one thing alone…the love & passion for wine, in all its variety, nuances, differences and beauty. Those same core values are part of the very same humanity that created and developed wine throughout thousands of years of history. From its ancient origins in the Middle East, to its development in Southern Europe, to its spread to Central & Eastern Europe…to its breakthrough and pioneering explosion into the new world, across the globe from South Africa to Australia, to our HQ home of California, South America, Mexico and beyond.
Anyone who knows any of us, especially myself, can confirm how we have aways condemned and criticized the “elitism”, “exclusivity”, “snobbery” and “closed-circle” mentality that is rampant across the wine industry in the United States and beyond. We have ALWAYS been, as we were born, an organization with the mission to EMPASSION, to EDUCATE and to EXCITE about wine in its totality. We take pride in how MANY we are…not in how FEW. Our students, Certified Sommeliers of all levels, Specialists & our membership as a whole, have always been and still are of ALL walks of life, cultures, origins, nationalities and yes…ethnicities. Our friendships and collaborations in over a decade of operations have extended across borders of all colors, cultures, politics, flags and geographies, from Asia to South America and more.
In the coming months, as soon as gatherings slowly recommence and venues reopen, which in turn means we can restart our calendar of events, courses, classes and tastings, we will establish new cooperations, explore new avenues of communication and outreach, present scholarships, design new curriculums and keep brainstorming ideas to prove what I have said above even more. To put our money where our mouth is.
We are here to talk wine. To love wine. To learn wine. To enjoy wine. To live wine…and as variable and diverse as wine itself is, so are we. We stand proud as a group in strongly reiterating our values and ideals, where the only “colors” that are a differentiating factor, are those examined in the glass.
We stand united with all of you and with Black Lives Matter to spread the love for our most sacred & beloved beverage…to everyone.
Diego Meraviglia, President