Interview With A Sommelier: Emily Loewus
Our partnership with Lifetime Vintage has not only brought us exclusive resident Blind Tasting events, but also a monthly subscription service for curated bottles of wine and text access to a sommelier. That’s right, a sommelier right at your fingertips. We want to get to know the somm’s behind the answers, this time with Lifetime Vintage’s Director of Experiences and Cellar Management, Emily Loewus.
Where are you from? How did you get started as a Sommelier?
My dad has always been a wine nerd. I remember watching him charm sommeliers at restaurants from a very early age. Wine felt like a club full of insider knowledge with all these different facets, like language, geography, history. I wanted to learn it all! At age 16 my dad brought a couple bottles with him to a dinner and told me I could taste them to see if they were sound. I called them both corked, and they were. Instead of being embarrassed, by Dad was super proud and ran home to get more wine to share. Ever since, I’ve been sharing wine with friends new and old, taking trips around the world, and diving deeper into the never ending journey that is wine. Upon moving back to New York City (I went away for college but am a native New Yorker!), I dove into the restaurant world, bartending at The Odeon Restaurant and accepting my first full wine job at Terroir under Paul Grieco. Having completed exams with CMS and WSET, I’m continuing to study and explore while working with Lifetime Vintage and sharing my favorite wines with all of you.
Coffee order?
I love creamier coffees. I’m lately on an Oat Latte trend or a nitro cold brew. If it’s not coffee, it’s a super aromatic tea like chai or jasmine green.
Favorite meal x wine pairing
I’m all about the basics. I love taking a huge smattering of cheeses and charcuterie and a bottle of bubbles. I’m also big on lean, clean chardonnays and sushi. There’s really nothing like Barolo and a steak… I’m hungry now.
Most exciting part of being a wine pro? Hardest part?
Telling stories. I love being able to bring all different parts of the world, different communities and histories into the present moment in a glass. The hardest part is definitely keeping all the details straight in your head, but it’s worth it.
What’s your vision for the wine industry?
I’m truly excited by how many women are taking their place at the front and center of wine production. Winemakers are the reason for the season and so many daughters are stepping up to run the family business in regions where they’ve been excluded in the past, as well as several female entrepreneurs in the space. One of the reasons I love working with Lifetime Vintage is the opportunity to tell the stories of so many women and work with our female dominant team of somms!
If you were a TV show, which would you be a character on?
Game of Thrones pre-season 8, New Girl, or Parks and Rec.
If you were a wine, which would you be?
Chardonnay. I’m a gemini, I shift to fit my surroundings, I’m luxurious and soft and sharp and angular all at the same time.
If you weren’t a Sommelier, what would you be doing?
Living on a farm with a bunch of dogs growing tomatoes. Or making movies!
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