Interview With A Sommelier – Carolina Seibel

The World of Wine is beautifully showcased by an army of talented Sommeliers, who help the consumer discover their next favourite bottle, understand the different regions and pair a delicious meal with the right Glass of Bubbly.

In this article, I speak with a woman who has helped many people to discover the vast world of Wines and Sparkling Wines, her name is Carolina Seibel. Let’s find out a bit about her life as a Sommelier.

Tell Us About Yourself

“A guest recently called me a “Champagne Angel”, which I find apt, but normally I go by Carolina and am from this beautiful city called Stockholm.”

What Inspired You To Become a Sommelier?

“I grew up in this environment as my parents had restaurants and hotels when I was small. Being normal to have wine with a meal and my parents having conversations about it at the dinner table, I think it was more a sense of wanting to understand it, like you would know something about the food you are eating.”

During Your Time As A Sommelier, What’s The Most Surprising Thing You’ve Learnt?

“How cool people consider your job to be without obviously knowing that it involves so much studying and carrying boxes and very little getting drunk during work.”

How Often Do You Find Yourself Recommending English Sparkling Wine?

“Quite frequently actually. It obviously depends on where you work and what you can offer, but especially tourists like to try a glass of English sparkling, as they might not be able to do so where they are from. And there is a plethora of really good English Sparkling wines, which are a really nice alternative to offer by the glass instead of other sparkling wine.”

In Your Professional Opinion, Out Of Champagne And Prosecco, Which Do You Think Does A Better Job With Complementing A Meal?

“Champagne for the most part as it has a greater range, but obviously if you need a fruit-driven bubbly wine, Prosecco is a real hero.”

What Advice Would You Give Aspiring Sommeliers?

“Speak to many different sommeliers and attend many masterclasses. We all use different words and almost different languages even when we speak English to talk about wine. We all focus on different aspects and things and the more you hear and get to experience, the more you learn. Never underestimate someone else’s level of knowledge.”

If You Sat Down For A Quiet Dinner, What Dish And Sparkling Wine Would You Choose To Enjoy Together?

“To be honest, it might not be my first go-to dish, but now that I got this question, I am suddenly really craving it. The dish is a traditional Swedish shrimp dish called Toast Skagen, where you have mayonnaise, shrimp, lemon and loads of dill mixed on toast, which in all honesty has to be pan-fried in an obscene amount of butter. My first choice of wine would be Pierre Peters Cuvee de Reserve, but a strong runner-up would be Dhondt-Grellet Cramant Grand Cru Blanc de Blancs.”

Thank you, Carolina, for sharing your words, knowledge and experiences with us and we at Glass of Bubbly wish you the very best for the future!

Images belong to Carolina Seibel. Glass of Bubbly was granted permission to use them.