Aldo Sohm
A Modest Multi-Talent

 

Culinary and Pleasure
Born in Tyrol, Aldo Sohm moved to the big wide world of wine 25 years ago to make a lasting impression as a sommelier, author and ambassador. Paved with superlatives, it is above all the profound lightness or one could also say the light-footed seriousness of this old-school host that captivates.

The milestones in Aldo Sohm’s CV read like something out of the Guinness Book of Records: Best Sommelier Austria 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2006, Best Sommelier America 2007, Wine Director at Le Bernadin, New York (3 Michelin stars) since 2007, Best Sommelier in the World 2008, Winemaker with Gerhard Kracher for Sohm & Kracher (first vintage 2009), Aldo Sohm Wine Bar, New York since 2014, M. Chapoutier Award Best Sommelier of Les Grandes Tables du Monde 2019, Wine Spectator’s Grand Award for Wine List 2021, book author (“Wine Simple”), and  TV presenter (“Eine österreichische Weinreise”). But all this falls far short of capturing the essence of one of the world’s best sommeliers and most influential wine personalities in the world.

His mission is to make his guests happy, and his tools are above all empathy, listening, passion, wine knowledge and, as he says, “always being one step ahead.” In today’s world, this very understanding of the sommelier profession is no longer a given. In New York, he learned to treat all people equally while remaining human himself—an essential key to why guests always feel they are in good hands with him, regardless of whether they are wine freaks or simply enjoy it, whether they order a valuable Burgundy for many thousands of euros or a Muscat. His motto is to guarantee his guests the best possible experience. Even after 25 years, the passionate cyclist is open to all, samples everything, and is free of hasty judgments. One of his most important rules is “There are no rules when it comes to wine.” What tastes good is subjective. He trusts his curiosity and taste more than supposed trends, which come and go.

With his book “Wine Simple,” published in 2019, Aldo wants to whet the appetite for wine, especially for beginners. Why write another book about wine? “Many books are written by specialists for specialists. I see that customers are often intimidated by wine and the wine list. I stand on the other side and work with these victims. Literally. So: how could I help people? I, too, started from humble beginnings. My first alcoholic drink was a Bacardi-Cola. Unimaginable today. There’s no shame in not knowing something. It’s only a shame to talk about something you know nothing about. Wine should be fun, not a science.” Not least, it is this modesty, completely free of conceit, that has made Aldo Sohm one of the greats of his trade.

 

 

 

 

“There are no rules when it comes to wine.
What tastes good is subjective.”

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Clemens Riedl
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