Read of the Week: Life as a Sommelier and Mother

// Working while pregnant in the liquor business is a real challenge.  //

Most of the beverage industry seems so glamorous from the outside, but like most jobs, I suppose, the desired job is actually dealing with hurdles and is often lackluster. Brewers are constantly lifting and cleaning. Baristas get paid very little and spend a whole shift standing up. Throw in the fact that at most shops they are making drinks they wouldn't drink. I love quality beverages, That's probably obvious, but most of my work day is centered around organizing event details, customer service, and general marketing promotions. When I travel now a lot of time is spent visiting and entertaining. Don't get me wrong, I still love what I do, but there is a lot of reality that gets swept under the rug pertaining to what we do.

My wife and I had our second child, a daughter, a little over a year ago, and it got me thinking more about the disadvantages women have in the workplace. As an adult I've always been pretty vocal and forward with women's rights, but as a male I'm constantly learning about how the differences create hurdles for women. It's physically impossible for me to get pregnant (duh), but what if my wife and I traded jobs? I sometimes have to drink 10 different types of coffee on a given day while walking 8 or more miles, or dive in and really taste several different gins or beers for marketing purposes. I recently read this VinePair article, The Wine Glass Ceiling: How Pregnancy Impacts A Somm's Career, from nearly two years ago. It's a well written piece peeling back layers about those hurdles as a pregnant sommelier. If this is a subject you are even slightly interested in, I highly recommend this quick read, and exploring other content out there. - Jason

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