By Rick McDaniel, Asheville Citizen-Times
Wednesday, January 7, 2004

ASHEVILLE (Reprinted with permission) – Two Asheville men have passed the examination to become certified sommeliers administered by the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Steve Pignatiello, owner of P. Comms International wine distributors, and Kevin Schwartz, general manager of Horizons at Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, passed the exam in Naples, Fla., last month. “It gives a whole new level to our wine service,” Schwartz said. “In order to pass the test, you have to know about wines from all over the world.”

The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in 1977 as the premier international examining body for wine professionals. For wine professionals, the master sommelier diploma is the ultimate professional credential anyone can attain worldwide.

“The introductory course covered all aspects of wine,” Pignatiello said. “You have to know everything from grape varieties to the proper way to serve fine wines.”

The course of study leading up to the designation master sommelier requires at least five years” experience in the wine service industry and the completion of an introductory and advanced sommelier class administered by the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Admission to the advanced course is by invitation of the court”s academic committee. At the basic level, Pignatiello and Schwartz can use the title sommelier and were awarded a lapel pin denoting the certification. “We’re both pretty excited about it,” Pignatiello said. “As far as I know, Kevin and I are the only certified sommeliers in Asheville.”