Q&A with wine educator and expert, Amanda Marsh O’Rourke
As we gear up for the highly anticipated Wine, Cheese & Jazz event on Sunday, August 18, WHS Executive Director, Christopher Sloan, had the pleasure of sitting down with Amanda Marsh O'Rourke, who will be curating this year's selections.
With a deep passion for wine and impressive qualifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, Amanda is the perfect guide for an afternoon dedicated to discovering extraordinary wine and cheese pairings.
In their chat, Amanda offered a sneak peek into what guests can expect at this year’s event. Whether you're a seasoned wine lover or simply enjoy a good glass, Amanda’s enthusiasm and expertise promise to make this event truly unforgettable.
Amanda Marsh O’Rourke
CHRISTOPHER : Amanda, what inspired you to pursue a career in wine education?
AMANDA : I was fortunate to be exposed early on in my career and fully immersed as a Beverage Manager at The Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York City. It was there that I spent time with some amazing sommeliers, winemakers and distributors and really got to see, taste and experience the amazing and vast world of wine. The more I learned, the more I learned there was to know - so I wanted to continue to learn and grow and refine my palette. That is when I decided to pursue my WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) Advanced Certificate and Court of Master Sommeliers course.
CHRISTOPHER : What did you discover about wine that deepened your passion and led you to start offering private tasting events?
AMANDA : I learned that wine is not just about what it tastes like. Wine is an “essence” living inside a bottle, constantly changing from the time it’s bottled, each day in the bottle until it’s open and even when it’s open, it continues to evolve. Wine is about geography, culture, history, science and a little bit of art. Now through my company, AM Solutions and Planning LLC, I am able to offer private tasting events to bring my experience and love for wine to entertain and educate the next group of wine curious people.
“The world of wine should be accessible, educational and enjoyable for all!” Amanda Marsh O’Rourke
CHRISTOPHER : What are your favorite wine regions or grape varieties to work with, and why?
AMANDA : For a region, the Loire region of France is great because it's broken into four additional major growing areas which illustrate how the “Terrior”(French wine word meaning "sense of place") influences the wine style.
I love working with Sauvignon Blanc because it is approachable and can easily showcase how different wines can taste based upon the region and winemaking choices. For instance, a Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand tastes vastly different from a Sauvignon Blanc from the Loire region in France. One would be aromas of tropical fruits jumping out of the glass while the other would be more subtle fruit, floral and minerality. It makes it fun to teach about these styles when they are so vastly different. I also love introducing people to white, red and rose Sancerre.
CHRISTOPHER : How do you approach curating wine and cheese pairings for events like the Warwick Historical Society’s Wine, Cheese & Jazz event?
AMANDA : I start by considering the interests and experience level of the guests. I then create a journey starting with lighter options progressing through to heavier offerings that highlight how the acidity, salt and tannins in wine and cheese can work in harmony. I customize the pairings at each event, tailored to the guests within the group. I can curate tastings for a groups’ interest in certain geographic regions, flavor profiles or taste in food. For the WHS Wine and Cheese event, I’ve curated some classic combinations that can be enjoyed by the experienced or newer wine connoisseurs.
“ I try to relate wine to real world examples to bring a fun and down to earth vibe to the tasting.” Amanda Marsh O’Rourke
CHRISTOPHER : How do you balance the educational aspect of wine tasting with creating an enjoyable experience for attendees?
AMANDA : I try to relate wine to real world examples to bring a fun and down to earth vibe to the tasting. Wine doesn’t have to be serious and stuffy. At my tasting events there's lots of laughing and jokes. There is a lot we can learn, and building upon each guest's existing life experiences and knowledge makes the teaching relatable. For example, talking about tannins in wine may be new to some people. However, most people have had bitter food, tea, or a similar dry tasting experience. It's then easier to understand how to recognize how tannin can act similarly during a wine tasting experience.
CHRISTOPHER : What advice would you give to someone new to appreciating wine about developing their palate?
AMANDA : Practice, practice, practice! Seriously - exposure to different varieties, styles and bottles enables you to hone in on the different aroma and taste characteristics. Repeated exposure to these elements helps you recognize these and develop a “palate memory.” For instance, the first time you are advised to note “red berries” in a wine aroma, your brain banks that. The next time you drink a wine with a “red berry” characteristic, your brain is more likely to recall that note. Just like anything else, the more you try and work at something, the better you get.