Wine Women and Song

Cyprus News 30.11.09

It’s said that Cypriot men still rule the roost and certainly the wine world tends to be a man’s world, but amazingly the Cyprus Mail has found a woman who’s successful in a man’s world in Cyprus. She’s tipped to become the first female Master Sommelier, she’s based in Limassol and she’s challenging all the traditional assumptions about women and wine.

Stalo Arabantzi occupies a pretty prestigious position at The Four Seasons Hotel in Limassol – well known for its impressive wine list. She’s responsible for looking after the wine-drinking connoisseurs who visit the hotel – she’s a budding Master Sommelier and bar lobby supervisor. It has taken a lot of hard work to get this far and it began with her first taste of wine aged 14. “My mother let me have a sip from her glass….that was my introduction and I just kept on going. Born and raised in Leicester, she spent her school holidays in Cyprus and worked at the Four Seasons. “I would start mixing different cocktails, just trying out different combinations.” Stalo feels her area of expertise has only recently become important with local Cypriots who are now becoming more interested in both the wine they choose with their food and trying new aperitifs”.

So what does the job of a sommelier entail? Well it certainly doesn’t sound simple – Stalo says she has to please everyone, a demanding clientele, the kitchen, the serving staff, the hotel’s accountants but ultimately she has to match wines and food to her guests’ budget. “I always believe that a taste for wine begins with a love of food, people who don’t like eating, don’t really like wine.” She says that when she sees people getting really excited by a dinner menu she knows they are ones who are keen to be introduced to a wine they might not choose themselves.

But in the world of sommeliers, it is quite rare to be a woman. Stalo says, “I would genuinely love to see many more women coming into this area of the food and beverage business. The role of women at the top of the wine business is now becoming more recognised. The first woman to become a Master was in 1970, by 1988 there were 15 women, now there are 65 women out of 277 Masters of Wine. Women today are much more interested in wine, they know a great deal about it so giving the wine list in the traditional manner to the man isn’t on these days.”

Stalo admits she loves wine, especially red, “I can’t see the point of not relishing it every chance I can and only by drinking it do you really get to know a wine.” What makes a good wine? “Good wine has power as well as elegance and you will want to drink another glass of it and perhaps another one, and another after that”.

Stallo’s own profile in the arena may be given a boost this coming weekend with her participation in the Cyprus Best Sommelier Award contest, organised by the Cyprus Sommelier Association every two years. The event will take place on Saturday and will be held in three stages including a written exam, blind tasting of wines, decanting red wine, choosing wine to match food, serving Champagne and identifying spirits. Much of the finals are open to the public.

Cyprus Best Sommelier Award

Takes place on 5th December at Aphrodite Hills. After a long day with tests and blind tastings, the three finalists will compete live. This will be followed by a gala dinner organised by the Cyprus Sommelier Association at the Intercontinental Hotel. €70 per person and dinner starts at 9pm. More information from Heracles Christophorou, Tel: (00357) 99 415110