In order for the consumer to be able to find out about the sensory diversity of mineral water and health-related properties of curative water, experts are needed to taste, enlighten, explain and advise on the compelling aspects of this valuable beverages.
Water Sommeliers are well-trained, competent advisors that add value to natural mineral waters and natural curative waters.
The Water Sommelier Union organises numerous activities related to natural mineral water marketing and consumption, such as mineral water tastings within the beverage trade and at consumer fairs, as well as offering seminars, lectures and much more.
Water Sommeliers can be made available in many areas, whether in HORECA, in the beverage trade, at the mineral water bottler and during a wide variety of events. In order to find a suitable mineral water expert in your area, the WSU also offers an online “Water Sommelier Search”.
Fields of activity
Certified sommeliers are not limited to the restaurant/catering environment!
In restaurants, a Water Sommelier is a valuable asset who can enlighten guests about the advantages and variety of mineral waters as a suitable accompaniment for certain dishes, with wines and coffee. He/she is also responsible for presentating this quality beverage at the table. In addition, the Water Sommelier is the restaurant’s agent, responsible for the selection and purchase of mineral waters as well as the creation of a mineral water menu.
Organising mineral water or water/wine tastings for interested guests is also an essential task of the Water Sommelier in restaurants and hotels.
Within the beverage trade, the Water Sommelier sees him/herself as the qualified contact person when it comes to informing the customer about different types of “natural mineral water”, “natural curative water”, “spring water” and “table water”, including the many positive health properties of the individual waters. This allows the supplier to assist their customers in choosing the optimal water for their needs.
In addition, the Water Sommelier is responsible for making sales presentations within the beverage trade.
In the mineral water source operation (wells, pumping and bottling operations), the Water Sommelier is available for employment as an expert for value-added marketing campaigns as well as direct sales to the beverage and gastronomy trade. With his/her in-depth knowledge, he/she enlightens and advises clients from the catering and beverage supply trade about the special characteristics and advantages of the mineral and curative water brands they carry, thus increasing acceptance and turnover of the product within the food and beverage industry.
Link to: Wassersommelier-Suche
Find your personal Water Sommelier
with our “Water Sommelier Search”»
Professional Development
Deep knowledge of mineralized waters in theory and practice!
Various opportunities for continuing education and training are available to our members and sustaining members:
MINERAL WATER CELEBRATION DAY (MWCD):
The popular MWCD takes place annually in the run-up to the Annual General Meeting. This training seminar is aimed at all participants who are interested in promoting mineral water enjoyment and want to familiarize themselves with the wide range of possible pairings. This event also offers an ideal opportunity for all water sommeliers who wish to refresh and deepen their knowledge of sensory assessment techniques. Heading up the event is the initiator and contact person of the Water Sommelier Training Programme at Doemens Academy, Dr. Peter Schropp.
We are pleased to welcome the participation of external speakers as well as our own members and sustaining members who wish to prepare lectures on topics related to mineral water consumption. Send us your ideas!
SEMINARs (1-3 days):
The WSU, in cooperation with other institutions, regularly offers seminars on mineral water pairings with coffee, tea, wine and other beverages. These events can be found under Dates.
NEW!!!
SENSORY TRAININGs (home-based):
Anyone can improve their sensory skills. This is done primarily through conscious tastings of various mineral water brands or reference substances. When tasting, one should practice analysing and describing the smell and taste repeatedly. It is only through direct experience that sensory skills are properly trained, and professional tasters have acquired their expertise only through continuous practice and training seminars.
WSU has been offering this in-home training since 2021. A training block includes 4 training sessions per year. Info and registration via administration. The training is organized and conducted by WSU board members Dr. Peter Schropp and Marion Schropp.
Training
The Alpha and Omega of our Association!
In addition to training programmes for beer and fruit juice sommeliers, Doemens Savour Academy in Graefelfing, Germany, also offers professional development courses for Water Sommeliers in order to promote expertise in mineral water understanding inside the beverage industry and trade as well as within upscale gastronomy.
The training programmes cover the following topics:
» water diversity
» definitions and legal terms
» mineral composition and nutritional physiology
» marketing and sales
» mineral water testing
» mineral and curative water sensory assessments
» water and wine
» excursions to mineral source operations
Persons who aspire to the title “Water Sommelier” and do not have the time to attend the nine-day water sommelier course at Doemens Savour Academy can also obtain this coveted title in a three-part, modular programme.
You can find more information about training as a Water Sommelier at the Doemens Savour Academy.
