I have in front of me a friend, Anna Valli, whom I have known for a long time but of whom I don't know much more. I know her for her sympathy, her frankness, her competence in describing a wine. At the moment you hold the role of President of the ASSP (Association Suisse des Sommeliers Professionnels) of Canton Ticino. The sommelier is identified as a professional figure of the highest wine culture. A constantly updated professional who judges a wine in order to identify its organoleptic and sensory characteristics.
How did you come to be the head of an Association which was born in 1980, today boasts 440 members and which has always had a male sommelier as its president?».
«Sommellerie, the art practiced by the sommelier, is more than a profession, it is the link between those who produce wine and those who drink it. Since wine has evolved, this professional figure has become increasingly in demand, becoming essential for any wine retailer or restaurateur who wants to make a selection of wines available to the customer. In Switzerland, the path to access the sommelier profession is highly qualified and provides theoretical and technical skills for tasting. A sommelier must follow a path structured in 3 modules lasting approximately 2 years. After receiving the sommelier diploma, the individual person's curiosity and intelligence are important to deepen the various aspects that are the basis of his study: seriousness, ability and humility to progress in this training which is a continuous research. The sommelier is therefore a professional who must be particularly acute in intuiting the wishes of his interlocutor and therefore be able to suggest pairings that can enhance the components of a wine».
Your professional commitment leads you to spread the culture of wine in an elegant and distinct way already from your way of proposing yourself. How can all these functions be reconciled in a person who must also know many languages to converse and have many theoretical and technical skills to be able to present a wine capable of tickling the imagination of the person in front of him, who is usually not alone, but is she surrounded by others whose role in life is not known?
«In the associative sphere, the sommelier is the specific figure who should be able to recommend wine, he is an enthusiast who makes available his skills which are highly qualified and which range in various fields, from knowledge of wine to gastronomic products, noting nuances to tell the story to the customer. The attitude is important, being open, having the ability to listen, a personal psychology for approaching the guest, understanding how willing the customer is to listen: everything falls within the competence and discretion of the service. Fundamental is the excellent relationship with the chef de cuisine to know how that dish is prepared in the individual details and what are the ingredients that will go with the ideal wine. The approach and confidence certainly help but it's the good ways that make the difference».
Anna, you are a woman who in Ticino has found many travel companions already in the group Women&Wine. When was this section born and what are your tasks within the national ASSP? And what are the relationships with the women producers of wine who are now in a truly considerable number in Ticino?
“I expected this question. Women&Wine was established 17 years ago, women who have come together to share the roles that are not few. Internally we organize tastings, educational evenings for women only and the skills and competences of our colleagues are not discussed, they have different interests and willingness to do. While I don't want to name names, I find that there are "historical women" in Ticino, they are also associated ASSPs for a long time, they have been working full-time in their wine production companies, winemakers, winemakers, such as Fabiana Matasci and her cousin Paola Matasci, Nicoletta Cattaneo, Lisetta Lucchini, Silvia Valsangiacomo, Bruna Cavalli, Gaby Gianini, Grazia Cavallini, Fabienne Klausener , Elena D'Amato-Marcionetti, Anna Barbara von der Crone, Miriam Hermann Gaudio, Maria Rubio di Domingo, Rea di Tenuta Rudolph. And then the new recruits. Daughters of art such as Myra Zundel, Sabrina Monti, Raffaella Gialdi, Valentina Tamborini and, although not the owner, the indefatigable Cristina Monico, and I apologize in advance to whom I have forgotten. These women dedicate themselves to the cellar and/or vineyards, to the administration, also taking into account the management of the family. These producers are supported in their work thanks to the female strength in the family. And therefore it is necessary to remember that … behind a successful man there is always a great woman».
One more question on the female role: there will be the possibility of your re-election or the nomination of another woman to the presidency?
«I will certainly want to run again, I feel that this position belongs to me, I have been linked to the ASSP since 2005 and I carry out the role of President of the Italian-speaking Switzerland section with vigor and passion. Surely there are some women who can hold this position, but at the moment I feel that I still have a lot to give».
In this regard, what is the relationship of dialogue and coexistence within the association, as your presidency is occupied for the first time by a woman?
«It's not a heavy assignment but it's a prestigious one, onerous if you like, since it involves an exclusive association made up of people who started out in 1985 with 60 members and today there are more than 440, mostly highly trained men, and which led us to have Paolo Basso in 2013 as World Champion of Sommeliers and many are those awarded as the best sommeliers in Switzerland. There is a lot to invest personally in communication and temp; to reapply, it will then be up to other people to support me. I feel that after eighteen years within the association I can still represent it well and I think I can go on for a while or at least I hope so. The group Women&WINE was born way back in 2006 and is therefore well established and the work they do both at regional and national level is great: this is a certainty for a further guarantee of success for other very good and competent colleagues. There are many objectives that commit us to continuity, keeping the flame of seriousness burning, which is indispensable in this field. There is a need for study and work models to be inspired by without ever stopping».
One more question about Women Sommeliers: an event was held in Milan where the founder Enzo Carbone declared: «I am very happy and proud to have involved only serious and competent female sommeliers as masterclass speakers, testifying to the fact that the pink competence of taste-wines is increasingly growing». What is your idea about this?
«I didn't know about this initiative but knowing the women in their various sectors and the role they play and how they play it I say that it is a great test of maturity of these colleagues and I won't add anything other than to congratulate them and certainly We too will take that into account."
In closing, thank you for your availability and what would you like to tell the readers of Ticino Welcome about this new female enology?
“I would like to say that I can maintain my current position for quite some time yet; women have different abilities and like to feel engaged for the causes they are loyal to; independence offers me the opportunity to devote myself very vehemently to the office I hold without giving up my free time which I dedicate to my friends to toast with numerous fine and persistent bubbles».
