Just look at what sommeliers are doing nowadays. Taking on a wide range of duties beyond the restaurant floor, many have become entrepreneurs. They can be found selling wine at retail, consulting on cellar acquisitions and management, writing and broad- casting, working as creative designers and brand strategists, hosting corporate hospitality events, and supporting public-relations campaigns for regional wine associations. Even some who remain within the traditional confines of the front of the house have taken on a new role: that of celebrity, stepping out of their chefs’ shadows to become culinary stars in their own right.

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