Rotary Club of Lloydminster members sipped some knowledge from Carmela McDonald during the club’s Sept. 29 noon meeting.
McDonald, who holds a Level 3 Wine & Spirits Education Trust certification, manages the Southview Co-op Liquor and Spirits. As a sommelier, she stopped by to share her passion for the aged and fermented grape juice.
Read more: Column: The Rotary difference
During the meeting, she outlined her path to becoming a sommelier and described how her Italian family’s winemaking tradition first sparked her interest.
While sommeliers traditionally work in restaurants, McDonald explained her role at Southview includes curating products, hosting tastings and guiding customers through pairings for events.
She provided advice for proper storage, including keeping wine in a cool, dark, and steady space, and touched on the evolution from corks to synthetic closures and screw caps.
McDonald also cautioned that not all wines improve with age, advising most bottles should be consumed within a couple of years. However, you can store robust varieties such as Barolo for a decade.
She praised the growing quality of Canadian wines, noting cooler climates produce strong Chardonnays, Pinot Noirs and Cabernet Francs, and closed by sharing one last piece of knowledge. Match wines not just by price or prestige, but by mood, meal and occasion.
Read more: VIDEO/GALLERY: Lobsterfest success helps local charities
