July 9, 2018
The Cliffs is pleased to announce that five members of its team have received their Level One Sommelier certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers.
The team members are: Haley Crump, Julius Kaiser and Jennifer Strom of The Cliffs Valley; Chelsea Williams of The Cliffs at Glassy; and Jon Benson of The Cliffs at Walnut Cove.
The certifications bring additional expertise to The Cliffs’ already robust wine and culinary program. Led by Eric Cooperman, director of beverage and a certified sommelier, The Cliffs’ team of 14 sommeliers develops rotating wine lists, exclusive vintner’s dinners and tastings, monthly wine clubs and educational symposiums.
“We are proud of the accomplishments of these five professionals and applaud their commitment to helping make The Cliffs’ wine and culinary experience truly first class,” said David Sawyer, president and managing partner of The Cliffs Clubs. “We look forward to seeing them share their expertise with members of The Cliffs as we continue to focus on elevating our wine and culinary program.”
The introductory examination took place in Tampa, Florida. It consisted of an intensive two-day class and blind tasting ending with an exam assessing knowledge of wine regions, grapes, vintages and producers, in addition to foreign language, beer, liquor, coffee, tea, cigars, world history, service standards and beverage management.
To study for the test, the five Cliffs professionals participated in a professional development program created by Cooperman, who is preparing to sit for his Advanced certification in July. In total, there are four stages to achieve the top professional qualification of Master Sommelier. Introductory sommeliers can be identified by a red lapel pin.
About The Cliffs
The Cliffs is a collection of seven private, luxury residential mountain and lake club communities located in the Carolina Blue Ridge Mountains between two of the nation’s top award-winning cities for quality of life – Greenville, South Carolina, and Asheville, North Carolina – and Clemson, South Carolina, home to top-ranked Clemson University. The Cliffs’ suite of amenities for members includes seven clubs, seven nationally recognized golf courses, six wellness centers, boating, watersports, marina, beach club, cycling, paddle sports, tennis complexes, equestrian center, hiking trails, wakeboarding, wine clubs, more than a dozen restaurant and private event venues, an organic farm and more than 2,000 year-round programs and social activities to create timeless experiences. Homes at The Cliffs range in price from $350,000 to $6 million or more, and homesites start at $125,000. The Cliffs also offers professional and national club memberships. For more information about The Cliffs, visit CliffsLiving.com/buzz. Contact The Cliffs at 864-249-4364 to learn more about real estate, membership or to arrange a visit.
