It was the late-90s when I first met . At the time, we were both running wine programs at different (now defunct) restaurants, her doing so expertly and me, well, going on not much more than instinct, whims and recommendations. Id admired Barbs enthusiasm and cheery dedication to wine, an admiration that led me to signing up for wine education via the Wine and Spirit Education Trust, with whom shed occasionally teach.
Over subsequent years I worked at various places and took a series of courses developing my wine knowledge and career, while she steadfastly worked toward achieving Master of Wine status, becoming the first female in Canada to do so. It is the highest qualification of wine knowledge one can achieve in the global wine community and takes many years of study, research, tasting and writing.
So what does one do once theyve reached such a pinnacle? In this case, they get a really cool job.
Barbara Philip M.W. is now the portfolio manager for wines of Europe at the BC Liquor Distribution Branch. To put it simply, shes the gatekeeper for European wines sold at government liquor stores across British Columbia. If you have a particular bottle you buy at the LDB from France, Italy, Spain or Portugal, that wine is on shelves because Barb believes it should be sold in our market. In chatting with her about this recently, the comparison was made to creating a massive province-wide wine list, adhering to many of the philosophies she had while doing sommelier duties in her restaurant career. Balance, whether on a wine list or on retail shelves, is key, as is a broad overview of regions, grapes, wine-styles and price points.
That balancing act is also played out with her purchasing strategy. Whether local importers are presenting her with products theyd like to see on shelves or she tries new wines on her many travels to Europe, there are many elements that go into any final yea or nay. There is market demand, of course, and not just in BC an eye is always kept on the ebb and flow of global wine trends ensuring were part of the zeitgeist, though those tides have also been known to originate right here on the West Coast.
Spain, Beaujolais and various Moscatos are all enjoying their moment in the sun right now.
Personal passion comes into play as well, which I think gives our local selection a little more personality and soul. If you noticed a slew of rosés from Provence on shelves last summer, or find yourself with many more options from Frances Loire Valley or Burgundy while you shop, you can attribute that to Barbs enthusiasm for those areas and their offerings.
Sales indicate that her enthusiasm is contagious.
When Id asked if she missed working in restaurants, having that immediate satisfaction of seeing your wine recommendation being enjoyed in real-time, Barb didnt skip a beat in saying that shes perfectly content in her current position. Far from always being cloistered in an office or in meetings, shes commonly engaged with BCLDB product consultants (and their feedback) plus she still teaches young students, keeping in tune with those just getting into wine.
It seems as though B.C. wine drinkers are in very good hands.
So, what does Barb recommend you drink next? For the budget-conscious, she recommends Domaine de Sancet Cotes de Gascogne ($11.99,) a zippy and bright thirst-quenching white blend from southwest France. Heading up toward Burgundy if youd like to dig a little deeper into your pockets, the Faiveley Mercurey La Framboisiere (37.99) is a soft and elegant, multi-layered red that will illustrate why the region means so much to her.
Read more about wines at .
