Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri - 5 Minutes to Drinking Better Water

5 Minute Sip to Drinking Better Water with Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri

Types of Water

Let’s start by looking at the various types of water you drink and define exactly what they are.

·        Tap: Originates from large wells, lakes, rivers or reservoirs and is processed as per Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards

·        Spring: Originates from a confirmed spring source. It may contain minerals, but non-mineral spring water is common. Check the label.

·        Mineral: Contains at least 250 parts per million (ppm) of trace minerals. 

It originates from underground water source and natural carbonation is common

·        Still or Sparkling: Some mineral waters have natural carbonation. Others are still. Some waters have carbonation added artificially, like soda waters.

·        Seltzer: Artificial carbonation added to water

·        Club Soda: Has added flavour

·        Tonic Water: Is bitter in taste and has calories

·        Artesian: Uses an Artesian Aquifier to pump water from deeper layers to the surface[CM1] 

Water’s Terroir: Really a Thing?

We regularly discuss the terroir of wine but the way in which the geographic region affects the flavor and properties of wine, is also applicable to fine mineral water. Marrying and melding with its minerals and rainfall, landscape and soil, water – as much as wine – has a strong element of terroir.

The main components of terroir are all represented in the waters of the world, especially those that are bottled for consumption. Climate: check. Everything is subject to weather. Soil and terrain: check. All water flows through it to end up underground, mingling with minerals. Tradition: check. Many of the great water companies will tell you on their websites exactly how they harvest their water. 

Terroir? Water has it in spades.

Different terroirs produce varying levels of minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium and Sodium. These minerals, which are present at different levels based on geography and other factors, have a marked impact on the taste and mouthfeel of water.

So, as you might expect, different kinds of water pair better with different types of food, just as wine does. Additionally, the quality and type of water used in coffee and tea have a significant impact on the taste of the beverage and can also alter the taste profile of a glass of wine or an entire meal.

Water Sommelier Question #1: Where Does Your Water Come From?

Jessica Altieri Water Sommelier

February 9, 2019

It’s not something we think about every day when we turn on the tap. But let me ask you this…when you have a choice, do you prefer to order a mineral water?

Mineral water tastes better because of where it comes from.

When it bubbles forth from layers of rock in the ground, or filters down through high mountains, it brings with it a combination of minerals in various strengths. This is what gives it taste. This is its ‘terroir’, as wine buffs call the environment the grape comes from.

So, it follows that natural mineral waters have different tastes. And because of that, they taste better with certain food and wine. Some waters bring out the best in your coffee bean or tea leaf. Others are great for replenishing your mineral deficiency after exercise.

Come with me on an adventure through the world’s great mineral waters and I’ll show you…not all water is equal.

Types of Water

Let’s start by looking at the various types of water you drink and define exactly what they are.

·        Tap: Originates from large wells, lakes, rivers or reservoirs and is processed as per Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards

·        Spring: Originates from a confirmed spring source. It may contain minerals, but non-mineral spring water is common. Check the label.

·        Mineral: Contains at least 250 parts per million (ppm) of trace minerals. 

It originates from underground water source and natural carbonation is common

·        Still or Sparkling: Some mineral waters have natural carbonation. Others are still. Some waters have carbonation added artificially, like soda waters.

·        Seltzer: Artificial carbonation added to water

·        Club Soda: Has added flavour

·        Tonic Water: Is bitter in taste and has calories

·        Artesian: Uses an Artesian Aquifier to pump water from deeper layers to the surface

Follow Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri for more fine water tips and education with America’s Water Sommelier!

Taste Test. What The Flavor Of Water Is Telling You - Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri

December 1, 2018

When we think of flavorless, the classic example is water. Berries are sweet; mushrooms are umami; collards are bitter. But water? As Popular Science so eloquently puts it:

“For thousands of years, philosophers claimed that water had no flavor. It’s the baseline for the sense of taste, they said—a starting point and null condition. What water is to tongues, darkness is to eyes and silence is to ears. ‘The natural substance water per se tends to be tasteless,’ wrote Aristotle.”

Aristotle Was Wrong

Despite the eloquence of pretty much everything Aristotle ever wrote, the statement itself is far from true. We humans have pretty sensitive tongues, and can detect a huge array of flavors, even very subtle ones. As it turns out, water is full of such subtle flavors.

For instance, calcium. This is a very common mineral found dissolved in water. As reported in Live Science, our tongues are sensitive enough to taste calcium; in fact, we have actual receptors for them. Those are specific taste buds dedicated to detecting specific flavors such as salty or sweet … and now, calcium-y.

Though at higher levels it becomes harsh and bitter, it’s quite pleasant in water. Clearly water isn’t just a blank slate.

Water Wisdom

Water can give you other clues as well. If it’s full of harsh rotten-egg flavor, that means there’s too much hydrogen sulfide in it. While sulfur itself isn’t bad for you, the strong flavor can indicate that you’re picking up too much of the pipe lining on the way out of the tap – and that’s not good.

Other aquatic clues? Mineral water has a good name for a reason. While you might think de-mineralized water was the most favored, that’s not true. People actually prefer water with the right balance of natural salts and ions.

Tough gig figuring all this out, right? That’s where Jessica Altieri Fine Water Sommelier comes in. The first American to achieve this distinctive title, there’s no better source for water knowhow. Get in touch to learn more.

May 6, 2018

Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri - Luxury and Fine Water for Father's Day 2018

A $100 bottle of wine for Fathers Day. Lame. Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri, America's Luxury Brand Influencer, has a better idea. A $100 bottle of extremely rare fine water sourced from the purest of icebergs in the fjords surrounding Norway’s Svalbard islands. Just 1,000km from the North Pole at 79° north, these islands sit in the middle of the Arctic Ocean and are one of Europe’s last great wildernesses with more polar bears than people. And better yet, you can hire Jessica Altieri Water Sommelier for a private water tasting.

That's just one of the featured fine waters from Certified Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri, Americas newest and hottest Certified Water Sommelier.

Jessica's impressive resume is well-known, and for good reason. She is a Certified Wine Sommelier, California Wine Appellation Specialist, CEO of the Wine Channel TV Network, and one of Wine Enthusiast's prestigious "Top 40 Under 40 Tastemasters" in 2016. Jessica's latest certification as a Water Sommelier further solidifies her position as an innovative authority in the United States and around the world.

Jessica's certification as a Water Sommelier makes her part of a highly exclusive group of tasting professionals. Until 2015, there was only one Water Sommelier in the entire United States, and even today only a handful exist worldwide.

A Water Sommelier is someone educated on the properties of water and the elements that affect it. Training includes identification of the terroir, which is the manner in which the geographic region affects the flavor and properties of the water before settling in the location from which it is sourced for drinking. Different terroirs produce varying levels of minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium and Sodium. These minerals, which are present at different levels based on geography and other factors, have a marked impact on the taste and mouthfeel of water.

Different kinds of water pair better with different types of food, just like wine. Additionally, the quality and type of water used in coffee and tea have a significant impact on the taste of the beverage and can also alter the taste profile of a glass of wine or an entire meal.

About Jessica Altieri

Jessica Altieri is a wine expert and sought-after wine judge and was recently named as one of the "40 under 40" to watch in the food and beverage industry by "Wine Enthusiast" magazine. Altieri is the CEO of The Wine Channel TV network and hosts a popular wine podcast on Revolver called "Wine Conversations with Jessica Altieri." She has been a lifestyle contributor to CNBC, Yahoo! News, ABC7 Chicago and ESPN Radio, among others.

April 20, 2018

Jessica Altieri, luxury brand infleuncer is on site at Gold Coast Bentley in Chciago for the launch of the 2018 Bentley Continental GT Coupe. #newcontinentalgt What is the perfect pariing for the new Bentley? Lets start with water from melted icebergs - carved freshly from the fjords around Svalbard, just 1,000 kilometres from the North Pole - provide the source for Svalbarði’s pure water. Iceberg waters are some of the rarest in the world due to the difficulty of gathering this arctic water. Svalbarði is the world's northernmost bottled water and is recognised by the Fine Water Society as the world's best tasting super low mineral water. As for the new Bentley, vroom vroom! Offered only as a four-seat convertible, it is available with just one powertrain: a 582-hp 6.0-liter W-12 engine paired with an eight-speed transmission. An all-new Continental coupe goes on sale in mid-2018 and boasts a claimed 207-mph top speed and a 621-hp turbocharged W-12 engine.

Jessica's certification as a Water Sommelier makes her part of a highly exclusive group of tasting professionals. Until 2015, there was only one Water Sommelier in the entire United States, and even today only a handful exist worldwide.

The Water Sommelier Ultimate Fine Water Gift Guide was created to provide the ultimate in fine water gifts for those discerning tastemakers who enjoy great wine and now will have the right water to pair with that wine, holiday dinner or party.

A Water Sommelier is someone educated on the properties of water and the elements that affect it. Training includes identification of the terroir, which is the manner in which the geographic region affects the flavor and properties of the water before settling in the location from which it is sourced for drinking. Different terroirs produce varying levels of minerals such as Calcium, Magnesium and Sodium. These minerals, which are present at different levels based on geography and other factors, have a marked impact on the taste and mouthfeel of water.

Different kinds of water pair better with different types of food, just like wine. Additionally, the quality and type of water used in coffee and tea have a significant impact on the taste of the beverage and can also alter the taste profile of a glass of wine or an entire meal.

Jessica's innovative, sophisticated, but humble approach has established her as one of the world's most sought-after millennial-aged professional wine judges and tasting experts. In conjunction with her work with lifestyle brands in food, fashion, retail and hi-tech, Jessica Altieri is undeniably an innovative authority in the wine lifestyle industry.

About Jessica Altieri

Jessica Altieri is a wine expert and sought-after wine judge and was recently named as one of the "40 under 40" to watch in the food and beverage industry by "Wine Enthusiast" magazine. Altieri is the CEO of The Wine Channel TV network and hosts a popular wine podcast on Revolver called "Wine Conversations with Jessica Altieri." She has been a lifestyle contributor to CNBC, Yahoo! News, ABC7 Chicago and ESPN Radio, among others.

April 4 2018

Living the High Life: How To Sip Luxury with Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri

Jessica Altieri – Luxury Brand Influencer

Luxury has always fascinated humans. Cave dwellers admired amber and bright pebbles, rough cut as they were. In the time of the Greeks, people read Plato’s marvelous descriptions of Atlantis, covered in gold, silver and mythical metal orichalcum with wonder, imagining what life was like in that faraway land that now lay under the sea. Medieval royalty bedecked themselves with as many gemstones as would fit on a single person without making it impossible to walk.

Even then, sometimes not walking was a willing price to pay for Awesome Middle Ages Bling. (Just saying.)

Today, the luxury lifestyle looks a little different. From writers such as F. Scott Fitzgerald and Ian Fleming come descriptions of elegance in different 20th-century time periods. From 50 Cent and Snoop Dogg, we get accounts of everyday living accompanied by jewelry, cars and expensive drinks.

Well, our hiphop friends aren’t far off, because cars and beverages are among the go-to luxury items humans in the modern era enjoy most of all. Here are a few of our favorites for your consideration.

The Luxury Lifestyle Today

So, did I mention that rides and bevies pair exceptionally well? Because if not, let me just say it again: People have loved drinking expensive things in the back of expensive vehicles since the dawn of time. Today I’ve paired a few of the most stunning new cars on the market with a few of the crispest, most delicious libations available. Feel free to mix and match!

Bentley New Continental GT

Put on your driving suit, because it’s time to tour the Amalfi coast, admire the epic sea views of Morocco or climb the fresh-breezed mountains of British Columbia. 

“The new Continental GT features clean, superformed lines and a wide, low body, evoking a sense of speed and presence,” explains the website, adding that the car was “created for agile, exhilarating driving.” Oh, and it’s green, too! With best-in-class fuel emissions, you can now drive a smidge too fast without worrying about Mother Earth. Yay!

Rolls-Royce Phantom

Described as a “large barge in charge” by Autoweek, which adds that a ride in the Rolls-Royce Phantom feels like “being whisked about in a sedan chair carried by beauty queens stepping on marshmallows while wearing extra-large and comfy bunny slippers.” In other words, the Phantom is a luxury ride with no parallel when it comes to comfort and quiet.

With 287 pounds of sound-dampening material, a quarter inch of glazing on the glass and foam-lined tires, you don’t need to worry about a single road noise disrupting your classical music or hushed conversation. 

… except the sound of sipping.

Penfold’s

Australia has a firm place in the history of winemaking. None deserves its reputation so richly as Penfold’s, which came on the scene in 1844. Its annals include founding by Dr. Christopher and Mary Penfold, but when he turned to focusing on his medical career, the vineyard fell largely into Mary’s hands. She was succeeded by her daughter, Georgina – proving once again that women can rock the business sphere just as hard as any man.

In the last 170-plus years, the vineyard has transformed itself into a name synonymous with luxury, greatness, taste and pedigree. (BTW, this might be a good time to mention that at one point there was a Penfold’s car, shaped like a wine bottle, combining the two very things we’re talking about here today.)

If you’re not in a wine mood, however, how about a glass of water? 

Svalbarði 

For those not yet in the know, Svalbard is one of the coldest regions in the world. So cold, in fact, that it was chosen as the site of the Global Seed Vault, a bunker-like storage facility that houses thousands of seed varietals. Think of it as the human race’s “Oh damn, the world has ended and we better figure out how to save seeds without power so we can start farming again when the dust from the supervolcano finally clears in a hundred years” form of insurance.

Yeah, it’s that cold.

Much like the luxury water Svalbarði, award-winning and ultra-low-mineral still Arctic iceberg water, perfect for a refreshing crystalline draught or the world’s most delicious cup of tea. Believe it or not, it is the world’s northernmost bottled water and is tagged as a “taste of snow in the air,” due to those lingering glacial flavors. Trust me, don’t miss out on this one.

A Day to Remember … A Life to Remember

Hopefully now you have a few more ideas about your next picnic/joy ride. Your honey will ride in high style, thirst quenched by the perfect vino and most luscious water. So whip out that calendar, schedule in a free Saturday and sit down to dream about luxury. Or, if you can, actually live it (wink, wink), all life long.

Any questions? Feel free to get in touch with Jessica Altieri just as soon as you like!

Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri and How To Choose The Right Water for the Perfect Cup of Coffee

February 5, 2018

A cup of joe calls for just two ingredients: coffee and water. That’s one of the lovely things about it. It’s just so easy to make this strengthening, heartening brew. But is it actually as easy as you thought? Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri will make sure you get it right and sip smarter.

Hmm. Well there’s the coffee. Not just any old can of Kirkland will do; naturally you want the good stuff from an artisanal roaster. Local if possible, toasted to just the right color, well-balanced and pure. As for water … Oh, you thought you could just turn on the tap, collect a few cupfuls of aqua and call it good? Think again, my friend.

Brewing Water Basics

Water, just like the coffee itself, isn’t a simple ingredient. Both are more akin to wine than we give them credit for: nuanced, complicated, gently redolent of a thousand different scents and flavors. Luckily your roaster takes care of the beans for you. But the water?

For starters, nail down the basics. The Special Coffee Association of America publishes guidelines concerning water for brewing coffee. The water should be clear, without chlorine or odors. Water filtration devices are a pretty easy way to accomplish this, though the pitchers tend to be small: try a faucet-mounted device instead.

Mineral Content Matters

The hardness of the water also matters. While water softeners are commonly used at home to prevent minerals from lining the insides of pipes, washing machines and so on, some people advocate that hard water makes a better cup of coffee, because minerals such as magnesium and calcium – good for you, by the way – bring out coffee’s flavor.

That’s the foundation of game-changers such as Third Wave Water, which add minerals back in to de-mineralized water to make them perfect for brewing. That way, if you have to soften your water at home (remove its minerals), you can still make a great cuppa.

Want to learn more about water? We invite you to get in touch with Jessica Altieri, America’s Water Sommelier today.

Hydration Celebration with Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri

Svalbarði Polar Iceberg Water with Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri

In 2013, Norwegian-American Jamal Qureshi collected meltwater as a gift for his wife while travelling in the Norwegian island territory of Svalbard – one of Europe’s last great wildernesses. The pure water would make for a delicious cup of tea, he thought. That’s a pretty thoughtful gift and one of the things that first caught our attention about this brand.

Today we tell the story of  Svalbarði , an award winning, ultra-low mineral still Arctic iceberg water.

Svalbarði  is the world’s northernmost bottled water and is recognized by the Fine Water Society as the world’s best tasting super low mineral water.

It gets its tagline a “taste of snow in the air” due to iceberg waters that are some of the rarest in the world. This water is as unique as its story that we learned from its founder Jamal Qureshi.

Nonetheless, 4 years later, that creative, generous thought transformed into an epicurean product, which is redefining the very notion of pure drinking water.

With approval from the Governor of Svalbard, Jamal chartered an icebreaker – the Ulla Rinman – and sought out the purest of icebergs just 1,000km from the North Pole at 79° north. As fresh as the day it fell as snow up to 4,000 years previously, 15 tons of ice is gathered by the crew.

Svalbard’s glaciers release approximately 5 billion cubic meters of icebergs into the sea every year. The team heads out for anywhere from 3 to 7 days to find the perfect ice.

The icebergs need to be from the most protected inner part of the glacier. The presence of ancient air bubbles, which make a crackling sound as they melt, is a key sign that the right pre-industrial era iceberg has been found. The source ice can be up to 4,000 years old and requires no chemical treatment.

The iceberg must then be carefully lifted out of the arctic water. This is dangerous and risky work. Rough seas can threaten to crash tons of ice against the gathering vessel. Ensuring maximum safety means sometimes the search must move on to find a safe location with the right type of ice.

The ice is then gently melted in a specially constructed machine and bottled by hand, capturing the best drinking water in its cleanest form. In order to retain the water’s natural composition and premium taste, no chemistry-altering filters are used, only micron filters and UV light to adhere to international standards.

Each expedition yields 13 thousand bottles of pure drinking water; therefore, each batch is a limited edition. The product can be shipped around the world.

Based in the Arctic outpost of Longyearbyen, an important center for global warming research – Svalbarði is an environmentally friendly company with a deep interest in raising awareness for polar and climatic research.

The company operates sustainably for the conservation of the Arctic environment in three main ways:

• Firstly, Svalbarði is carbon neutral-certified which means that the company invests in a carbon-offsetting scheme, which supports projects around the world. These have included a wind farm in western China, and upgrades to local water infrastructure in Uganda and Malawi. Their pure drinking water is produced in an entirely sustainable manner.

• Second, they use their position as a global company based in the Arctic to raise awareness of the vital role Svalbard plays in scientific research of global warming on an international scale.

• Third, the company aims to lessen the impact of global warming. Through a partnership with the Crop Trust, they support the preservation of food crop seeds representing 15 thousand years of human agriculture which are endangered by the changing climate.

If you’re still wondering what defines the brand, it’s all about the location, Svalbard! You have one of the world’s most northernmost communities where there are more polar bears than people, and 60 perecent of it is covered by glaciers.

Water Sommelier Jessica Altieri

Jessica Altieri of Wine Conversations with Jessica Altieri, adds to her already impressive list of credentials with the prestigious certification of Water Sommelier.

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Jessica Altieri of Wine Conversations with Jessica Altieri, adds to her already impressive list of credentials with the prestigious certification of Water Sommelier.

Jessica’s resume includes Certified Wine Sommelier, California Wine Appellation Specialist, CEO of the Wine Channel TV Network, and one of Wine Enthusiast’s prestigious “Top 40 Under 40 Tastemasters” in 2016. Her latest certification as a Water Sommelier further solidifies her position as an innovative authority in the U.S. and around the world. Certification as a Water Sommelier makes Jessica part of a highly exclusive group of tasting professionals. Until 2015, there was only one Water Sommelier in the entire U.S., and even today only a handful exist worldwide.

Jessica will be launching “The Connected Waters” Curator Program this month with high-end fine water brands and wine lifestyle brands. The inaugural launch of The Connected Waters Curator Program will be featured on Wine Conversations with Jessica Altieri on reVolver Podcasts, on Dec. 23, 2017. Listeners will get a chance to learn about the story of Svalbarði, an extremely rare fine water sourced from the purest of icebergs in the fjords surrounding Norway’s Svalbard islands.

“I’m very happy for Jessica and her achievement as a certified water sommelier. Many know what a wine sommelier is, but considering she is one of only a few water sommeliers worldwide, not many know that exists,” said Jack Hobbs, president of reVolver Podcasts. “I learned from Jessica that different kinds of water pair better with different types of food, just like wine. The water you drink impacts the taste of an entire meal. I think our listeners will find this episode extremely interesting, educational and entertaining, thanks to Jessica’s knowledge and sharp wit.”

Find and follow Jessica Altieri on social media: Instagram @winechanneltv and @bestsipever; Twitter @winechanneltv; Facebook @winechanneltv; and YouTube @winechanneltv. Check out her websites for the latest news and updates too: www.winechanneltv.com and www.jessicaaltieri.com.

Tune in and subscribe to Wine Conversations with Jessica Altieri. Find your favorite reVolver Podcast at reVolverPodcasts.com, Uforia, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and iHeartMedia. To listen on Apple Podcasts, visit https://itunes.apple.com/us/artist/revolver-podcasts/id1086192367. Sales or marketing inquiries can be directed to reVolver Podcasts at jack@revolverpodcasts.com. For questions about content or to find out how to become a content provider and host, email Maria@revolverpodcasts.com.

About reVolver Podcasts
reVolver Podcasts is the leading multicultural, audio-on-demand content creator and distributor in the U.S. Home to “El Show de Piolín,” “Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom,” and “Road Trippin’ with RJ & Channing” plus more than 50 additional programs spanning sports, music, finance, entertainment, lifestyle, health and wellness, inspiration, news, real crime, branded content and live events, the podcasts are distributed on reVolverPodcasts.com, Uforia, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Play and iHeartMedia. For more information about the company, visit www.revolverpodcasts.com.

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Media:
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Jessica Altieri Earns Prestigious Water Sommelier Certification

Jessica Altieri, a leading digital wine lifestyle executive, has added a new title to her already impressive list of credentials- America's Newest Water Sommelier.

Jessica's impressive resume is well-known, and for a good reason. She is a Certified Wine Sommelier, California Wine Appellation Specialist, and the CEO of the Wine Channel TV Network, and one of Wine Enthusiast's prestigious "Top 40 Under 40 Tastemasters" in 2016. Jessica's latest certification as a Water Sommelier further solidifies her position as an innovative authority in the United States and around the world.

Jessica's certification as a Water Sommelier makes her part of a highly exclusive group of tasting professionals. Until 2015, there was only one Water Sommelier in the entire United States, and even today only a handful exist worldwide.