Main job: Water Sommelière, Water Apothecary, Water Advocate
Origin: United States of America
Academy: Doemens Academy
Water Sommelier since: 2017
E-Mail: water@watersommeliere.com
Website: www.watersommeliere.com / www.waterapothecary.com
Instagram: watersommeliere
LinkedIn: Anistacia Barber
What inspired you to become a Water Sommelière?
I grew up in the high desert with a noteworthy enthusiasm for water. I carried it with me through school and my documentary film career and enjoyed a special passion for sacred springs and taking the waters. After decades as a hobbyist, in 2017 I traveled to Doemens Academy in Gräfelfing, Germany, to study and become a Certified Water Sommelier. (Best. School. Experience. Ever.)
What is your superpower?
Water dowsing
Can you share a memorable experience you've had as a Water Sommelière?
When I told my young adult nephew who is a bit of a foodie, that I had just returned from Germany where I was certified as a Water Sommelière and he became very animated and happy and congratulatory saying “Wow! No way! That’s a real thing! I know about this! This is a very big deal! There aren’t very many of you in the world! You are amazing! I’m so proud of you auntie! Tell me everything!”
Still or Sparkling?
Sparkling
Low or high TDS?
High TDS
Salty or sweet?
Salty
What is your favorite water and why?
My current favorite is St. Leonhards Quellen located just south and east of Munich, Germany and just next to the Inn River. I’m enchanted by this water for several reasons. There are multiple springs on the site and the tastes are lovely and nuanced. St. Leonhards Quellen has a fantastic origin story of dreams and healings. They have always allowed visitors to get the living drinking water daily for free. And, they bottle the waters at the source in returnable glass bottles out of conviction to protect nature. St. Leonhards does not ship their waters internationally.
In addition to their main source label, they have a collection of four waters which are Sun, Moon, Full Moon, and Light. Fantastic sources, influences, and bottling techniques for each of them! They even source a very unique iodine water. I have an interview with Elke Freier, Naturopath, on St. Leonhards Quellen water from the Water Conference, Bad Soden, Germany, 2022 on my YouTube channel @waterapothecary. I sure wish I could get some Light water here in Colorado but the reason I can’t is a large part of why I admire St. Leonhards so much!
Please finish the sentence: Water for me is...
numinous.
What do you believe is the future of the Water Sommelier profession?
I suspect we will soon see a day when being a Water Sommelière (feminine spelling) is a commonplace and revered profession around the globe. To stay relevant, I believe that as certified Water Sommeliers we must concern ourselves with the protection of the sources and the responsible promotion of unique international bottled waters. We must spread awareness about the imperative of source stewardship and autonomy. We need to support and lift each other up. We must be steadfast to the mission of educating everyone who will hear about the virtues of touching, drinking and protecting fresh waters.
How do you think valuing water contributes to a more sustainable future?
If we look at our education efforts as Water Sommeliers and see that we are inspiring well-deserved awe of water within our guests as we share the experience of really tasting water and understanding that waters are unique and beneficial and magic really, then we have an opportunity to capacitate them to benevolent community activism.
What else would you like to share with the community?
It’s such an honor to call so many of you friends and I look forward to meeting the rest of you in person someday. Chin up! Carry on! May the most you wish for be the least you get. Cheers!
Anistacia, thank you for the interview!
Best regards
Timo Bausch
Certified Water Sommelier
You are also a Certified Water Sommelier and would like to introduce yourself to the community? Then write me a short e-mail with the keyword "SOMMUNITY" to hello@sommcademy.com.
Comments