(Photo: Rick E. Martin/San Jose Mercury News)

For generations, wine service has had a decidedly European bent, thanks to that continent's lineage of accomplished winemaking. And sommeliers -- those in charge of buying wines, crafting wine lists and recommending fine wines to diners -- were typically white men.

No more.

Now, many in the industry say they are seeing more minority wine buyers, wine stewards and sommeliers. It's a remarkable turn, given that many come from cultures in which wine drinking is not only uncommon, but in a few cases, forbidden because of religious beliefs.

Read this series by San Jose Mercury News reporter Carolyn Jung.

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Essay: Writing The New Faces of Wine
Carolyn Jung has been the food editor/food writer of the San Jose Mercury News since June 1997. Jung shares her experiences from The New Faces of Wine series.
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Diversity Increasing Among Nation's Sommeliers
Sommeliers -- those in charge of buying wines, crafting wine lists and recommending fine wines to diners -- were typically white men. Now, ethnic minorities are starting to make this profession their own.
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Sommeliers Who Are Changing The Profession
For generations, restaurant wine service was the domain of white men. These days, the field is becoming more diverse. Meet some of the men and women who are changing the makeup of this elite profession.
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Bottling a Bit of India
The newest wine to uncork a buzz among oenophiles doesn't hail from California, France, Italy, Australia or New Zealand. It is from, of all places, India.
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