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Alumni Spotlight: Jenn Forge, Deering High School Class of 2008

“There’s a lot of pretentiousness behind wine,” says Jenn Forge (Rothbart). “What I’m most concerned about is that you like the wine that’s in front of you.” The 2008 Deering grad is a certified sommelier curating the wine list for Twelve, one of Portland’s most acclaimed restaurants. 

A self-described social butterfly in high school, Forge went to USM for classical vocals and piano.  “I’ve got a great ear and pick up things really easily but I struggled with music theory,” she said. “And I saw how my older brother, who’s an amazing musician, had a hard time making a decent living in music.”  

After a few semesters, she set her studies aside and took a job at Olive Garden, a company that gave her solid preparation for what would become a career in wine and spirits. “These larger corporate restaurants are perfect for someone just getting into the hospitality industry. They have structured systems where you learn things like first in, first out,” she said. From there, she took a job learning basic bartending at Empire, followed by Timber Steakhouse, where she was introduced to the craft cocktail scene by her late mentor, Henry Jost.

Her eagerness to dive further into the world of finer dining led her to be part of the opening crews at Boone’s Fish House & Oyster Room, Central Provisions, and Via Vecchia. Forge continued to hone in on her skills and joined the staff of Lolita on Munjoy Hill. “I got completely enamored with wine at Lolita working with owner Stella Hernandez, who is a certified sommelier,” she recalled. 

Forge was inspired and decided to pursue intensive wine education through the Court of Master Sommeliers. Certified through the court in February of 2023, Jenn has also just passed the level three Advanced exam of the Wine and Spirits Educational Trust.

“I really wish I’d gotten into wine sooner. I talk about wine every day at Twelve. I have a kit with 54 different aromas called Le Nez du Vin that I use as a fun exercise to train olfactory senses with the staff. Sometimes, I have certain themes such as ‘oak’ and use aromas of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, and toast, and I talk about how those aromas impact wine. At Twelve, we strive to provide an unparalleled dining experience, but if anyone ever wants to know more about wine or have questions about how they can get into the wine world, they should come see me at Twelve,” she said.   

Forge currently lives with her husband, Dan, and two daughters, Jacey, 9, and Anya, 2. She invites readers to check out her Instagram account at @207sommmom

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