Meet Abe Zarate | Sober Somm

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abe Zarate and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abe, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Nothing remains in the same state for extended periods of time. Once I realized this, I worked on becoming comfortable with the notion that balance was not a finish line to reach. It is constant work of giving in to compromise; of being so grounded in the present and attuned to yourself that you understand the swapping out of one priority for another does not endanger either.

I have been sober since August 31, 2020. Working on sobriety has been a huge advantage in having the clarity to know what obstacles I’m able to remove in order to make time for the things that feed my mind, body, and soul.

Working in the beverage industry, I have given myself the added challenge of advocating for moderation/sobriety as I also excite people about wine. The trick to these coexisting is exposing people to perspectives on sobriety being more than just abstinence, and wine being more than just alcohol.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Growing up between Guadalajara, Mexico and the bordertown of Laredo, Texas, I’m very close to challenges in the bicultural experience. Two years ago, I got involved with Corporate Pero Latinos, a Latinx-focused non profit. I co-lead their English as a Second Language Program for hospitality workers in New York. This program is committed to help eliminate the barrier to entry that language is for a large part of the Latinx community. I have integrated different parts of my identity and hope to create career opportunities and continue operating in the wine industry with a focus on education and equity.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I stay busy, so I don’t go out much. I enjoy scheduling time with my close friends, especially the ones I consider family. This time is usually spent at one of our homes sharing a meal. When I have visitors from out-of-town, I take a “day in the life” approach. Once they’re finished exploring the tourist attractions, I like to enjoy a walk around neighborhoods I like (West Village). It’s in that neighborhood that I found a cute British restaurant, Tea & Sympathy. Not a single one of my friends is a tea person – nor am I – so it’s a sweet way to role play and break out of the usual happy hour stop. I also like to take them to my job for a glass of wine.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’ve been so lucky to be in environments where people have gone out of their way to extend a helping hand. The book “The Easy Way To Control Alcohol” by Allen Carr remains one of the reasons why I’m able to work with wine and maintain my sobriety. It debunks myths we tell ourselves about alcohol. This was the beginning of my search for perspectives on the subject and the different ways people approach it.

I think the reason it’s difficult to organically find mentorship is because – like any other relationship – we don’t accept people for whom they show us they are. I started working with Yannick Benjamin in early 2022, and he is one of the few people who gave me the courage to do just that, embracing exactly who I am. He has become a guide, who does not see any of my choices that don’t align with his advice as a deviation. A true guide understands that having your own experience is not a disregard for their investment in us. He gets all of that. This is one of my most cherished relationships.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sober_somm/?hl=en

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abrahamzarate/

Other: https://www.corporateperolatinos.org/

Image Credits
Diego Berrocal Mikhail Lipyanskiy