Kellermeister

English translation: cellarmaster

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)
German term or phrase:Kellermeister
English translation:cellarmaster
Entered by: Edwin Miles

08:28 Apr 26, 2016
German to English translations [PRO]
Art/Literary - Wine / Oenology / Viticulture / 19th century champagne production
German term or phrase: Kellermeister
I would like to find out if there was a standard word used in 19th century English in the field of champagne production for what would today be called a "cellarmaster."

The context is a recently written champagne-related novel set at the very end of the 19th century. The German word is consistently "Kellermeister," as in: Jeder **Kellermeister** macht ein Mysterium daraus, in welchem Verhältnis er die Trauben miteinander verschneidet.

The problem I'm facing is that:
1. "Cellar master" or "cellarmaster" has apparently only been in use since 1955 (Merriam Webster).
2. "Cellarer" doesn't work; it specifically refers to a monk responsible for provisioning, not a wine specialist
3. "Chef de cave" works, but it already appears separately in the text, so I am looking for an alternative. Also, "chef de cave" perhaps sounds strange when used too often.
4. "Winemaker" feels too broad!

So any suggestions apart from these are more than welcome. Thanks in advance!
Edwin Miles
Germany
Local time: 10:08
cellarmaster
Explanation:
Google Ngrams shows this word being used towards the end of the 19th century. And aside from that, it just seems the obvious choice to me, regardless of when it was first used.

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Note added at 4 hrs (2016-04-26 13:21:11 GMT)
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Here are the actual hits if you're interested. Basically, Webster's is wrong!
http://www.google.com.ar/search?q="cellarmaster"&tbm=bks&tbs...
Selected response from:

philgoddard
United States
Grading comment
Thanks, Phil, and for the reinforcement that one can't always trust a dictionary (at least M-W) when it comes to etymology.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



Summary of answers provided
3 +3Master of assemblage
Andrea Garfield-Barkworth
4 +1cellarmaster
philgoddard
3Champenois
Ramey Rieger (X)
2butler
Jonathan MacKerron


Discussion entries: 9





  

Answers


25 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5
Champenois


Explanation:
Perhaps this helps?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Champagne#From_the_...

Ramey Rieger (X)
Germany
Local time: 10:08
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 14
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Ramey. Champenois refers to the champagne makers of the Champagne region generally, and unfortunately not to the person with the specific task of mixing the wines to make champagne.

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2 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 3/5Answerer confidence 3/5 peer agreement (net): +3
Master of assemblage


Explanation:
Just as a more descriptive alternative to Chef de cave.

Andrea Garfield-Barkworth
Germany
Local time: 10:08
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Andrea. I went with "cellarmaster" after all, based on the information Phil came up with that suggests the etymology of "cellarmaster" goes back much further that Merriam-Webster seems to believe. Also, considering how often the term is used in the book, "master of assemblage," being quite an eye-catching expression, would become too conspicuous or overpowering after a while (though I might use it as alternative once or twice).


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Steffen Walter
1 hr
  -> Thans Steffen

neutral  philgoddard: This gets hardly any hits.
2 hrs

agree  Ramey Rieger (X): A votre santé
4 hrs
  -> Thanks Ramey

agree  Cilian O'Tuama: sounds good
13 hrs
  -> Thanks Cilian.
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
cellarmaster


Explanation:
Google Ngrams shows this word being used towards the end of the 19th century. And aside from that, it just seems the obvious choice to me, regardless of when it was first used.

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 4 hrs (2016-04-26 13:21:11 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Here are the actual hits if you're interested. Basically, Webster's is wrong!
http://www.google.com.ar/search?q="cellarmaster"&tbm=bks&tbs...


    Reference: http://books.google.com/ngrams/graph?content=Cellarmaster&ye...
philgoddard
United States
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12
Grading comment
Thanks, Phil, and for the reinforcement that one can't always trust a dictionary (at least M-W) when it comes to etymology.
Notes to answerer
Asker: Thanks, Phil. I was not familiar with ngrams before, nor with searching Google for a specific time frame. Websters certainly does appear to be wrong on this.


Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  Cilian O'Tuama: has keys to the dungeons
10 hrs
  -> Huh?

agree  milinad
15 hrs
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 2/5Answerer confidence 2/5
butler


Explanation:
According to my 1897 Muret-Sanders.
OED "A servant who has charge of the wine-cellar and dispenses the liquor. Formerly also, one who hands round wine, a cup-bearer. He is now usually the head-servant of a household, who keeps the plate, etc."
For modern audiences perhaps "wine butler".

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Note added at 1 hr (2016-04-26 10:26:11 GMT)
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Both the 1897 Muret-Sanders and 1891 Flügel's D-E dictionaries proffer "butler"

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Note added at 2 hrs (2016-04-26 10:29:06 GMT)
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MW Unabridged:
"1 : a manservant having charge of the wines and liquors
2 : an officer of a royal household who was originally the supplier of wines"

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Note added at 5 hrs (2016-04-26 14:12:08 GMT)
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"master blender" googles well in conjuction with "champagne"

Jonathan MacKerron
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 19

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
neutral  philgoddard: This is someone who makes champagne.
3 hrs
  -> You're right, doesn't fit in this context.
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