Meet Martin Riese

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

Hi Martin, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Already as a child of 4 on vacation time with my parents, I realized that water has taste by tasting different tap waters all over Europe. In 2005 I worked in a Michelin Star Restaurant in Berlin and a guest approached me that he did not like the taste of the bottled eater we are serving and he asked me what else I could offer him. I reminded myself to my childhood and I thought we have in the restaurant business options for everything, wine, beer, liquor, why not do the same with water. So I created my first water menu in 2005 and over the last 20 years my job evolved to not just creating water menus but even consulting for water, liquor and other beverage companies. Speaker and advocate for the importance of water on the planet, social media content creator, book author and even give my knowledge to others and I certify water sommelier around the world with my online course: International Water Alliance Certified Water Sommelier Master Class.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My job is a combinational of creativity, professionalism, knowledge and activism.
When I look back to 2011, when I came to the United States, many people where not ready for the concept of a water menu, they thought I am a person who chills for big water companies and just want to make money on selling overpriced water. Even some media outlets called the concept ridicules.
I even understand, when you hear the term “water sommelier” for the first time, you might think that has to be the most pretentious title somebody can have.
Once a person on my socials left me a comment and stated: “Martin, I followed you as a joke, but I did not realized how much I actually learned from you now.”
….and exactly that is the secret of my success. I do not take myself to serious, I want to bring with fun and entertainment knowledge to water, I debunk many water myths and marketing gimmicks and want to help Americans to make better decisions for themselves without spending to much money on water.
The beginning was tough but I always saw the big picture, when people said; “It’s just Water” I responded; : Yeah it’s just the stuff we can’t live without it and we would be in serious trouble when we don’t have access to it after several days!”
This year I was invited to UNESCO in Paris to talk in a panel on the topic: “For the Love of Water”, to showcase how important water is and how we can bring important topic to others.

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.
When I have guest over, everybody wants to see my “Water Closet”. Others have wine cellars I have a whole room dedicated to over 400 different waters I sampled and collected over the last years.
But LA is such a beautiful and exciting city, thats the whole point why I wanted to come to LA. I love the diversity the city offers and the possibility to be at the beach or going skiing on the same day.
I know that LA has a big restaurant scene, I have been a GM in many great restaurants, like Ray’s & Stark Bar at LACMA, Patina Restaurant inside the WDCH or Michelin starred Gwen Restaurant by Curtis Stone, and exactly that might be the reason why theses days I enjoy more cooking at home and enjoy my garden or eating at pop up street restaurants all over the city. I like the idea to support small local business owners, you won’t see me at large restaurant chains.
Whe. I have guest over from out of town, I love to showcase the extremes the region has to offer: From Death Valley, and Joshua Tree to the opposite of Katarina Island or our beautiful beaches.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Every person who open their mind for the topic of water and wants to learn more about our most important element on this planet I am thankful for. Without water no life we know could exist on this planet so the more we know about water the better it is for our planet.
Additional I like to thank all my mentors who gave the opportunity to create water menus and understood my vision to give guest an option on the most healthiest and the beverage with the smallest impact on the environment in the hospitality industry: Water.
My mentors included: Michael Frenzel, General Manager of the Hotel Palace in Berlin where I started my first water menu. Joachim Splichal, celebrity chef and founder of the Patina Restaurant Group, who gave me the possibility to come to the United States and believed in the concept of water menus for his restaurants, Ethan Klein, YouTuber who gave me several times the opportunity on his H3 Show to share my love for water to his audience and my parents Margrit und Folkert Riese and my wife Nancy Riese. Without the very strong support of the family I could never have done it.

Website: https://www.martin-riese.com

Instagram: @martinriese

Linkedin: @martin-riese

Twitter: @martinriese

Facebook: @martinriesewatersommelier

Youtube: @martinriese

Other: TikTok: @martinrieseofficial

Image Credits
Martin Riese