Aldo Sohm
Le Bernardin
- Chef Sommelier at Le Bernardin
- Best Sommelier in America 2007
- Best Sommelier in the World 2008
- James Beard Award winner 2009
- Former Sommelier Beverage Director at Wallsé Restaurant New York
Best Sommelier in Austria in 2002, 2003, 2004, & 2006
Andre Compeyre
Benoit New York
- Chef Sommelier at Benoit, Alain Ducasse bistro in New York
- Former Wine Director at Adour, Alain Ducasse restaurant at The St. Regis in New York
- Previously held the position of Chef Sommelier at restaurant Alain Ducasse at the Essex House in New York
- National recognition as head of the wine program at Thomas Henkelmann, part of The Homestead Inn, in Greenwich, Connecticut, which won the designation Relais Gourmand, and Relais & Châteaux
- Worked in Michelin-starred restaurants in France and England such as Le Gavroche in London, Les Jardins de l’Opera in Toulouse and Le Chateau d’Eza in Eze Village
Andrew F. Bell
American Sommelier
- Co-Founder and President of American Sommelier
- Founder and President of Wine Symphony
- Worked with hotelier and restaurateur Bill Kimpton in San Francisco
- Worked harvest in Arbois for winemaker Frederic Lornet
- Served as number two sommelier at Michelin three-star restaurant Guy Savoy in Paris
Chris Peterman
- Moved to New York City in December 2007 from the coast of Maine.
- Broke into the wine industry of New York by attending ASA classes and assiting Sommelier at Ouest in 2008.
- Became Sommelier/Beverage Director at Ouest in May of 2009.
- Took over control of General Manager Duties at Ouest as well in October 2009.
- Formerly the Wine Director at OTTO.
Christopher P. Bates
Hotel Fauchère
- Graduate of the Cornell University Hotel School, with a background in wine and as a chef.
- On the opening team for The Green Zebra, a vegetable-focused fine dining restaurant in Chicago.
- Worked Harvest in Valpolicella, Italy and the Mösel, Germany.
- Was General Manager of The Inn at Dos Brisas in Texas, 1 of only 17 Mobil Five Star properties in the country.
- Competitor in the Best Sommelier in America competition 2009.
- Now General Manager, Executive Chef, and Sommelier at Hotel Fauchère in Milford, PA
Crystl Faye Horton-Friedman
Del Frisco’s
- Main Sommelier at Del Frisco’s in New York
- Consulting Wine Director for Racing Restaurants of America
- Graduate of the American Sommelier Viticulture & Vinification Course
- Trained at Kevin Zraly’s Windows on the World Wine School
- Certified Sommelier by the Court of Master Sommeliers
- Served as judge for the 2011 Best Sommelier in America Competition
- Wine Writer for Clipper Magazine
David Kravitz
Smith & Wollensky
- Former Assistant General Manager at STK
- Former General Manager at Veritas, New York based restaurant with world-class wine cellar
- Held the position of Sommelier and Beverage Director at Rue 57, French brasserie and sushi bar in New York
- Semi-finalist in the 2009 and 2011 Best Sommelier in America Competition
- Graduate of American Sommelier’s Viticulture & Vinification and Blind Tasting course
Eric Zillier
Gotham Bar and Grill
- Wine Director at Gotham Bar and Grill in New York City
- Previously Wine Director at New York based restaurant, Alto. Following Zillier’s outstanding work, Alto’s wine list was awarded the Wine Spectator’s Grand Award in 2008, joining only 72 other restaurants worldwide with this distinction
- Former Sommelier at Veritas Restaurant, where he spent five years managing the world renowned 192,000 bottle cellar. While at Veritas, the restaurant was awarded Wine Spectator’s Grand Award
- Served as judge for the 2011 Best Sommelier in America Competition
- Has served on tasting panels for Bordeaux Magazine, Wine and Spirits Magazine and The Global Traveler
Erin Fitzpatrick
Esse Consulting
- Consultant in hospitality industry
- Sommelier at the Waverly Inn, New York
- On the opening team and designed the wine lists for restaurants Bar Carrera, bobo, and the Fat Radish in New York, and Bloom/Lily in Hong Kong
- Host of online wine program, ‘At the Root of It,’ on the Heritage Radio Network (www.heritageradionetwork.com) – a discourse on the heritage of varietals, winemaking and current happenings in the wine and spirits industry
- Involved in media relations for new restaurants and emerging wine regions
- Coordinates and produces private events
- Worked harvest at Viu Manent, Colchagua Valley, Chile
- Graduate of ASA Viticulture and Vinification and Advanced Blind Tasting Courses
Ginevra Altomara
Marnier-Lapostolle Inc.
- Started as a wine director at age 23 at the Jazz Standard
- Worked for top restaurateurs across Manhattan including Danny Meyer, Steve Hanson, Richard Sandoval, Terrance Brennan and Main Street Restaurant Partners, winning Wine Spectator Awards in all restaurants.
- Worked as Opening Wine and Beverage Director for Django (from the team that opened Union Pacific, Rocco DiSpirito’s first NY restaurant) and garnered much press for innovative wine and drink lists as well as Wine Spectator Award of Excellence
- Built the Wine and Education program for a new fast growing high end Mexican group (Modern Mexican restaurants) developed by renowned Mexican Chef Richard Sandoval
- Joined the Marnier-Lapostolle family as their National Director of Education and Trade Development in 2006 and has completed five harvests at the Lapostolle Winery in Chile.
Guy Goldstein
Steak Frites
- Currently Beverage Director and General Manager of Steak Frites
- Served as a Judge for the Best Sommelier in America 2011
- Opened Cellar 72 in 2006, a wineshop with a focus on education and wine tasting
- Former Beverage Director & Corporate Buyer for Nice Matin and the entire Tour de France Restaurant Group
- Semifinalist for Best Sommelier in America 2002
- Former Wine & Beverage Director for Maritime Restaurant
- Former General Manager and Wine Director for Barrio Restaurant
Hristo Zisovski
Ai Fiori
- Best Sommelier in America Finalist 2009
- Formerly at Jean-Georges Restaurant
Jake Young
Blackstone Steakhouse
- Sommelier at Blackstone Steakhouse, steak and sushi restaurant in Long Island
- Former Sommelier and Wine Director at Rothmann’s Steakhouse; a 103 year old restaurant on the Gold Coast of Long Island.
- Former Captain at Restaurant Nicholas in Red Bank New Jersey rated “Extraordinary” by The New York Times.
- Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, New York.
- Competitor in the Best Sommelier in America Competition 2009.
Jessica Certo
Del Frisco’s
- Seattle Native, Foodie
- Sommelier for Del Frisco’s Steakhouse
- Alumna of the American Sommelier educational program
- Level 2 Court of Masters Certified Sommelier, currently pursuing Level 3 this coming April
- Competed in Best Sommelier in America 2011
Kamden Watson
Torrisi
- Currently at Torrisi Italian Specialties in SoHo
- Former Beverage Director at Resto and The Cannibal in New York
- Held the position of Sommelier at Manzo Restaurant in Mario Batali’s newest New York venue, Eataly
- Wine Buyer for Juneau Wine Inc 2009
- Trained with the Four Seasons at Beverly Hills Sommelier at Del Posto during 2008
- Graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in Culinary Management
Kerin Auth
Tinto Fino
- Co-owner Tinto Fino, Vinos de España, an East Village Spanish Wine Boutique focusing on rare Spanish varietals, Sherry and classic producers from regions like Rioja and Ribera del Duero.
- Worked seven years as Account Manager for Tempranillo Inc., distributors of Jorge Ordoñez´s Fine Estates From Spain portfolio
- BA in Spanish Languages/Business and Liberal Arts
- Longtime, dedicated educator and advocate for Spanish food, wine and culture. Visited Spain more than 20 times and speaks beautiful and fluent Spanish
- 2001 graduate of the American Sommelier
Matthew Conway
Marc Forgione
- GM/Sommelier at Marc Forgione- a one star Michelin and two star New York Times restaurant in TriBeCa since 2009
- Spent the summer of 2010 training as a sommelier at the world famous Taillevent in Paris. The first American to be invited in 17 years. Working with a list of over 4,000 selections including the most rare and sought after Burgundy and Bordeaux.
- Spent 3 years (2005-2008) working with world renowned Chef Gray Kunz as the beverage director of Cafe Gray and later Grayz
- A regular contributor to Sommelier Journal, writing feature articles, holding tasting panels in NYC and conducting interviews with industry leaders and wine makers
- Writes original articles on wine for the dinning section in The Huffington Post
- A judge at BSIA 2011
Matthew Feddock
The National
- Currently the General Manager at The National a Geoffrey Zakarian restaurant in The Benjamin Hotel
- Former General Manager for DuMont Restaurant, based in Brooklyn and serving seasonal New American Cuisine
- Former Wine & Beverage Director for Devlin Metro Foods Group, incorporates Michelin one star Dressler Restaurant and DuMont Restaurant, both Brooklyn-Based
- Former Sommelier and Beverage Director for La Goulue Restaurant, Manhattan-based
- Former Captain for Michelin one star Country Restaurant, Manhattan-based
Michael Herklots
Nat Sherman
- Michael Herklots (MH) began his career in the retail Cigar business in Boston in 1998.
- He relocated to New York in 2002 where he currently works and resides.
- Aside from his duties in the retail business, he has hosted events and seminars around the country. With education as a focus, he hosts tasting seminars regularly and is a teacher for the American Sommelier.
- MH is also a contributing writer for several national publications.
- He was formerly the General Manager at Davidoff of Geneva in New York City
- Currently he is the Executive Director of Retail & Brand Management for Nat Sherman in New York City
Michael Shef
21 Club
- Currently Restaurant Manager 21 Club
- Wine director Artisanal Bistro
- Wine Director at Bobby Flay’s Mesa Grill
- Captain at Alain Ducasse @ the Essex House
- Sommelier & Captain at La Caravelle
- Co-Founder of the New York Chapter of the ASA
Rick Pitcher
Gotham Bar and Grill
- Current Dining Room Manager/Sommelier at Gotham Bar and Grill
- Graduate of the Hotel & Restaurant Program at the University of Massachusetts and L’Academie de Cuisine in Washington D.C.
- Contributed to the development, opening and beverage programs of several restaurants nationwide including Mesa Grill Las Vegas, Bar Americain (NY), Toqueville/15 East (NY), Gotham Steak (Miami)
- Contributed to or have been interviewed by several leading publications including Bon Appetit, Real Simple, Sante, The New York Times, Wine & Spirits and Wine Enthusiast.
- Rick has over 18 years of restaurant/beverage management experience and private consultation, and has traveled extensively throughout the world’s fine wine producing countries and regions
Yannick Benjamin
Le Du’s Wines
- Currently works in Sales at Le Du’s Wines in the West Village
- Former Assistant Sommelier at Atelier at the Ritz Carlton Central Park South
- Former Sommelier at Felidia
- Competed in Best Sommelier in America 2007, 2009, and 2011–earning a spot in the Finals in 2009
- Alumnus of the American Sommelier educational program