The majority of the big names in the wine industry all have one thing in common: their status as Master Sommeliers. While you do not need to be a Master Sommelier to open and operate a successful vineyard, a Master Sommelier, without question, is whom you want to approach for advice with anything involving the beverage industry. With only 229 Master Sommeliers in the world, here are some of the names that are helping to change the face of the industry for the better.
Brian McClintic took the Master Sommelier examination back in 2011, and not only did he pass on his first attempt, his preparation for the examination, and his journey to becoming a Master Sommelier was documented in the 2013 film, “Somm”. By following him on Facebook, you can stay updated with all the latest news about the Court of Master Sommelier family, and the newest information on the sequel to “Somm” titled “Somm: Inside the Bottle” which is does not yet have a release date.
Another young Sommelier changing the face of the industry, is Dustin Wilson. Wilson, like his friend McClintic, also passed the Court of Master Sommeliers exam in 2011, and his journey was also documented for the film “Somm.” Based in New York City, Wilson often travels around the world for Sommelier related events and you can follow his adventures on Twitter, as he tweets on a regular basis. While it is his personal twitter, and used for both business and pleasure, most of his tweets revolve around wine, and the beverage industry.
A third expert in the wine industry is Karen MacNeil. Macneil is known as one of the “foremost wine experts in the United States”, and is the author of the wildly popular “Wine Bible” which is recognized as “the most comprehensive and authoritative book on wine written by an American author.” Her Linkedin profile displays her impressive career in the wine industry and proves her expert status.
Finally, Craig Collins also became a Master Sommelier in 2011. Connecting with Collins on Google+ is a great way to stay informed of wine and beer related events and festivals in the Austin, TX area. You can also stay connected with Collins through his twitter account.
The wine industry is constantly changing, and now, more than ever, twenty and thirty-somethings are emerging to become the next great Master Sommeliers. Also, more woman than ever are advancing in the ranks of the industry, as proven by the Facebook post by McClintic. Here is a list of the 229 Master Sommeliers around the world, and the year in which they earned the coveted title.