The 14th annual Naples Winter Wine Festival, taking place Jan. 24-26, 2014, will host a group of 12 of the nation's most distinguished wine service professionals as festival sommeliers this year at The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort, Naples, Florida. The sommeliers will lend their extensive wine knowledge and experience, which includes a total of seven Master Sommelier certifications, background positions at Michelin-starred restaurants, top sommelier awards and industry leadership positions, to the numerous festival events.
Festival sommeliers will join 38 wineries and 16 celebrity chefs at this year's vintner dinners and the festival auction. Among the talent assembled by 2014 festival Co-Chairs Linda Richards Malone, Anne Welsh McNulty and Adria Starkey are Honored Vintner Olivier Krug of Krug Champagne and Chef de Cuisine Bill Telepan of New York City's Telepan and Telepan Local.
The purpose of the Naples Winter Wine Festival is to raise funds for the Naples Children & Educational Foundation (NCEF), which serves underprivileged and at-risk children in the community of Collier County, Florida. Since 2001, the festival has raised over $110 million for the NCEF.
2014 Naples Winter Wine Festival sommeliers include:
Christopher Birnie-Visscher, db Bistro Moderne, Miami, Florida
Advanced ambassador, Wines of Portugal Wine Academy
Advanced sommelier certification, Court of Master Sommeliers
Participant in 2013 TOP|SOMM Competition - South region
Advanced ambassador, Wines of Portugal Wine Academy
Advanced sommelier certification, Court of Master Sommeliers
Participant in 2013 TOP|SOMM Competition - South region
Jason Carlen, Spiaggia, Chicago, Illinois
Spiaggia wine list given "Best of Award of Excellence" by Wine Spectator
Spiaggia wine list given "Best of Award of Excellence" by Wine Spectator
Ian Cauble, MS, SommSelect.com (launching March 2014)
Winner of 2011 Chaîne des Rôtisseurs "Young Sommelier" Competition
Gold Medal at 2011 International Jeunes Sommelier Competition - Named "Best Young Sommelier in the World"
Winner of 2011 TOP|SOMM Competition
Co-star of the 2012 wine documentary "Somm"
Winner of 2011 Chaîne des Rôtisseurs "Young Sommelier" Competition
Gold Medal at 2011 International Jeunes Sommelier Competition - Named "Best Young Sommelier in the World"
Winner of 2011 TOP|SOMM Competition
Co-star of the 2012 wine documentary "Somm"
Elizabeth Dowty, Vino Wholesale, New Orleans, Louisiana
Passed two levels of the Master Sommelier test
Southwest finalist at 2011 Chaîne des Rôtisseurs "Young Sommelier" Competition
Southeast Regional winner of 2012 "Top New Somm" competition with the Guild of Sommeliers
Passed two levels of the Master Sommelier test
Southwest finalist at 2011 Chaîne des Rôtisseurs "Young Sommelier" Competition
Southeast Regional winner of 2012 "Top New Somm" competition with the Guild of Sommeliers
David Glancy, MS, CWE, FWS, San Francisco Wine School, San Francisco, California
Also runs SFSommelier Consulting
Echanson Provincial PNW for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs
Also runs SFSommelier Consulting
Echanson Provincial PNW for the Chaîne des Rôtisseurs
Jason Heller, MS, Dana Estates, Rutherford, Napa Valley, California
Named "Best New Sommelier" by Wine & Spirits magazine (2009)
First place at 2010 TOP|SOMM "Young Sommelier" Competition
Named "Best New Sommelier" by Wine & Spirits magazine (2009)
First place at 2010 TOP|SOMM "Young Sommelier" Competition
Rachael Lowe, Naha, Chicago, Illinois
Master Sommelier candidate
Master Sommelier candidate
Sur Lucero, MS, Jackson Family Wines, Napa, California
Listed as one of the "Best New Sommeliers" by Wine & Spirits magazine (2011)
2012 Krug Cup recipient of the Court of Master Sommeliers
Listed as one of the "Best New Sommeliers" by Wine & Spirits magazine (2011)
2012 Krug Cup recipient of the Court of Master Sommeliers
Christopher Miller, MS, Harlan family of wineries, Napa Valley, California
Listed as one of the "Best New Sommeliers" by Wine & Spirits magazine (2008)
"Best Young Sommelier in the World," International Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Competition, Vienna
"Rising Star Sommelier for Los Angeles" StarChef (2010)
"Best Sommelier in Los Angeles" LA Weekly (2012)
Listed as one of the "Best New Sommeliers" by Wine & Spirits magazine (2008)
"Best Young Sommelier in the World," International Chaîne des Rôtisseurs Competition, Vienna
"Rising Star Sommelier for Los Angeles" StarChef (2010)
"Best Sommelier in Los Angeles" LA Weekly (2012)
Kathryn Morgan, MS, instructor at Capital Wine School, International Culinary Center, Washington, D.C.
19th woman in the world to earn a Master Sommelier certification
Named "Best sommelier in Washington" by Washington City Paper (2010)
Responsible for 2941 Restaurant's "Best Wine and Beverage Program" award by Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (2010)
19th woman in the world to earn a Master Sommelier certification
Named "Best sommelier in Washington" by Washington City Paper (2010)
Responsible for 2941 Restaurant's "Best Wine and Beverage Program" award by Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (2010)
Luis Reyneri, Domaine Serene Winery, Dayton, Oregon; Hobe Sound, Florida
Certified Wine Educator, Society of Wine Educators
Advanced Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers
Certified Wine Educator, Society of Wine Educators
Advanced Sommelier, Court of Master Sommeliers
Larry Stone, MS, Huneeus Vintners, San Francisco, California
First American to win the Grand Prix de Sopexa for Best International Sommelier in French Wines
Awards: Michelin Star, the Ivy Award from Restaurants and Institutions, Silver Spoon from Food and Wine, James Beard Foundation Who's Who, James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine Service Award, Wine Spectator Grand Award for 12 years
First American to win the Grand Prix de Sopexa for Best International Sommelier in French Wines
Awards: Michelin Star, the Ivy Award from Restaurants and Institutions, Silver Spoon from Food and Wine, James Beard Foundation Who's Who, James Beard Foundation Outstanding Wine Service Award, Wine Spectator Grand Award for 12 years
ABOUT BRUCE: First introduced to the hospitality industry as a teenager in a summer job, Bruce worked in restaurants and hotels through high school and college before locating to Sausalito, California. The move led to increasing ties in the then developing Napa and Sonoma wine scene. In the 1980′s, as Director of Restaurants for Sheraton Hotels, Bruce held the position of Wine Buyer, conducting wine education programs, hosting vintners, and winemakers, and working with syndicated wine writers. Expanded roles opening new food and beverage operations for major hotel chains across the country is when Bruce first launched “A Nichols Worth of Wine,” his eponymous wine publication dedicated to making wine educational and entertaining for the novice and connoisseur alike. Over the next two decades, he managed the corporate food service program for a global financial company while consulting to independent restaurants and developing and conducting wine education classes. Fast forward to late 2004, Bruce retired to beautiful Naples, Florida. In 2006, Naples Wine News was born and “A Nichols Worth of Wine“, was introduced to Naples and surrounding community wine enthusiasts. An internet-based, on-line publication accessed at www.anicholsworthofwine.com, each issue offers readers news, views, and reviews of wine, food and travel. For the past six years, Bruce has been the Wine Consultant to the Naples Winter Wine Festival, the largest charity wine auction in the world. Since its inception in 2001, the Festival has raised more than $100 million for the under-served children of the greater Naples area. Bruce also is the Grand Echanson des Etats-Unis of the Chaine des Rotisseurs and Societe Mondiale du Vin USA. The Chaine is the oldest and largest international food and wine organization in the world. Bruce’s wine consulting firm, Naples Wine Solutions, provides professional wine cellar management, wine brokering for buyers and sellers, sommelier services, wine education and wine event planning.