CONTACT: Rebecca Robinson
The
Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
512-327-7555
or 512-350-4621
robinson@winefoodfoundation.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mark Sayre nabs 2007 Texas Best Sommelier
title
Austin, Texas (August 20, 2007) – The
Wine & Food Foundation of Texas along with The Texas Sommelier
Association are pleased to announce Mark Sayre of Austin as Texas’ Best
Sommelier for 2007. Sayre is a recent hire of the Four Seasons
Hotel in Austin and a part of a year-round study group made up
of last year’s winners. The announcement was made this
evening at the Grand Tasting sponsored by Whole Foods Market
at the third annual Texas Sommelier Conference. The conference
was held at the Four Seasons in Austin Sunday and Monday, August
19th & 20th. The conference was co-presented by The Wine & Food
Foundation of Texas and the Texas Sommelier Association.
The
Texas’ Best Sommelier award was presented
at the Grand Tasting event which brought the two-day event
to a close. The statewide competition was determined through
a rigorous three-part examination (tasting, service and theory)
and was limited to 25 Texas candidates. Finalists were evaluated
by a panel of nationally recognized Master Sommeliers.
As
winner, Sayre receives the coveted title of ‘Texas’ Best
Sommelier’ and an award package that includes a scholarship
of $2,000.00 from three major wine certifying bodies including
The Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation, the International
Wine Center and the Society of Wine Educators, in addition to
airfare donated by American Airlines. Last year Austin also swept
the competition with Devon Broglie of Whole Foods Market winning
the title and two other Austinites, Scott Cameron and Craig Collins,
snagging the runners-up.
First
runner-up is Laura Atkinson from San Antonio with Horizon Wines.
Christopher Bates of Brenham with The Inn at Dos Brisas made
second runner-up and coming in as third runner-up is D’Lynn
Proctor from Wine’tastic! in Dallas.
Runners-up receive $1,000.00 each from The Guild of Sommeliers
Education Foundation to be used for any Court of Master Sommelier
Course. Overall there were 22 competitors vying for the title
from throughout the state.
Born and raised in Houston, Sayre moved to Austin and began
working for Westwood Country Club. He started his career there
as a waiter and his hard work and passion for wine propelled
him to the position of running the food and wine program four
years later. He stayed there three years until three months ago
when he made the transition to the Four Seasons Hotel in Austin.
“I want to express my deep gratitude to everyone involved
in putting this conference together. The dedication and hard
work that was put into this amazing weekend is truly a testament
to how serious and dedicated Texas is to becoming a major player
in the world of wine,” Sayre stated. “It’s
an honor to part of that. I’m excited to see the industry
grow and progress here.” Sayre then expressed his thanks
to The Court of Master Sommeliers, the Texas Sommelier Association
and the Wine & Food Foundation of Texas.
The
conference featured some of the country’s leading
wine industry figures. Speakers included the most prestigious
levels of wine educators -- Master Sommeliers (MS), Masters of
Wine (MW), and Certified Wine Educators (CWE). Included in the
who’s who of wine professionals were:
- Guy Stout, MS, CWE, Texas only Master Sommelier and one of
the original founders of the Texas Sommelier Association and
the conference
- Fred Dame MS, President of the Guild of Sommeliers Education
Foundation;
- Greg Harrington, MS (the youngest American to pass the Master
Sommelier exam at 26);
- Tim Gaiser, MS;
- Paul Roberts, MS, the first Master Sommelier from Texas and
sixth person in history to receive the prestigious Krug Cup
for having passed all sections on the first attempt;
- Sally Mohr, MS;
- Larry
O’Brien, MS;
- Keith Goldston, MS;
- Matt Citriglia, MS;
- Robin
Kelley O’Conner, CWE;
- Darius Allyn, MS;
- Brian Cronin, MS;
- Reggie Narito, MS;
- Brett Zimmerman, MS;
- Wayne Belding, MS;
- Joe Spellman, MS;
- Charles Curtis, MW; and
James Tidwell, Sommelier at the Four Seasons Resort and Club
in Las Colinas, and Drew Hendricks, Sommelier with the Charlie
Palmer Group in Dallas, along with Guy Stout, MS, CWE are co-founders
of the Conference, board members of the Texas Sommelier Association
and spearheaded the competition.
A full schedule, seminar descriptions and speaker biographies
may be viewed at www.texsom.com.
The
TexSom Conference is made possible by the generous support
of many generous sponsors. Platinum level sponsors include
the Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Austin, Dallas and Houston,
American Airlines, Republic National Beverage Company, Glazers
Distributing and Turn Key Events. Gold
level sponsors feature the Fosters Group, Aqua Panna and San
Pelligrino and Silver level sponsors include The Salt Lick
Barbeque, Avante Beverages, Vine Connections, Veritas, Old
Bridge Cellars, Il Paese, Banfi Vintners and Ste. Michelle
Wine Estates. The Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation
is an annual sponsor providing scholarships to Court of Master
Sommelier for continuing education.
About
the Conference Presenters & Host:
The
Wine & Food Foundation of Texas -
The Wine & Food Foundation of Texas is a public charity dedicated
to recognizing and developing creativity, professionalism and
state-of-the-science research in all areas of the culinary and
viticulture arts. Created in 1997, the Foundation provides
grants, scholarships and fellowships to outstanding individuals
and other entities that achieve excellence in these areas www.winefoodfoundation.org.
The Texas Sommelier Association – The
Texas Sommelier Association is a trade association comprised
of Texas wine professionals. The Association promotes professional
wine service standards, outlines paths for further wine education
and certification, and raises public awareness about the professional
standards and certifications for sommeliers. The organization
sponsors the “Texas’ Best Sommelier” competition
with the winner being awarded scholarships for professional certification
courses. www.texsom.com
Four Seasons Hotel Austin – On
the green banks of Lady Bird Lake, Four Seasons creates garden
tranquility near the Convention Center and the renowned entertainment
district. Enjoy legendary hospitality, Texas-inspired dining,
lakeside fitness, spacious quarters and Hill Country style. http://www.fourseasons.com/austin/
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