CONTACT: Rebecca Robinson
The
Wine & Food Foundation of Texas
512-327-7555
or 512-350-4621
robinson@winefoodfoundation.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Third
Annual Texas Sommelier Conference
brings world class education
to Austin
Austin, Texas (July 31, 2007) – The third
annual Texas Sommelier Conference lands in Austin for the first
time on Sunday and Monday, August 19th and 20th. Co-presented
by the Texas Sommelier Association and The Wine & Food Foundation
of Texas, the conference will be hosted at the Four Seasons Hotel,
Austin a conference sponsor. Featuring an extraordinary gathering
of wine industry superstars, this prestigious two-day event will
include educational sessions for the general public as well as
wine professionals. Leading conference sponsors include Four
Seasons Hotels and Resorts in Austin, Houston and Dallas, Whole
Foods Market and American Airlines.
Most
remarkable is the rare assembly of some of the country’s
foremost wine experts which include 18 Masters Sommeliers (MS),
one of the highest and most difficult levels of wine education.
Included in that lineup is Texas’ only Master Sommelier,
Guy Stout.
Sunday the 19th is designed for the general public and includes
a tasting of eight fine wines per session. Classes are a true
bargain at $35 each or $100 for the entire day. A variety of
topics are featured including:
- Wines from the region of Alsace, taught
by Alpana Singh, MS
- United States of Wine, taught by Guy Stout
MS and Keith Goldston, MS
- Rhône
Valley, fromCôtes-du-Rhône
to majestic Hermitage, taught by Rebecca
Chapa, DWS
- Western
Australia, taught by Brett
Zimmerman MS and Darius Allyn MS and,
- Dessert
Wines, taught by Charles
Curtis MW and Robin Kelley O’Connor CWE
The
Wine & Food Foundation of Texas is sponsoring
the public portion of the conference. The Texas Sommelier Association
will be presenting the professional sessions on Monday, August
20th, which are reserved for industry professionals and media
representatives. These sessions are free of charge but reservations
must be made as seating is limited.
Monday evening all are invited to a community-wide Grand Tasting
at 7:00 p.m. held in the Four Seasons ballroom. This will be
a dazzling showcase of fine wines, paired with an array of delectable
appetizers created by Four Seasons Executive Chef Elmar Prambs.
Tickets are available at $75 per person.
In addition to outstanding wine and food pairings, guests will
convene for the announcement of Texas’ Best Sommelier
for 2007. Determined through a three-part competition
(exams in tasting, service and theory), this specialized portion
of the conference is limited to no more than 25 Texas candidates.
Finalists will be evaluated by a panel of nationally recognized
Master Sommeliers.
The
winner receives the title of ‘Texas Best Sommelier’ and
an award package that includes scholarships from three major
wine certifying bodies including The Guild of Sommerliers Education
Foundation, the International Wine Center and the Society of
Wine Educators, in addition to airfare donated by American Airlines.
Last year Austin 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.
Guy
Stout, MS, CWE, one of the original founders of the conference,
believes the sessions to be an incredible opportunity for wine
professionals and beginning enthusiasts alike. “This
gathering of wine industry leaders is a huge accomplishment
for Texas. We have never seen this large a group of top wine
professionals in our history. Part of the thrill of this conference
is the close personal contact and sharing of knowledge. It
is an incredible opportunity no matter what your experience
level. Each vintage brings change and we never stop learning.”
Other conference speakers and participants in the heavyweight
lineup include:
- 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
- Guy
Stout, MS, CWE, Texas’ only Master Sommelier and
also a founding father of the Texas Sommelier Conference.
James
Tidwell, Sommelier at the Four Seasons Resort and Club in Las
Colinas, and Drew Hendricks, Sommelier with the Charlie Palmer
Group in Dallas, are co-founders of the Conference, board members
of the Texas Sommelier Association and spearhead the competition. “The competition is an exciting way to challenge
the sommeliers of Texas and further their studies. It is a very
rigorous challenge and an honor to pass. We know without a doubt
that this competition raises the bar for sommeliers throughout
the state,” said Drew.
“We especially encourage the community to rally around
our Texas sommeliers and enjoy this spectacular tasting on Monday
evening,” Tidwell added. “The combination of world-renowned
experts along with all levels of expertise and knowledge is a
rare and wonderful thing. It brings the entire Texas wine community
together and ultimately, makes us stronger.”
A full schedule, seminar descriptions and speaker biographies
may be viewed at www.texsom.com.
Tickets are available for the conference and the grand tasting
at www.texsom.com, or by
calling the Foundation at (512) 327-7555. Package rates and discounts
for Foundation/Sommelier Association members are available.
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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