Jake Lewis of Momofuku in Toronto Takes Home the Rudd Scholarship

Napa CA —Three days of intense examination culminated with eighteen new names being added to the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas list of individuals who have passed the Advanced Sommelier Exam.

Two women and sixteen men passed the exam, which was held April 7-9 at the Hotel Monaco in Portland, OR. 66 candidates from 14 states and Canada sat for the exam, which is the third in a series of four increasingly challenging tests of knowledge and skill offered by the Court. At this level, candidates with a superior understanding of wine theory and beverage service, as well as a highly sophisticated tasting ability, are distinguished from the thousands of wine service professionals who attempt the Court’s exams on a yearly basis.

Of the eighteen passers, one rose to the top as the exam’s highest scorer: Jake Lewis of Momofuku in Toronto, Ontario earned the Rudd Scholarship, which is offered by the Guild of Sommeliers, providing $5,000 in funds toward the coursework needed to prepare for the Masters Exam and an invitation to attend the prestigious Rudd Masters Roundtable in Napa Valley, California.

By the time candidates reach the Advanced Examination, most have already invested years of study, in addition to significant time working in and around the beverage industry. From here, many will set their sights on the Court’s Master Sommelier Diploma Exam, which just 220 individuals worldwide have ever managed to pass.

“We are pleased and honored to welcome these eighteen exceptional professionals to the level of Advanced Sommelier,” said Andy McNamara, Chairman of the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. “It is a fantastic accomplishment, and they should all be extremely proud of their achievements.”

The complete list of candidates who passed the Advanced Exam in Portland follows:
• Nicholas Barb, The Little Nell Hotel (Aspen, CO )
• Daniel Beedle, Juni Restaurant (New York, NY)
• Ashley Broshious, Brix Restaurant and Gardens (Napa, CA)
• Nick Davis, Canlis (Seattle, WA)
• Kelvin DeBoer, Sidney Frank Importing Co. (Seattle, WA)
• James Deleon, Kroger Company (Houston, TX)
• Christopher Dooley, L’Espalier (Somerville, MA)
• Michael Freeman, Vintner Select (Dayton, OH)
• Brent Jones, Grill 23 (Boston, MA)
• Brandon Kerne, Bar Italia Ristorante (Saint Louis, MO)
• Jake Lewis, Momofuku (Toronto, Ontario)
• Daniel Miller, Del Frisco’s (Fort Worth, TX)
• Anthony Minne, Plum Market (Chicago, IL)
• Nathaniel Munoz, Aubergine at L’Auberge (Carmel-by-the-Sea, CA)
• Paul Ozbirn, Parkside Projects (Austin, TX)
• Steven Robinson, Atelier Restaurant (Ottawa, Ontario)
• Jennifer Schmitt, Everest (Chicago, IL)
• Carl Villeneuve Lepage, Restaurant Toqué! (Montreal, Québec)

ABOUT THE COURT OF MASTER SOMMELIERS
The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in England in 1977 to encourage improved standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants. The first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam to be held in the United States was in 1987. The title Master Sommelier marks the highest recognition of wine and spirits knowledge, beverage service abilities, and professionalism in the hospitality trade. Education was then, and remains today, the Court’s charter. There are four stages involved in attaining the top qualifications of Master Sommelier: 1) Introductory Sommelier Course; 2) Certified Sommelier Exam; 3) Advanced Sommelier Course; and 4) Master Sommelier Diploma. There are 140 professionals who have earned the title of Master Sommelier as part of the Americas chapter since the organization’s inception. Of those, 119 are men and 21 are women. There are 220 professionals worldwide who have received the title of Master Sommelier since the first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. For more information, please visit www.mastersommeliers.org.