Food & Wine has announced its 2015 Sommeliers of the Year. The list of seven somms from across the US includes:
Thomas Pastuszak of The Nomad in New York City, who was selected for his “same amount of respect and enthusiasm” for wines of different times and regions; Dana Frank of Ava Gene’s in Portland, Oregon chosen for her commitment to Italian wines, especially her list of natural and organic wines; Molly Wismeier of Restaurant R’evolution in New Orleans, lauded by Food & Wine as “an exceptional talent scout” who keeps her cellar stocked with impressive old vintages from popular and lesser-known talents alike; Richard Hanauer from Rpm Steak in Chicago owing to his ability to raise the bar and modernize a steakhouse wine list—”allowing guests to drink decades-old California Cabs and older-vintage Bordeaux for less than $100 a bottle.”
Steve Wildy of the Vetri Family Restaurants in Philadelphia was included for his ability to curate both Italian wine and top notch beer lists. Taylor Parsons of République in Los Angeles was singled out for his ability to create a new wine list every day to match the restaurant’s rotating menu. Finally, Vilma Mazaite of LaV in Austin, Texas was chosen for her mastery of Burgundy while having the ability to “to introduce customers to obscure grapes like Fendant.”
To learn more, Food & Wine will feature each winner along with some of their favorite bottles, places to drink and more all week long. [Food & Wine][Photo: Flickr/Ken Hawkins]