The 9th Annual W&S Sommelier Poll

The finalists for our 9th annual W&S Sommelier Poll were nominated by their peers in a survey sent to more than 4,000 members of the wine trade. Those surveyed included wine directors at some of the top restaurants in the US; affiliates of the Court of Master Sommeliers (Advanced Candidates, Master's Candidates and Master Sommeliers); and sommeliers who participate in W&S wine tasting panels. By our press deadline, 195 sommeliers had responded with nominations of up to three people they held to be among the best new sommeliers in America. Only those nominees with fewer than four years in a primary sommelier position were eligible. The winners from the previous eight W&S Sommelier Polls are listed below, with the name of the restaurant they were working at when they earned the title.


2010 winners

Allegra Angelo | Michy's, Miami, FL
Kelly Ford | Delmonico Steakhouse, Las Vegas, NV
Garth Hodgdon | Bouchon, Yountville, CA
Dennis Kelly | The French Laundry, Yountville, CA
Matt Mather | Frasca Food & Wine, Boulder, CO
Eric Railsback | RN74, San Francisco, CA
Mark Sayre | Trio at the Four Seasons, Austin, TX


2009 winners

Michael Engelmann | Restaurant Gary Danko, San Francisco, CA
Jason Heller | Redd, Yountville, CA
Jonathan Honefenger | Tony's, Houston, TX
Dustin Wilson | Montagna at The Little Nell, Aspen, CO
Lindsey Whipple | Cut, Las Vegas, NV


2008 winners

Ian Cauble | Fleur de Lys, Las Vegas, NV
Douglas Marello | L20, Chicago, IL
Andrew McNamara, MS | L'Escalier at the Breakers, Palm Beach, FL
Chris Miller | Spago, Los Angeles, CA
D'Lynn Proctor | Wine'tastic!, Dallas, TX


2007 winners

Fernando Beteta | NoMI at the Park Hyatt, Chicago, IL
Derek M. Brown | Komi Restaurant, Washington, DC
Henry Davar | B&B Ristorante & Enoteca San Marco, Las Vegas, NV
Jesse Rodriguez | The Addison at the Grand Del Mar, San Diego, CA
Hristo Zisovski | Jean-Georges, New York, NY