Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/615498
116 { THE SOMM JOURNAL } DECEMBER/JANUARY 2015/2016 { somms in the news } PRESTIGE CATEGORY 1st Prize Philip Dunn – Spago Beverly Hills 2nd Prize Justin Prairie – Capo, Santa Monica Honors Silvestre Fernandez – Patina, Los Angeles Matthew Luczy – Mélisse, Santa Monica EXCELLENCE CATEGORY 1st Prize Taylor Parsons – République Los Angeles Honors Andrew Adelson – Bouchon Beverly Hills THE NAPLES WINTER WINE FESTIVAL ANNOUNCED THAT 17 Master Sommeliers will participate in the 2016 event, January 29–31, 2016 in Naples, Florida—the largest contingent of Master Sommeliers to attend any single Naples Winter Wine Festival. Their many distinctions include win- ners of the Top|Somm Championships, Grand Prix de Sopexa, and Chaîne des Rôtisseurs award for Best Young Sommelier. Several attendees passed all three sections of the Master Sommelier exam on the first attempt, receiving the prestigious Krug Cup. Gillian Ballance of Treasury Wine Estates in Sonoma, CA Bob Bath of The Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in St. Helena, CA Robert Bigelow of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates in Woodinville, WA Brahm Callahan of Grill 23 & Bar in Boston, MA Ian Cauble of SommSelect in Napa, CA Michael Engelmann of The Modern NYC in New York, NY Desi Echavarrie of Realm Cellars in St. Helena, CA Jason Heller of Dana Estates in Rutherford, CA Elyse Lambert, Wine Consultant in Montreal, Canada Joseph Linder of The Fairmont Olympic Hotel in Seattle, WA Sur Lucero of Jackson Family Wine Estates in Napa, CA Michael Meagher of Jackson Family Wine Estates in Groton, MA Christopher Miller, Wine Consultant in Los Angeles, CA Kathy Morgan of Range by Bryan Voltaggio in Washington, D.C. Jarad Slipp of RdV Vineyards in Delaplane, VA Larry Stone of Flowers, Lingua Franca and Quintessa in Napa, CA Laura Williamson of Mandarin Oriental New York in New York, NY Master Somms Descend on Naples, FL Bob Bath. Larry Stone. Gillian Ballance. Michael Meagher. Christopher Miller. Laura Williamson. Ian Cauble. Sur Lucero. Le Prix Montrachet Winners Announced Prix Le Montrachet has announced that Philip Dunn, Wine Director of Spago Beverly Hills, is its 2015 annual award winner for outstanding sommelier and wine selection in the Prestige Category, and Taylor Parsons of République in Los Angeles is the winner in the Excellence category. Justin Prairie of Capo in Santa Monica, CA was a close second in the Prestige Category. The awards ceremony took place in Los Angeles at Spago Beverly Hills on November 29 to honor the winners. A dozen Burgundy winemakers attended the event. Created by Hôtel Restaurant Le Montrachet in Puligny Montrachet, the Prix Le Montrachet is awarded to a sommelier who is working in an establishment outside of France. Each year the award focuses on a different region. In years past, the Prix Le Montrachet has been awarded to top sommeliers in Switzerland, Belgium, London, Moscow and Italy. Each year, a winner and honorees are designated by a distinguished jury comprising of wine and restaurant elites. Candidates are evaluated for their knowledge of Burgundy wines and for the quality of the curated wine list at his or her establishment. The winner receives a trophy as a mark of his or her victory; addi- tionally, the winner and the best candidates receive a case of selected crus from Côtes de Beaune handed personally by the vignerons who will come especially from Burgundy for the event, and an invitation to stay at Hôtel Le Montrachet. Philip Dunn. Taylor Parsons.