CMS-A Listening Session - Amplifying Female Voices

To our community –

The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas will embark on the new year ahead with a series of virtual listening sessions with our candidates and community at large.

We recognize that we have not only an opportunity, but an obligation to our community to be better listeners and incorporate the feedback of more diverse voices and perspectives than we have in the past. We know that past actions of the Court eroded the trust previously placed in us. We would like to begin the process to mend and rebuild a positive relationship by hearing your perspectives through this series of listening sessions. Each listening session, hosted by a different group of Master Sommeliers, will be geared towards a different group, topic, or area we have previously come up short in. This will allow those impacted to share their thoughts and ideas on how we can better work together moving forward. These sessions are open to anyone who wants to register, and attendees are encouraged to submit questions directly to the panel. In addition, we will be inviting several attendees to ask questions live onscreen during the second half of the session. 

Our first Listening Session will take place on January 19th, 2021 from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM Pacific Time and will focus on Amplifying Female Voices. This session will be a conversation with Master Sommeliers Emily Wines, Kathy Morgan, Mia Van de Water, Madeline Triffon and moderator Melissa Monosoff. You will have an opportunity to ask questions directly to the panel and hear any relevant updates in real time. If you would like to attend this first Listening Session, you can register in advance for the Zoom meeting via this LINK.   Dial-In information will be provided to those registered the morning of Tuesday, January 19th. 

With our new Board of Directors in place, these listening sessions will help us chart our path forward as we continue to evolve as an organization. 

We hope that you will join in the conversation. We are grateful to all that have and continue to share perspectives that will help shape the future of our organization and industry.

CMS-A Announces New Board of Directors

Napa, CA – December 2, 2020 - The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas announces eleven elected Member Directors for its Board of Directors. All humbly accept the task ahead of them to shoulder the responsibilities of the organization’s past while looking forward to what CMS-A can become through hard work, accountability, and active listening. These members were chosen by their fellow Master Sommeliers and took office as of 6 pm Pacific time today:

• Christopher Bates, MS
• Robert Bigelow, MS
• Brahm Callahan, MS
• Keith Goldston, MS
• Michael Meagher, MS
• Kathryn Morgan, MS
• Joshua Nadel, MS
• Sabato Sagaria, MS
• Mia Van de Water, MS
• Emily Wines, MS
• David Yoshida, MS

This new Board of Directors understands that this is a pivotal point in the organization’s history. The beverage and hospitality community’s passionate engagement over the past few weeks has been necessary for confronting the truth of the CMS-A’s identity, and it also brings forth great optimism for what the organization can now become.

The CMS-A Board welcomes its membership’s and larger community’s ideas, tough conversations, and willingness to hold the organization accountable as it fundamentally transforms for the better.