Michael Bonaccorsi, MS (1960–2004)
The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas remembers Michael Bonaccorsi, Master Sommelier, sommelier, and winemaker, who passed away unexpectedly in January 2004 at the age of 43.
Born in Chicago, Michael earned a degree in business from the University of Illinois and developed an interest in wine while working in restaurants during college. He later moved to California, becoming sommelier at Masa’s in San Francisco before joining Wolfgang Puck’s Spago in Beverly Hills.
Michael became the twentieth American to earn the Master Sommelier Diploma. During a decade at Spago, he managed the restaurant’s wine cellar and oversaw wine service, while also consulting and providing staff training for other Wolfgang Puck restaurants.
His career eventually expanded from wine service to winemaking. In 1999, Michael and his wife, Jenne Lee Bonaccorsi, founded Bonaccorsi Wine Company, focusing on Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, and Syrah from California’s Central Coast. His wines earned significant recognition and were served in leading restaurants across the country.
Following his death, family and friends established scholarships in his memory to support students pursuing viticulture and enology, including an endowed scholarship at the University of California, Davis. Bonaccorsi Wine Company has also continued under the leadership of his family.
Michael’s career reflected a commitment to both the craft of wine service and the pursuit of winemaking. The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas recognizes his contributions to the sommelier profession and the broader wine community.
