Angelo Tavernaro, MS (1938–2025)
The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas remembers Angelo Tavernaro, Master Sommelier, longtime wine professional, and educator, who passed away on June 30, 2025, at the age of 87.
Born in Italy, Angelo began his hospitality career in Europe before moving to the United States in the early 1970s. He spent much of his career in Las Vegas, where he held prominent wine and hospitality roles, including directing the wine program at Caesars Palace and helping open the wine cellar at the Rio.
Angelo earned the Master Sommelier title in 1993 and was among a small group of candidates to pass all three portions of the examination on his first attempt. He became the first Master Sommelier in Las Vegas and was part of an early generation of Master Sommeliers who helped establish the profession in the United States.
In 2005, Angelo moved to Washington State, where he continued his work as a wine educator through the Academy of Wine and Services and became an advocate for the wines and vineyards of Washington. Throughout his career, he shared his extensive knowledge with hospitality professionals, students, and wine enthusiasts.
He was also the author of Wine: My Life, My Passion, My Perceptions, which drew upon his decades of experience studying, teaching, and working with wine.
Angelo’s career spanned more than five decades and reflected a lifelong commitment to wine, hospitality, education, and service.
