The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas will return to Sonoma County this March with the Women’s Sommelier Symposium, following the program’s successful debut in the region in 2025. Designed to help accelerate careers and strengthen professional networks, the symposium brings together advanced education, mentorship, and community-building to support women leaders across the wine and hospitality industries.
More than 200 women applied to participate in this year’s symposium, the fourth annual event since it launched in 2023. Finalists were first reviewed by the CMS-A Access and Community Engagement Committee, with the final cohort selected by a group of female Master Sommeliers who have previously participated in the Symposium. This selection process reflects CMS-A’s continued commitment to fairness, inclusivity, and community-driven mentorship.
This year’s cohort will engage in immersive tastings, skill-building workshops, and candid leadership discussions led by an accomplished lineup of women Master Sommeliers and local leaders.
2026 Women’s Sommelier Symposium participants:
- Alba Arrona — Ciudad de México, MX
- Nato Bajelidze — South Glens Falls, NY
- Kaleigh Brook — Walla Wall, WA
- Kristin Galvin — Cleveland, OH
- Fabiola Hashem — Honolulu, HI
- Beibei Hou — Toronto, ON
- Marissa Kipp — Vancouver, WA
- Eun Hee Kwon — New York, NY
- Madison Michael — San Francisco, CA
- Bo Young Northcutt — Stateline, NV
- Coral Peña — San Juan, PR
Guiding the Symposium are female Master Sommeliers Gillian Ballance MS; Julie Dalton MS; Rebecca Fineman MS; Jennifer Huether MS; and Emily Wines MS, founder of the Women’s
Sommelier Symposium, along with Julie Cohen Theobald, CMS-A’s Executive Director.
“We’re thrilled to return to Sonoma County with a powerhouse lineup of mentors and an extraordinary group of participants,” said Julie Cohen Theobald, Executive Director, Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas. “The Symposium builds momentum—expanding knowledge, strengthening networks, and opening doors.”
“The energy in this community is electric,” added Emily Wines, MS. “Returning to Sonoma County allows us to deepen the experience with more connection, more access, and more opportunities for these talented professionals to thrive.”
CMS-A gratefully acknowledges the generous support of Sonoma County Winegrowers, Foley Family Winery, Jackson Family Wines, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurants, Drop of Sunshine Wines, Frank Family Vineyards, Etude Winery, and Laurent-Perrier.
Follow the journey on Instagram at @mastersommeliers_americas.
