Andrew McNamara, MS

Andy is a partner and President of ACE Wine and Spirits, LLC., a full-service beverage alcohol importer and distributor, focusing on family-owned producers and customers. Andy utilizes his 20+ years of experience in multiple facets of the beverage alcohol industry to provide exceptional hospitality and service to producers, suppliers and customers. Andy, along with his partners, have created two fine wine brands – CAGE and Ghost Somm. Andy is also on the blending team for Hemingway Rum Company/ Papas Pilar.

Prior to helping found ACE, Andy spent eleven years as the Vice President of Wine Development and Master Sommelier for Breakthru Beverage Group. He ran the Fine Wine Team and Augustan Wine Imports in Florida. In addition to running the sales team and importer, Andy’s main responsibilities were to search the world for great suppliers to add to the portfolio and provide exceptional beverage training to key accounts.

Andy was a member of the sommelier team at the Breakers in Palm Beach, Florida. While at the Breakers, Andy passed the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Sommelier Examination in 2005. Following this achievement, Andy competed in the finals of the Chain de Rotisseuers Best Young Sommelier in America competition in the summer of 2006. Following this, Andy passed the Master Sommelier Diploma Examination in March of 2007, where he became the 10th person to win the Krug Cup – awarded to the individual who passes the Master Sommelier Exam on the first attempt with the highest score.

He was named one of the “Best New Sommeliers of 2008” by Wine and Spirits, and has been a featured presenter at TEXSOM, Palm Beach Wine and Food Festival, Kapalua Wine and Food Festival, Charlotte Wine and Food Festival, the Walt Disney Food and Wine Festival and numerous others. Andy is known for bringing an engaging and lively style to his presentations.

Andy served as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas from 2015 through 2017. Andrew previously served as Chair of the Education Committee for the Court. He also served as Vice-Chair of the Board of Directors for GuildSomm International from 2019-2023, after serving as a Board Member from 2011-2013.

McNamara got his start in the wine business at Arthur’s Wine Shop in Charlotte, North Carolina.

He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mathematics from Davidson College in Davidson, NC.