Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis is a consumer-friendly global wine expert known for her down to earth, approachable style. She navigates as comfortably amongst C-Suite, celebrity & private collectors as she does with young newbie wine drinkers.
She recently worked with data-driven wine discovery and production platform Bright Cellars to help bring the business into profitability then merger. She reported both to COO and CMO, fulfilling dual roles of wine acquisition and wine content and education creation and delivery.
Catherine is the founder of Planet Grape® LLC, a wine consulting firm and female-led wine review platform. She created her alter-ego, grape goddess®, to help bring wine down to earth for consumers as well as those entering the wine industry. Her latest book is Ten Grapes to Know, the Ten and Done Wine Guide. Catherine is a frequent speaker, event host, educator, and consultant for corporations, consumers and the wine trade, and is a founding member of Club dVIN, the world’s premier global wine community.
Where were you working when you passed?
I was a San Francisco Beverage Director when I passed. I wanted to become an MS because I knew it would force me to study and learn. It is hard to explain the feeling of standing in front of a panel of Master Sommeliers verbally answering difficult theory questions, serving them tableside and identifying a flight of blind wines. Failure and embarrassment stings. I had already learned to be persistent, to keep trying, and not to give up. To me, “NO PASS” was like a challenge. These skills are the reason I finally passed. I love delicious wines from all over the world, but tend towards Italian, Greek and French wines. I am also told I am the only MS to openly love the “no drama” Pinot Grigio!
