Guy is one of only 280 Master Sommelier (MS) in the world. He is also a Certified Wine Educator (CWE), Certified Spirits Specialist (CSS), Certified Burgundy Wine Educator from the BIVB and the Bordeaux Ecole d’ Bordeaux. He has served as a board member & past President of the Society of Wine Educators and is a member of the American Society for Enology and Viticulture. Guy has also served on the Board of Directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers and has been recognized as a Houston Icon for his contribution to the Wine and Food Industry of Texas. He is a graduate of the University of Houston Hilton School for Hotel Restaurant Management. A true Foodie.
He has spent the last 30 years working in the distribution industry as Corporate Director of Beverage Education as well as with Corporate On Premise National Account. Then as Director of Wine Education Texas for Southern Glazer’s Wine & Spirits, teaching Wine and Spirits Educational Trust, Master Sommelier Introduction Level and Society of Wine Educator’s Certified Specialist of Wine certifications.
Guy is the “Wine Guy” for Stoutwines.com , a family owned Napa Valley
Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc producer, partnering with legendary
Napa winemaker Tom Rinaldi, Zoom wine and food moderator plus Virtual wine educator. He is a member of the Houston Food and Beverage Managers Association and founder of the Houston Caesar Salad Competition for Charity and active spokesman for the adult beverage industry.
Where are you working currently and how has being a MS supported you in your current role?
I am currently the salesman for Stout Family Wine based in Houston and selling wines from our facility in Napa Valley. I also consult for restaurants and teach wine classes and wine service training.
Where were you working when you passed?
When I passed the MS I was working as a corporate wine educator for Glazer’s Distributors, without whose support, I would not have been able to pursue the program.
What made you want to become an MS & what advice do you give those who are pursuing certification?
Being a sommelier on the floor, wine rep, educator and eventual vineyard owner, I wanted to see if I could pass the Master Sommelier exam. I had originally started with the Masters of Wine exam and the essay portion was daunting. I’m not a great writer, so was helped by Doug Frost, he passed, I didn’t, to take the Master Sommelier exam. I just wanted to see how I stood up to the challenge of being a wine expert and had no other aspirations, other than wanting to be the best in my field.
Amazing how smart I became among my colleagues after I passed the exam.
What advice do you give those who are pursuing certification?
My advice to anyone wanting to better understand the world of wine is to travel and experience the areas where grapes are grown and visit with those people growing the vines and making the wines.
What is your desert island wine, or what wines/beverages are you currently excited about?”
My favorite wine is the wine in my glass. Each day brings a new meal and different flavors and textures to match your taste. I always like to start with Champagne, Franciacorta or a nice Crémant … Cheers.
