Kathryn Morgan is the Director of Wine Education for Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits – East Region. Based in New York City, she designs wine seminars, oversees nationally recognized wine certification programs, and creates light-bulb moments for SGWS employees in New York, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania. She is known for her effective and engaging teaching style, dynamic PowerPoint slides, and the use of unexpected pop-culture references.
Before moving to New York in 2016, she began her wine career as a sommelier in Washington, DC, gaining over 15 years of experience in several of the city’s best restaurants. After passing her Advanced Exam in 2003, she co-founded a DC-based tasting group that has produced seven Master Sommeliers (so far!), and still operates under new leadership. In 2010, Kathryn passed the Master Sommelier examination. She was elected Vice Chair of the Court of Master Sommeliers, and appointed Education Chair in January of 2021. She served on the CMS Board of Directors from 2021 to 2023.
Kathryn is enjoying the distribution side of the wine business and has finally fulfilled her lifelong dream of living in the East Village.
Where are you working currently and how has being a MS supported you in your current role?
I have a unicorn job! It’s rare to find a role as a fully dedicated wine education professional. At SGWS, the job requires having one of the highest levels of certifications in the industry, so being an MS definitely helped.
Where were you working when you passed?
I was working at Michel Richard Citronelle, a 4-star French restaurant in Washington, DC
What made you want to become an MS?
I drank the Koolaid at my Intro course in 2001. I loved absolutely everything about it, and I knew that these were my people.
What advice do you give those who are pursuing certification?
Definitely find your tribe of like-minded people and push each other. Also, embrace the process – especially when you think it’s not going so well. I loved having a high bar to get over, and every setback/failure made me a better sommelier and wine professional. When you start to understand your own strengths and weaknesses, you magically start to see better results.
What is your desert island wine, or what wines/beverages are you currently excited about?
Champagne is the cliche answer for a reason!
