Master Sommelier Kevin M. Vogt is Vice President and Partner in Wine Country Connection, a retail wine sales company and wine shop/tasting room in Yountville, CA, a website and over a dozen brokers working alongside. Prior to joining Wine Country Connection in May of 2016, Kevin worked with Chef/Owner Emeril Lagasse from 1996 to 2016 as Wine Director. Mr. Vogt has been recognized both nationally and internationally for his skill in pairing wine with food, for his tasting abilities and for his overall wine knowledge. Kevin earned the title of Master Sommelier from the Americas Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers in 1999 and became the 38th American and the 88th in the world to achieve this prestigious honor.
Since 2000, Mr. Vogt has been a Judge for Anthony Dias Blue’s San Francisco International Wine Competition, as well as a Judge for the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. He is a wine educator and public speaker and has taught college level wine courses and lectured aboard Crystal Cruise Lines for their food and wine festival events. Mr. Vogt’s travels have taken him to 26 other countries to study and explore food and wine. In his journeys, he has established many wonderful partnerships along the way.
In 2005 Mr. Vogt started producing his own wine named Mastery which is a Napa Valley Cabernet blend. Mastery is getting rave reviews from the wine press. In 2004, Delmonico Steakhouse in Las Vegas became the 88th restaurant in the world to achieve the esteemed Wine Spectator’s Grand Award under Kevin’s direction. Mr. Vogt graduated from UNLV with a degree in Hotel Administration in 1993, has been married since 1994 to his wife Lynda and is the proud father of two daughters, Madison and Juliana.
Where are you working currently and how has being a MS supported you in your current role?
I am a partner in Wine Country Connection, a retail wine shop with an online presence. Without the MS title, I might not have been considered for the partnership.
Where were you working when you passed?
I worked for Emeril Lagasse as Wine Director when I passed the exam, and continued working for him for another 16+ years.
What made you want to become an MS?
I became an MS as a personal challenge, to see if I could achieve a goal that high.
What advice do you give those who are pursuing certification?
My advice to those seeking the MS title would be to work harder than you think you need to, sacrifice any and everything that takes time away from your studies. Make your pursuit your everything until you do pass.
What is your desert island wine, or what wines/beverages are you currently excited about?
My dessert island wine would be the 1945 Comte de Vogue Musigny VV from magnum. It was one of eleven fabulous wines we used for a wedding rehearsal dinner. After the event, there was two magnums left over when we sat down for dinner at 1:20 am. I reached the point where I couldn’t take another sip of the single greatest wine I’d ever tasted. It was simply wine-ecstasy. Unreal.
