Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/688647
{ SOMMjournal.com } 43 Thanks to our relationships with the wine and spirit companies who were pouring at the event, The Somm Journal was able to bring in eight wine professionals who are continuing their way up the ladder in our industry. We received dozens of essays from the best and brightest of the sommelier community around the country and narrowed down our selection to these somm-minded professionals, who traced their jour- ney in the wine world and were introspective on where they would like it to ultimately lead them. We salute them. —Meridith May, Publisher and Editorial Director ABBE HENDRICKS Abbe Hendricks is an Iowa-based Certified Sommelier who runs the wine and beer depart- ment at Des Moines's gourmet grocery store Gateway Market. She also conducts educational classes and tastings across the Midwest and has developed a reputation as a go-to consultant for fine dining restaurants, enhancing their wine programs with unique styles and varieties. ALICIA CUADRA-CUTLER Alicia Cuadra-Cutler is Assistant Food & Beverage Manager at Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, CA, a Peninsula Hotel. She has taught a wine program at Cabrillo College in Santa Cruz and this Spring secured a position as Adjunct Faculty. MATT MORGAN Matt Morgan was raised in Half Moon Bay, California and moved to Southern California to study restaurant management at The Collins College of Hospitality Management at California State Polytechnic University in Pomona. He is Beverage Manager at Ruth's Chris Steak House in Pasadena. MARK THOMPSON Mark Thompson has worked with top restaurants such as Masa's & Mourad with Master Sommelier Alan Murray. In addition he worked at the much-lauded Saison restaurant. He continues to consult for some of the Bay area's other top restaurants. DANIEL DENY Daniel Deny was born in Metz, France into a restaurant family. He opened his first restaurant in Santa Monica in the 1970s and in 2001 opened Primitivo Wine Bistro in Venice, CA—the first ever wine and tapas bar to open in the city, which he plans to re-open again in the coming year. MEGHAN GUE Meghan Gue works at Four Seasons Jackson Hole. She is studying to take her Certified Sommelier exam in the fall and is currently involved in a tasting group that has a "powder clause." Her days off are spent skiing and fly fishing in the Tetons. SOPHIE OPPELT Sophie Oppelt is 24 years old and has a personal goal of passing the Masters by the time she is 30. She is a CMS Certified Sommelier employed at Summit at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. ROBERT SERNA (no photo) Robert Serna is a Sommelier at three-Michelin-starred Saison in San Francisco. He is 22 years old and began his career as apprentice under Mark Bright. Meet our Scholarship Recipients for the CIA Sommelier Summit