Andrea Robinson (sommelier)
Andrea Robinson | |
|---|---|
| Born | North Dakota, U.S. |
| Other names | Andrea Immer-Robinson |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, author, television host, sommelier |
| Known for | Master Sommelier title; first woman named best sommelier in the US by Sommelier Society of America (1997); James Beard Awards winner |
| Notable work | Andrea Robinson's Wine Buying Guide for Everyone series; Great Wine Made Simple |
Andrea Robinson (also known as Andrea Immer-Robinson) is an American chef, author, television host, and sommelier. She holds the distinction of being one of only thirty-two women worldwide to achieve the Master Sommelier title and was the first woman to be honored as the best sommelier in the United States by the Sommelier Society of America in 1997. Her accolades include three James Beard Awards.
Personal life and education
Born Andrea Immer in North Dakota, she grew up in Texas and Southern Indiana. Her culinary interests began early, but her enthusiasm for wine was sparked during a college wine tasting course in Dallas, Texas. She completed degrees in economics and business at Southern Methodist University before starting a career as an investment banker at Morgan Stanley. While volunteering at a local wine school, she took advantage of complimentary classes, built connections within the wine community, and led a tasting event for Champagne Krug. The very next day, she decided to leave Morgan Stanley and pursue a career dedicated to wine.
In 1990, Robinson embarked on a six-month journey throughout Europe, living in hostels to expand her wine expertise. After returning to the U.S., she entered the wine industry professionally and graduated from the International Culinary Center, where she later served as dean of wine studies. She currently lives in Napa Valley, California with her three sons: Lucas, Jesse, and Jack.
Career
Following her European travels, Robinson joined the wine team at Windows on the World in New York City under the mentorship of Kevin Zraly. She became the first woman to hold the position of cellar master at the restaurant and earned her Master Sommelier Diploma, joining an elite group of eighteen women master sommeliers worldwide at that time. She went on to hold roles including Beverage Director and Cellarmaster at Windows on the World, as well as Corporate Director of Beverage Programs for Starwood.
Since 2008, Robinson has served as master sommelier for Delta Air Lines, where she evaluates approximately 2,000 California wines annually to select around 30 for service in business class and first class cabins. Her responsibilities include conducting tastings both on the ground and during flights to understand how altitude influences wine characteristics.
Robinson has consulted for prominent companies such as Marriott International, Target Corporation, Macy's, and Hilton Worldwide. As an author, she has written numerous books on wine appreciation and contributed articles to Health and Esquire. She spent three years developing "The One," a signature collection of wine glasses. In 2006, she collaborated with the Wine Market Council to advocate pairing wines with American take out cuisine. Additionally, Robinson hosted two television programs—Simply Wine and Pairings with Andrea—on the Fine Living Network, while also offering cooking workshops and online courses focused on wine.
Awards and recognition
- 2005 Wine Literary Award from the Wine Appreciation Guild
Further reading
- Robinson, Andrea. Andrea Immer Robinson's 2006 Wine Buying Guide for Everyone: Revised Edition. New York: Broadway (2005).
- Robinson, Andrea. Andrea Robinson's 2007 Wine Buying Guide for Everyone. New York: Clarkson Potter (2007).
- Robinson, Andrea. Andrea Robinson's 2008 Wine Buying Guide for Everyone. New York: JGR Productions (2007).
- Robinson, Andrea. Andrea Robinson's 2009 Wine Buying Guide for Everyone. New York: JGR Productions (2009).
- Robinson, Andrea. Andrea Robinson's 2010 Wine Buying Guide for Everyone. New York: JGR Productions (2009).
- Robinson, Andrea. Andrea Robinson's 2011 Wine Buying Guide for Everyone. Santa Barbara: JGR Productions (2010).
- Robinson, Andrea. Great Wine Made Simple. New York: Broadway (2005).
- Robinson, Andrea. Great Wine Made Simple: Straight Talk from a Master Sommelier. New York: Clarkson Potter (2005).
External links
- Official website
- Behind the Grape with Andrea Robinson interview featured on the Daily Grape