Emily Wines
Emily Wines | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Sommelier |
| Years active | 2008–present |
| Known for | Chair of the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) in the United States since December 2020; Master Sommelier certification (2008) |
Emily Wines is a distinguished American expert in the wine industry and has held the position of board chair for the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS) in the United States since December 2020.
Early life
Wines was raised in the Pacific Northwest region.
Career
Her professional journey started within San Francisco's dining sector, where she achieved her Master Sommelier certification in 2008. She was featured in the 2012 documentary Somm.
Wines has been associated with Kimpton Hotels and took on the role of vice president of beverage at Cooper's Hawk in 2017. Her accolades include a Grand Award from Wine Spectator and a nomination from the James Beard Foundation for excellence in wine service.
Court of Master Sommeliers
Between 2013 and 2015, Wines was a member of the CMS board. The organization encountered a cheating controversy in 2018. Subsequently, during the MeToo movement in 2020, an investigation by The New York Times revealed pervasive sexual harassment by senior male members. Although CMS initially expressed support for those affected, it failed to commit to transparency or thorough investigations, resulting in public backlash. By November 2020, CMS issued formal apologies to the women involved, suspended seven Master Sommeliers—including co-founder Fred Dame—and accepted one resignation.
In the aftermath, chair Devon Broglie stepped down amid sexual harassment allegations. Wines was then elected as chair in November 2020. Broglie had previously been part of the ethics committee tasked with addressing misconduct complaints.
Since assuming leadership, Wines has prioritized enhancing governance standards by appointing Julie Cohen Theobald as executive director and broadening board membership to include professionals from sectors beyond hospitality.