Peter Neptune
Peter Neptune | |
|---|---|
| Born | July 10, 1956 Newport Beach, California, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Sommelier, educator, former actor |
| Years active | 1979–present |
| Known for | Master Sommelier, Neptune School of Wine, appearances in SOMM documentary |
Peter Neptune (born July 10, 1956) is an American authority on wine, educator, and former actor for television and theater. As of June 2015, he was among the 147 Master Sommeliers in North America and established the Neptune School of Wine located in Orange County, California. During the mid-1980s, Neptune performed both on Broadway and Off-Broadway stages, appeared in various television productions between 1988 and 1990, and portrayed himself in the 2013 documentary film SOMM.
Life and career
Born on July 10, 1956, in Newport Beach, California, Neptune’s initial exposure to wine and cuisine came through his work at Tivoli Terrace, a Laguna Beach eatery owned by his stepmother.
Acting career
In 1979, Neptune relocated to New York City with the ambition of pursuing theater acting, studying under Wynn Handman at The American Place Theatre. He performed in Cynthia Heimel's play A Girl's Guide to Chaos and originated the character Jeff Barry in the 1984 Off-Broadway and subsequent 1985 Broadway productions of Leader of the Pack.
His television credits include roles in C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988), Rock Hudson (1990), along with guest appearances on shows such as L.A. Law, Tour of Duty, Hardball, Life Goes On, and an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation ("The Dauphin," 1989).
While continuing his acting career, Neptune supplemented his earnings by overseeing wine programs at upscale restaurants despite having limited prior experience. After about ten years balancing both professions, he returned to Orange County in 1989. Following an unsuccessful attempt to secure a major television role, he redirected his efforts entirely toward advancing his career in wine.
Wine sales and education
Beginning as a wine salesman during the mid-1990s, Neptune swiftly deepened his knowledge and eventually succeeded in passing his initial wine certification after an earlier attempt that did not succeed. He became part of Henry Wine Group based in Benicia, California, where he rose to senior vice president of corporate training, responsible for educating staff and retail consumers about wine.
Neptune School of Wine
In 2003, Neptune launched the Neptune School of Wine, recognized as Southern California’s inaugural institution focused on the London-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) curriculum, a globally respected provider of wine education. The school delivers WSET courses as well as the French Wine Scholar program offered by the French Wine Society headquartered in Washington, D.C.
Master Sommelier
Neptune achieved the distinguished Master Sommelier title in 2005, joining a select group totaling 229 members worldwide by 2015. He was notably the first individual in many years to obtain this certification while residing in Southern California. By that year, he was serving as a Master instructor for the Court’s Introductory and Advanced Courses and also acted as an examiner across all certification tiers.
SOMM
Neptune’s involvement as an examiner for the Master Sommelier certification led to his collaboration with director Jason Wise, who obtained authorization to document a segment of the Master Sommelier examination for the 2013 documentary SOMM, which profiles four aspiring candidates. Alongside fellow Masters Michael Jordan, Fred Dame, and Geoff Kruth, Neptune gained visibility through his interviews, where his enthusiasm and expertise were prominently showcased.
Additional wine credentials
Neptune has earned the prestigious Master Sommelier Diploma and holds the Certified Wine Educator (CWE) credential awarded by the Society of Wine Educators. Additionally, he completed a diploma in Wine and Spirits from the London-based Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), is recognized as an Associate of the Institute of Wines and Spirits (AIWS)—a title reserved for WSET diploma recipients—and achieved French Wine Scholar certification with Highest Honors.
Wine consulting
In his capacity as a Master Sommelier, Neptune provides consulting services on wine programs to hotels and restaurants across the United States. His clients include Fairmont Hotels & Resorts' Fairmont San Francisco and Manhattan’s Plaza Hotel, Terranea Resort in Rancho Palos Verdes, California, as well as One Pico at Santa Monica’s Shutters on the Beach Hotel. The wine list he developed for One Pico has consistently earned Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence since 2009 and has been commended by the Los Angeles Times for its accessible and reasonably priced offerings.
External links
- , Peter Neptune School of Wine website
- Pages with script errors
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- 1956 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American educators
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century people from California
- 20th-century people from New York (state)
- 21st-century American educators
- 21st-century American male actors
- 21st-century people from California
- 21st-century people from New York (state)
- American founders
- American male stage actors
- American male television actors
- American sommeliers
- Broadway theatre people
- Educators from California
- Educators from Manhattan
- Male actors from Manhattan
- Male actors from Newport Beach, California
- Master Sommeliers
- Off-Broadway
- School founders