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Marc R. Kauffman

Noted Celebrity Sommelier, CS, CSW

Marc holds certifications from the Court of Master Sommeliers and the Society of Wine Educators. He is the only American to have served as an international wine judge at La Trophèe Internationale wine competition in Lyon France. Combining a flair for performance with his wine industry experience, Marc was a finalist on the PBS reality TV series The Winemakers Season 2 and a producer on the reality TV series Best Bottle. As Director of Corporate Beverage Operations for a large national restaurant chain and Director of Catering for Hilton Hotels Marc trained over 5,000 restaurant servers in extended knowledge of wine and service. Currently he works full-time as an independent consultant in the wine and spirits industry.

His clients include The Sommelier Company as lead sommelier for Northern California, a large Italian winery supplying bulk wine for private label to retail, restaurant and hotel chains and a French wine and spirits packaging bottle closure manufacturer. Marc became interested in wine during his college days when he spent a year studying at the University of Bordeaux. Upon his return to the USA, he began restaurant and hotel industry work including over 15 years as a sommelier and beverage director. Then moving to the wine and spirits distribution industry his career included management positions with national import and distribution companies and National Sales Manager
for a Napa Valley family estate winery.

Marc was General Manager of Stone Creek Wines which also became the largest private label wine producer in California. Moving into the sustainable wine packaging sector Marc worked for the closure division of The Tetra Pak Company where he created the unique twist off closure Novatwist that is still in large volume use today globally in both wine and spirits packaging. He is very familiar and has worked with most alternative packages for beverages including PET bottles, Bag In Box, aluminum bottles, RTD canned beverages and pouches. Marc is in demand as an expert witness in wine related court and insurance actions and as a guest speaker at industry events. He is based in San Francisco and travels each year to taste the new vintage wines in Italy and Southern France.

Meet the other judges

Jared Sowinski

Director of Beverage at Upward Projects Restaurant Group | Postino WineCafe | Joyride Taco House | Windsor | Federal Pizza

Jane Lopes

Sommelier, Educator, and Author • Co-Founder Legend Imports

Larissa C Dubose

National Director Beverages- Dining Division at Paradies Lagardère and Wine Enthusiast Magazine Future 40, Vino Volo National Buyer