Master Sommelier Trades Pin for Integrity

Introduction: World’s Most Elite Wine Circle Panders for Social Media Approval

On October 29, 2020, the New York Times published a scandalous article about sexual misconduct in the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS). The article was filled with half-truths, mistakes and disinformation about the organization’s history and its membership. Regardless of the inaccuracies, the article was successful at several things: creating the presumption of guilt, starting an emotional firestorm, and getting clicks. The article was reposted and embellished upon hundreds of times in a bizarre online game of telephone. Worse still, not a single news agency that reposted the article took the time to contact me or verify the information printed.

I was falsely accused of sexual misconduct and publicly condemned as guilty without due process. I spent over a year cooperating with the CMS Board of Directors (BOD) and the independent investigative process, which finally concluded that the “allegations were not substantiated.” On November 16, 2021, CMS sent an email stating that “we want to support you in returning to participation as soon as possible,” yet they denied me any public recognition or reconciliation, and to this day, I am still being accosted and canceled at public events.

I have spent months pleading with the organization to not only publish my results, but also to correct the organization’s historical record that was tarnished by the NYT article. CMS refuses to do either stating that they fear “another negative news cycle.” Fact is, keeping the results sealed provided many benefits. It protected the new BOD from scrutiny, shielded the accusers from any embarrassment, and maximized the number of Masters stripped of their titles without repudiation. Although this went a long way to appease the social media (SM) mob, it does not align with justice and truth, nor will it provide a healthy foundation on which to rebuild the organization. 

What follows are clarifications to correct the historical record as well as my perspective on what it was like to be canceled without due process. It has been broken into two parts and hopefully, it will better inform those who followed this tragedy or are pursuing the Master Sommelier title.

There is a lot to say about what happened, so I have broken it into two sections. The first begins to correct the half-truths and misinformation printed about CMS’s historic identity and the second chronicle my personal journey through the drama.

Part One: CMS’s History of Hospitality & Inclusion

The NYT wrote nearly 4000 words in its original publicized article that was littered with half-truths, mistakes and disinformation about the organization’s history and its membership. This segment addresses some of the more egregious mistakes that need to be corrected. Updated post coming Wednesday

Part Two: Cancellation & Investigation

This segment chronicles my personal journey as an average joe being cancelled without due process. It covers the timeline, emotional self-doubt, and the frustration of trying to find compassionate for the accusers while at the same time trying to protect personal integrity. Updated post coming Thursday

Part Three: Resolution and Reconciliation

CMS’s BOD used the NYT article to villainize the accused without due process, make superficial changes to the organization, and create a show trial so they could proudly proclaim “CMS has been transformed, and that all is good!” But all is not good. This final part discusses the work that must be done to salvage the organization’s image, correct the wrongs, secure a future, and - most importantly - reestablish trust both within the organization and with the hospitality industry.