Portland’s Erica Landon, Earns Title of Advanced Sommelier

After five days of examination, 14 candidates have passed the prestigious Advanced Sommelier Exam, including Portland’s own Erica Landon, who is currently BCR Restaurants wine director.

The Court of Master Sommeliers was established in England in 1977 to encourage improved standards of beverage knowledge and service in hotels and restaurants. The first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam to be held in the United States was in 1987. The title Master Sommelier marks the highest recognition of wine and spirits knowledge, beverage service abilities, and professionalism in the hospitality trade. Education was then, and remains today, the Court’s charter. There are four stages involved in attaining the top qualifications of Master Sommelier: 1) Introductory Sommelier Course; 2) Certified Sommelier Exam; 3) Advanced Sommelier Course; and 4) Master Sommelier Diploma.

Fourteen Individuals From Across the U.S. Earn the Title of Advanced Sommelier There are 118 professionals who have earned the title of Master Sommelier as part of the Americas chapter since the organization’s inception. Of those, 101 are men and 17 are women. There are 186 professionals worldwide who have received the title of Master Sommelier since the first Master Sommelier Diploma Exam. For more information about
the Court of Master Sommeliers, please visit www.mastersommeliers.org.

You can see our interview with Erica Landon here.