Overview: Four candidates successfully completed the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas Master Sommelier Diploma examination in September 2026. The event took place from September 8 to 10 in Houston, where only four of the thirty candidates who sat for the final two portions of the exam passed.
The Full Story
The Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas (CMSA) administered the Master Sommelier Diploma examination during a three-day period in Houston. A total of 305 Master Sommeliers exist worldwide, with 176 located in the Americas. The credential remains one of the most challenging and coveted in the wine industry, requiring candidates to complete all three components within three years after passing the theory portion.
Alex Mares, MS, currently serving as the wine director at Bourbon Steak New York at JW Marriott Essex House, scored the highest in the cohort this year. Mares originally planned a career as a classical musician before hospitality sparked an interest in wine. He passed the advanced sommelier exam in 2020 and re-passed theory in 2025 after failing tasting in 2024. Kaysie Rodgers, MS, a sommelier at California restaurant SingleThread Farms, is a Seattle native who began her career at HMF in Palm Beach, Florida. She passed the Advanced Sommelier exam in 2017 and first sat for the Master Sommelier exam in 2021.
Steven Washuta, MS, the co-owner of Denver Wine Merchant, first passed the Master Sommelier exam in 2018. His results were invalidated after a cheating scandal rocked the CMSA. Undeterred, Washuta pursued the pin again and passed this time. Robert Ord, MS, serves as the director of WineScout and has more than two decades of experience working in the wine industry. He got his start working as a bar manager at the former St. Cloud restaurant in Seattle and has since worked across restaurants, retail, importing, online sales, international judging, and education.
Brand & Industry History
The CMSA Master Sommelier Diploma examination is recognized as one of the wine industry’s most rigorous tests. Candidates must complete all three components within three years after passing the theory portion, which is held separately each year. The global count of Master Sommeliers stands at 305, with 176 in the Americas. Steven Washuta’s journey highlights the resilience required for this credential, as his initial results were invalidated following a cheating scandal that impacted multiple candidates.
What This Means
The passing of four new Master Sommeliers out of thirty candidates underscores the exclusivity and difficulty of the credential. Alex Mares noted that realizing the exam is just one part of himself rather than the whole thing helped redefine his relationship with the process. Kaysie Rodgers plans to play a huge part in educating and mentoring fellow sommeliers, especially women, following her five attempts to pass. Steven Washuta aims to continue pouring into the NYC community and coaching people pursuing the advanced and Master Sommelier levels.
Consumer Takeaway
This news release highlights the expertise of professionals across New York City, California, Denver, and Houston. While no specific bottle is released with this announcement, the candidates shared their celebration selections, including Trimbach ‘Clos Ste. Hune’ 2002, Dos Equis at the airport, Champagne, a 2020 Robert Weil ‘Kiedricher Gräfenberg’ Spätlese Riesling, 2009 Château Palmer, and a 1991 Conn Creek Reserve Cabernet Sauvignon. The achievement offers insight into the dedication required to reach the top tier of wine service and education.
Source: Read the original article
