Spago’s Sommelier Wins Coveted Prix le Montrachet

Photo Credit: Andrea Bricco

The prestigious Prix le Montrachet has finally come to the U.S. and it has honored Spago’s wine director Phillip Dunn with its top prize.

On Sunday, in a ceremony held appropriately at Spago Beverly Hills, Prix le Montrachet awarded this year’s best sommeliers in Los Angeles for their selection of Burgundy wines.

The evening welcomed family and friends of the honorees to taste a superb collection of Burgundy wines during the course of the evening, and afterward a special dinner of Wolfgang Puck’s favorite appetizers and entrees.

Category winners included Dunn in the Prestige category and Taylor Parsons of Republique with the Excellence prize. Other honored sommeliers included Silvestre Fernandes of Patina, Matthew Luczy of Melisse, Justin Prairie of Capo as well as Andrew Adelson of BOUCHON Beverly Hills.

The winners were selected by a jury of wine and restaurant elites from Burgundy, including the association of wine growers from Puligny-Montrachet, Chassagne-Montrachet, Meursault and Saint-Aubin. Candidates are evaluated for their knowledge of Burgundy wines and for the quality of the curated wine list at his or her establishment. The winner receives a trophy as a mark of his or her victory; additionally, the winner and the best candidates receive a case of selected crus from Cotes de Beaune handed personally by the vignerons who will come especially from Burgundy for the event, and an invitation to stay at Hotel Le Montrachet.

Created by the esteemed hotel restaurant Le Montrachet, known around the world for its wine selection, the Prix Le Montrachet is attributed to a sommelier who is working in an establishment around the world. In years past, the Prix Le Montrachet has been awarded to top sommeliers in Switzerland, Belgium, London, Moscow and Italy.

Past winners of the coveted award have included Fabrizio Franzoi of Ristorante Perbellini in Italy, Sergei Poltoratskji of Les Menus par Pierre Gagnaire in Moscow and Agathe Plantade of Ducasse at The Dorchester in London.