KEITH GOLDSTON, Master Sommelier
In March 2001 Keith Goldston became America's 47th Master Sommelier. He
is the proud recipient of the illustrious Krug Cup trophy, passing all
three parts of the exam (theory, tasting and practical), on the first
attempt. Although Keith is currently one of the world's youngest Master
Sommeliers, he brings with him more than 19 years experience working for
a variety of prestigious and award winning restaurants & wineries
including Domaine Chandon, Masa's, Spago, and Picasso. Wine Spectator
has called Keith “a wizard at matching food with interesting wines”.
Since passing the Masters Exam Keith has been involved in a variety of projects, many of them with star Chef Charlie Palmer. Keith has worked at Charlie’s Las Vegas restaurants; Charlie Palmer Steak and Aureole with its “wine tower” and digital wine list featuring over 4000 different wines. Keith was also hired to open Charlie Palmer Steak Washington D.C. For Charlie Palmer Steak DC, Keith created the “all-American wine list”; offering over 800 wines all exclusively produced in the U.S.A. Keith and Charlie also teamed up to produce a series of private-label wines, where Keith was able to craft the blends with top winemakers in Sonoma.
Keith loves to educate and lecture and over the last two years he has had the privilege to teach over 1500 students. Keith has been lucky enough to return to his hometown Napa and teach classes at COPIA & the Culinary Institute of America plus travel to exotic locations such as Seoul where he lectured at the Korean Wine Academy and represented the U.S.A. as a wine judge in Korea’s first international wine competition. In 2006 Keith packed his bags for India to help with the opening of India’s first wine bar, “The Tasting Room” in Mumbai as well as providing staff training for India’s top two hotel groups, the Taj and Oberoi. Keith is a regular fixture at the Court of Master Sommeliers Courses, teaching and testing aspiring sommeliers in the ways and standards of the Court. In the past he has been seen spreading the word of wine at UNLV, Crystal Cruises and Celebrity Cruises. Keith has also formed Vino Monkey Productions, a production company with a focus on wine.