Special Guest: Robert Smith

Raised in Dallas, hospitality and cuisine surrounded Robert from a young age with his family’s business in the Food and Beverage industry. Robert went on to study at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Hotel Administration and pursued the fields of Economics and Philosophy while working at boutique restaurants before earning a position at Picasso in the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas. There he worked for James Beard award-winning chef Julian Serrano. In February, 2004 Robert was one of three (out of 41) to pass the Master Sommelier diploma examination held in San Francisco. One of 149 total Master Sommeliers in the United States, Robert has dedicated his life to wine education, travel and cuisine.

Through his career as Master Sommelier at Picasso, Robert played a key role in building the restaurant’s renowned cellar which boasts 1,500 selections from the finest vineyards in Europe. Robert’s expertise earned Picasso the Wine Spectator Grand Award every year from 2003 – 2016, Wine Enthusiast’s America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants in 2015, SANTÉ Restaurant Award’s Excellence in Wine Hospitality in 2007, and a Five Time James Beard Finalist position for Outstanding Wine Service. Robert began working for Foley Family Wines as Factotum in the summer of 2016 where his wine expertise is cultivated in many aspects of the business. The diversified Foley Family portfolio of resorts, restaurants and wineries highlights Robert’s background in fine wine, food and hospitality.

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