Erik Segelbaum is a Food and Wine Magazine Sommelier of the Year 2019 and Wine Enthusiast 40 Under 40 Tastemaker. Erik is an Advanced Sommelier, Smithsonian’s national wine educator, journalist for major trade and consumer food and wine publications, and the vice president of the United Sommeliers Foundation; a charity that provides emergency financial relief for wine professionals and was awarded Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Award for Social Visionary of the Year. Erik is the founder GoodSomm a luxury lifestyle wine club and Certo -canned Negronis and Espresso Martinis made on the Amalfi Coast. Erik is formerly Starr Restaurants corporate beverage director and was head sommelier of MV The World (a luxury residential yacht). Additionally, Erik co-owns SWIG Partners, a company that helps beverage brands find importers or distributors across the USA and is the founder of SOMLYAY hospitality consulting. He is a recurring presenter at the Aspen Food and Wine Classic, Pebble Beach Food and Wine, South Beach Wine and Food Festival and many more of the world’s most prestigious culinary events.
With over 3 decades of experience, Erik is known as a leader in beverage financial and operations management. Prior to founding SOMLYAY, Erik served as the corporate beverage director for Starr Restaurants. He has opened more than 20 restaurants and hotels from Michelin Star fine dining to fast-casual and multi-unit concepts. He can frequently be found judging the world’s most prestigious wine and spirits competitions.