While studying History at the University of Montana, Max Kast supported himself by working in restaurants and wine bars. With a pocket full of tip money, he purchased a bottle of 1991 Chateau Musar Rouge and fell completely in love with wine. After graduating with a BA, he decided to forego the world of academia for a full time career in the world of food and wine when he realized he spent more time reading Michael Broadbent, Kermit Lynch, and Jancis Robinson than applying to grad school. Max was the wine director at the Relais & Chateaux property, Triple Creek Ranch in the Bitteroot Valley of Montana before he moved to Chapel Hill, NC where he spent 10-years as Wine Director of the Grand Chef Relais & Chateaux Fearrington House Restaurant. During his time at the Fearrington House he helped the property earn the coveted Grand Chef Relais & Chateaux and the Forbes Five Star designations.

In 2018 after over a decade of traveling, tasting, studying and more studying, Max earned the coveted designation of Master Sommelier from the Court of Master Sommeliers. Max in one of only 256 Master Sommeliers in the world. Since 2016 Max has worked for Broadbent Selections, where he passionately promotes their diverse portfolio of family-owned global boutique wineries from around the world including the wine that set him on his path, Chateau Musar.

Master Sommelier David Keck discovered his love for wine while pursuing a career — and traveling the world — as an opera singer.

David passed his Master Sommelier exam in 2016, making him the 149th American Master Sommelier and the 233rd in the world. Shortly after, David co-founded Goodnight Hospitality in Houston. His first project, the honky-tonk Goodnight Charlie’s, opened at the end of 2017, and several more projects are planned for 2019.

Previously, David ran Camerata at Paulie’s wine bar for three years, which rose to national acclaim under his leadership.

David was named one of Food & Wine’s Sommeliers of the Year in 2016. He has a Master of Music Degree from Rice University, an undergraduate degree in English from Columbia University and attended Juilliard for opera performance.

Ms. Monosoff is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and has honed her skills at the top restaurants in Philadelphia as a cook, sommelier, bartender and beverage director. These restaurants are among the nest in the region, including the Fountain Restaurant at the Four Seasons Hotel, Striped Bass and most recently Savona in GulphMills, PA. Melissa has been the Education Director for the Court of Master Sommeliers since 2013.

Monosoff became a Master Sommelier in February of 2010. She is the 17th woman in the world to hold this title. Her passion for all things wine and beer related have earned her several accolades. In 2009 and 2010 both Philadelphia Magazine and Main Line Magazine named her “Best Sommelier”. Wine & Spirits Magazine recognized her as one of America’s “Best Young Sommeliers” and she was a James Beard Foundation nominee for “Outstanding Wine Service” in 2011. In addition to her reputation as a wine expert, Monosoff is becoming a recognized name in the beer community, having completed her Certified Cicerone in June of 2013. She is now working towards her Advanced Cicerone Certification.

Together with fellow Master Sommelier Drew Hendricks, James Tidwell founded TEXSOM in 2005. The conference has become the premiere professional beverage education event in the country, attracting a prominent list of attendees, presenters, and sponsors from around the world.

Tidwell is also Co-Owner and Producer of the TEXSOM International Wine Awards (formerly the Dallas Morning News and TEXSOM Wine Competition) which is one of the largest and most recognized wine competitions in the country.