Jason Smith, MS, Sommelier
Jason Smith is Managing Director of Abreu Vineyards, where his work spans global sales, strategy, and marketing, with particular focus on collector relationships, trade partnerships, and the long-term stewardship that has always defined this winery. He works alongside legendary vineyard manager David Abreu, his son Matteo, and longtime winemaker Brad Grimes.
Before Abreu, wine found Jason the way the best things tend to, through a door he hadn't planned to open. He arrived at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park intent on becoming a chef, and a six week required course in wine education quietly redirected the rest of his life.
In 2005, Jason passed the Master Sommelier examination, joining a group of only 75 people in North America to hold the title at the time. His early career unfolded inside the country's most demanding dining environments, the '21 Club in New York City, Charlie Trotter's in Chicago and The Little Nell in Aspen, places where the expectation of excellence was total and unspoken. At Trotter's, he contributed wine notes to two of the chef's cookbooks.
He carried that standard to Las Vegas, joining Michael Mina at Bellagio as a sommelier before promotion to Director of Wine across the entire resort. In 2016, he stepped into the role of Executive Director of Wine at MGM Resorts International, where he oversaw wine programs for twenty properties nationwide and a team of 60 sommeliers.
From MGM, Jason moved to Schrader Cellars, where he served as General Manager. Running a small, allocation-driven estate required close attention to collector relationships and to maintaining the integrity of limited production. Jason was promoted into the broader role of Vice President of Global Strategy at Schrader's parent company, Constellation Brands, where he shaped the commercial direction across a portfolio that included Schrader, To Kalon Vineyard Company, Sea Smoke, and Lingua Franca.
Wine Enthusiast named him Wine Director of the Year in 2016. He has been recognized as Best Young Sommelier in America and has appeared regularly in Wine Spectator, FOOD & WINE, and Wine Enthusiast, presenting at events from Aspen Food & Wine to Taste Washington.