Sommeliers

The world of wine has been a traditionally male-dominated industry, but that hasn't gotten in the way of wine educator Andrea Robinson: she's not only a TV host and author, but also one of only 17 women in the world who've been appointed the title of master sommelier. She was the first female ever to be chosen best sommelier in the United States by the Sommelier Society of America.

I met the enthusiastic wine personality, whose petite stature belies her upbeat demeanor, at an Aspen event to showcase her new line of stemware, The One. Over a glass of rosé, she weighed in on what it's like as one of the industry's few female leaders and how the landscape of wine is changing in America. See what she shared when you read more.

One of the highlights of the SF Chefs festival was a special lunch hosted by Kendall Jackson at the Fifth Floor. The winery invited some of the Bay Area's top sommeliers, like Shelley Lindgren of SPQR and A16, to enjoy the meal. Each sommelier sat at a different table and led us diners through the five-course meal. It was informative but fun, and I loved hearing about how my master sommelier, Jesse Becker, got his start.

To take a look at the food and the wine, browse my photos after the jump.

• Mario Batali's latest cookbook stresses simple, straightforward cooking. — San Francisco Chronicle
• How the Obamas wield their political influence at the nation's top restaurant tables. — Los Angeles Times
• Conservationists are creating consumer demand for a top predator, lionfish. — Washington Post
• Three topping ideas to spice up tonight's tilapia. — Chicago Tribune
• Rooftop gardens are sprouting up everywhere in Beantown. — Boston Globe
• Trials and tribulations of adults who are picky eaters. — Wall Street Journal
• Why you should place more trust in the sommelier. — New York Times