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Guild Awards Three the RUDD Scholarship in 2010

Guild Awards Three Sommeliers the RUDD Scholarship in 2010 
   
David Kristiansen         Daniel Cobian                Emily Pickral Papach

Three sommeliers were awarded the prestigious RUDD Scholarship in 2010.  Daniel Cobian, David Kristiansen and Emily Pickral Papach were named RUDD Scholars for their best-in-class performers at their respective Advanced Sommelier examinations. They will each receive a $5,000 scholarship and a trip to the Napa Valley to participate it the RUDD Masters Round-table in January 2011.  

Daniel Cobian, Advanced Sommelier , L'Escalier at The Breakers Palm Beach, FL 
Cobian joined the sommelier team for the Five Diamond Award winning L'Escalier restaurant in March, 2010.  Under the mentorship of Master Sommeliers Juan Gomez and Virginia Philip, Daniel's daily duties include assisting with the resort's 1600- selection wine list. Daniel's interest in wine began a few short years ago while taking a wine course at Johnson and Wales University sponsored by the United States Sommelier Association. Daniel placed in the regional finals for both the Societe Mundial de Vin “Best Young Sommelier in America” in 2009 and the Guild of Sommlier TOP|SOMM competition in 2010.  He was the recipient of the first annual Jimmy Mancbach Scholarship where he assisted in making the 2008 Vintage at Hanzell Winery in Sonoma. He has traveled extensively throughout California, Argentina and Chile.   Prior to his arrival at The Breakers, Daniel worked at the acclaimed Mandarin Oriental Hotel in Miami where he oversaw 9 wine lists most notably at the Five Diamond Award winning Azul restaurant. 

David Kristiansen, Bartender, The Lodge at Pebble Beach, Pebble Beach, CA 
Kristiansen is a native of San Diego.  He began his career in the hospitality industry as a bartender at Harrah's Tahoe, a 5 star property.  After moving to the Monterey Peninsula, he honed his expertise managing and tending bar at diverse establishments throughout the area.  David has been employed as a bartender the last 11 years with the prestigious Pebble Beach Resorts.  In the fall of 2007 David took the Introductory course with the Court of The Master Sommeliers and was inspired to learn more about wine.  He proceeded to pass the Certified Exam in the spring of 2008 and was fortunate to pass the Advanced Course on his first try.  Kristiansen’s passion for food and wine has led him to travel throughout California's wine regions and to France's Loire Valley, taking pleasure in meeting the faces behind the labels.

Emily Pickral Papach,  Kysela Pere et Fils, Richmond, VA  
Papach began her career in hospitality shortly after graduating from college by working at Danny Meyer’s Gramercy Tavern in New York City.  During her time there from 2004-2008, she worked as a wine captain and cellar assistant, while also completing the Diploma studies for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust.  In 2008, she relocated to her home state of Virginia, where she has been working as a salesperson for specialty importer and Master Sommelier, Fran Kysela.  Emily wanted to further her education in wine and so enrolled in the Court of Master Sommeliers Introductory Course in the spring of 2009.  She later completed the Certified Exam in the summer of that same year.  In the spring of 2010, she passed the Advanced Exam in Anaheim on her first attempt.  Emily currently resides in Richmond, VA with her husband and 3 year old son.