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Rohrbaugh Best-in-Class at Anaheim Advanced – Receives Rudd Scholarship
April 30, 2012
Jackson Rohrbaugh Awarded Best-in-Class at Anaheim Advanced – Receives Rudd Scholarship
Master Sommeliers Fred Dame (left) and Geoff Kruth (right) present Jackson Rohrbaugh with the Rudd Scholarship.
Anaheim, CA – Jackson Rohrbaugh of Canlis in Seattle was named a Rudd Scholar for his best-in-class performance at the Anaheim Advanced Sommelier examination last week. The Rudd Scholarship honors the individual who receives the highest score in each of the three Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced exams; each Rudd scholar receives a $5,000 scholarship and the opportunity to participate in the annual Rudd Master’s Roundtable.
Rohrbaugh attributes the spark that ignited his passion for food and wine to a year spent studying abroad in Italy in 2007. Returning to Seattle, he started at Canlis in 2008 and worked as a barista and bartender before moving up to server. During this time he was encouraged in his wine studies by Wine Director Nelson Daquip.
Rohrbaugh passed his Introductory exam through the Court of Master Sommeliers in the fall of 2010, followed by his Certified exam in April of 2011. He credits his Seattle colleagues and the wine team at Canlis for challenging and encouraging him in his preparation for the Advanced exam, and he acknowledges, “I'm also grateful to my wife Gretchen for believing in me and quizzing me through many flash card sessions!”
Rohrbaugh notes that the opportunity to taste with both his fellow candidates and the Master Sommeliers leading the Anaheim Advanced Course was a special privilege. “The openness, humility and wisdom of the Masters I tasted with taught me a great deal and prepared me to grow further.”
The Rudd Scholar program is made possible by a grant from the Rudd Foundation and Mr. Leslie Rudd. Mr. Rudd is the proprietor of Rudd Oakville Estate, Edge Hill Winery, PRESS Restaurant, Dean & DeLuca and the Oakville Grocery.
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