Charlie Palmer Sommelier Drew Hendricks Earns Master Status

You remember Drew Hendricks. He’s the sommelier who, with the help of Four Seasons Sommelier James Tidwell, started the Texas SommelierConference. He also recently left Pappas Bros. to join Charlie Palmer at the new downtown Dallas location. Anyway, the big news–he passed the Court of Master Sommeliers‘ grueling blind tasting on Sunday at the Hotel Healdsburg in California. He is the third master in Texas. The other two are Guy Stout in Houston and Barbara Werley in Dallas, who took Drew’s spot at Pappas in 2007. Congratulations, Drew. What an accomplishment. He now joins less than 90 masters in the United States and about 125 worldwide. Sunday’s test was strictly the blind tasting. In 25 minutes, candidates must name and identify six wines including, the aromas, sight, flavors, origin, and varietal–then pass by at least 75 percent. He passed the service and theory sections two years ago. Guy Stout and James Tidwell were also in California for the master exams, the trio dined at Dry Creek Kitchen on Sunday night and drank Seghesio Arneis and Zinfandel. Stop by Charlie Palmer to congratulate him. He is now officially a worldwide wine celebrity.