Larry O'Brien, Sommelier

Larry has over 20 years of experience in the restaurant and wine businesses, including positions at two Wine Spectator Grand Award winning establishments, The Wine Merchant Restaurant in Akron, OH and Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa, FL. Additionally, he served as sommelier for celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse’s Orlando, FL restaurant. His career led him to Stations Casinos in Las Vegas, NV in 2005 where he created the wine programs for Red Rock Resort and guided the makeover and modernization of the company's corporate wine program.

Larry represented the United States in the prestigious international sommelier competition Meilleur Sommelier du Monde Concours Mondial in 2000 after winning the title of Best Sommelier in America earlier that same year. In 2001 Larry became one of approximately 135 Master Sommeliers in the world and the first Master Sommelier in Florida. Early in 2008, he was elected to the Board of Directors of the Court of Master Sommeliers. He has served as a judge for the Confrérie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs’ Jeune Sommelier Competition at the national and regional levels. He has participated as a wine judge, with other internationally recognized experts, at the Starwine International Wine Competition held in Philadelphia in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

When not immersed in the world of wine, you will likely find Larry in a bowling center working towards a 200 average and his first 300 game.