MANY SOMMELIERS, ONE COMMUNITY. 

The United Sommeliers Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that supports and strengthens the sommelier community by providing professional and personal resources and emergency financial aid.

Since our founding we have continued our evolution as a resource for emergency funding for our community. Since 2020, our partners have funded:

  • 2.1 Million raised overall

  • 1.8 Million distributed to our awardees

  • 2,500+ grants awarded

  • Sommeliers & Wine Professionals have been directly aided in all 50 states

  • We have opened funding for over 23 natural disasters

  • Awarded $30,000 in scholarship funds through the Debbie Lewis Scholarship

  • 98% of funding raised goes directly into the hands of wine professionals in need

Created during the COVID-19 pandemic in unprecedented times, our leadership held the belief that members of the Sommelier community were the first to be let go from their role and the last hired back. 

With that belief in mind, the United Sommeliers Foundation has continued their mission to support and strengthen the sommelier community by providing professional and personal resources and emergency financial aid. Today, we today have expanded to emergency funding including fires, floods, and other natural disasters. Additionally, the United Sommeliers Foundation has created an open grant inviting Sommeliers who require emergency financial assistance to apply on a year round basis.

Apply For A Grant

We’re proud to partner with SommCon! 

SommCon Conference & Beverage Expo is the premier gathering for professionals in the wine, beer, and spirits industry, offering unparalleled opportunities for education, networking, and career development. SommCon Conference & Beverage Expo, taking place October 5-7 at the Town & Country Resort in San Diego, California, offers a comprehensive program of wine and spirits education, professional development, mentorship and networking opportunities, and a vibrant marketplace showcasing domestic and international producers of wine, beer, spirits, and brands in the low and no alcohol category. An early and ardent supporter of the USF, we’re excited to expand our reach through their network of wine professionals. Visit their site to learn more.

Wine Enthusiast Companies is pleased to announce a partnership with United Sommeliers Foundation, a non-profit focused on supporting and strengthening the sommelier community by providing professional and personal resources and emergency financial aid. A portion of the net proceeds from the 25th annual Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Awards gala will be donated to the 501(c)(3) organization. Since being founded in 2020, United Sommeliers Foundation has awarded more than 2500 grants to sommeliers finding themselves in vulnerable and uncertain positions. Their support has expanded to helping those impacted by fires, floods, and other natural disasters.

Our Partners

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  • “We at Kobrand wish our very best to all the sommeliers and other restaurant, hotel, bar, and club staff members in terms of staying safe and secure during these unprecedented times. We’re facing a time of great uncertainty, a time that has forced our dearest friends and business partners to face significant challenges. After seeing what the United Sommelier Foundation has been able to accomplish in just a short period of time, and in learning of their deep and sincere dedication toward helping people in need, it is with great pride that we support their efforts by donating $100,000 to their worthy initiatives. Over our 76-year history, on-premise has been our channel of priority and strength, and we will work together as we navigate our way to recovery and look forward to the better times ahead when we are on the other side of this crisis.”

    — Bob DeRoose

    President & CEO, Kobrand Wine & Spirits Corporation

  • “As the mother and wife of people in the restaurant business, and as the publisher of JancisRobinson.com, I am all too aware of the pain of all sorts inflicted by this terrible pandemic. Anything that can be done to relieve that pain is truly admirable and I salute all those involved with the United Sommeliers Foundation. Please take advantage of our offer of complimentary membership of our Purple Pages for under-employed hospitality professionals.”

    — Jancis Robinson

  • “After spending the last couple of weeks researching various ways that we can use our limited resources during this devastating time, it became apparent that The United Sommeliers Foundation is the best way for our winery to help wine professionals across the country.  Although we hope that the current global crisis never repeats itself, we look forward to partnering with USF for years to come to help sommeliers during whatever hardships may arise in the future.”

    — Jodie Morlet

    General Manager & Proprietor, Morlet Family Vineyards

  • “The sommelier community has been devastated by restaurant closures around the world. Top sommeliers have dedicated themselves to educating clients and elevating a great dining experience. To envision that we might be losing an entire group of sommeliers is hard to fathom. For any lover of wine, it is important to provide assistance to these sommeliers in need. I strongly urge you to support the USF with a donation or a purchase in the auction.”

    — Paul Roberts, MS

    COO, Colgin Cellars

  • “The United Sommelier Foundation is an organization that makes me proud to be a part of the sommelier community. Even though sommeliers and wine professionals are spread out across the country, we are a small community. The creation of the USF, with its mission to offer aid to beverage professionals now and in the future, is very much needed. Because at the end of the shift, we are all one family.”

    — Bernie Sun

    Luxury Account Manager, Kobrand Wine & Spirits Corporation

  • “Every year, sommeliers  contribute their time and money to helping out those in need.  The work that the United Sommeliers Foundation has now undertaken for our own is truly inspirational.  A big thanks to all the board members, sponsors and all those who support the work of the United Sommeliers Foundation.”

    — Larry Stone, MS

    CEO & Founder, Lingua Franca

  • “The United Sommeliers Foundation is an incredible advocate for our industry’s sommeliers. At Eleven Madison Park we value our family members highly and without them we might never have the perfect and intimate experience that we strive for. The United Sommeliers Foundation has graciously raised financial for those sommeliers who have lost their jobs due to the current pandemic. Thank you for taking care of our family and our industry.”  

    — Daniel Humm

    Chef & Owner, Eleven Madison Park NYC

Our Endorsements