Attica sommelier Jane Lopes is the first female in the Oceania region to receive the Master Sommelier Diploma.
Lopes is one of just 34 female Master Sommeliers globally and received the title at the recent examinations held by The Court of Master Sommeliers Americas in St. Louis Missouri.
“The Master Sommelier Diploma represents the highest commitment to hospitality and wine service and I’m thrilled and honoured to be awarded this distinction,” says Lopes.
“Being the first female Master Sommelier in Australia and one of only 34 female Master Sommeliers worldwide, I welcome the opportunity to be able to support and encourage the next generation of sommeliers, while continuing to better myself and our industry.”
Lopes joins fellow Australian Master Sommeliers Franck Moreau (Merivale), Sebastian Crowther (Real Wines), Benajmin Hasko (Luxury Beverage Group), Adrian Filiuta (Merivale) and Jonathan Ross (Rockpool).
Lopes started her career in Chicago working at cocktail bar The Violet Hour and LUSH before she moved to Nashville to take on the role of beverage director for The Catbird Seat. In 2013, she moved to New York to work as a sommelier at Eleven Madison Park before relocating to Melbourne in 2017 to run the beverage program at Attica.
Image credit: Colin Page