 Biography
Robert Bath M.S., Master Sommelier
A third generation Californian, Bob Bath was born and raised in Davis, a small, college town, sixty miles east of the Napa Valley. His interest in wine was sparked at the age of 19 while attending college at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and working summers in fine dining restaurants. Bob also played baseball at Cal Poly, alongside St. Louis Cardinal legend and Hall of Fame inductee Ozzie Smith.
Bob is one of seventy nine people in the United States and 150 in the world to have achieved the distinction of Master Sommelier. He received his diploma in 1993 and has been a key member of the educational arm of the Court of Master Sommeliers, a board member and a mentor to many potential and current Master Sommeliers. He continues to be an ongoing teacher at Master Sommelier classes around the country.
Bob has over twenty five years of combined experience in the wine and food trade. Bob was personally involved in two Wine Spectator Grand Award restaurant wine programs, the Sardine Factory Restaurant in Monterey, California and Starker’s Restaurant in Kansas City, Missouri.
Bob spent almost eight years as the National Sales Manager for the highly acclaimed Napa Valley winery, Shafer Vineyards. During that time, he also consulted with restaurateurs around the country including the French Laundry Restaurant in the Napa Valley.
In February of 2000, Bob started his own company, the RLB Wine Group. This multi faceted company has developed customized sales and marketing programs for over twenty five high profile wineries including Dalla Valle Vineyards, Viader Winery, Hartwell Vineyards, Dierberg Vineyard, Iron Horse Vineyards, Charles Krug Winery and Marston Vineyard. The RLB Wine Group also creates educational seminars for companies including Marriott Hotels, the Walt Disney Company, Duckhorn Vineyards, Crystal Cruise Lines, Taj Hotels and the Young Presidents Organization.
Bob joined the Culinary Institute of America at Greystone in 2004 as an adjunct professor where he teaches a variety of advanced wine programs. In 2005 Bob began a series of educational programs for Kendall Jackson Wine Estates and he has helped more than 200 of their key sales and marketing staff pass the Master Sommelier Introductory Course.
In 2003, Bob and his wife, Julie established Robert Bath Imports, a specialized portfolio of artisan wineries from New Zealand that are sold at top restaurants and retailers in twenty states around the country.
Bob is an ongoing writer for Sante Magazine and his first article was nominated for a James Beard Award in Magazine Journalism. He is an ongoing speaker at wine festivals around the world and recently appeared with fellow Master Sommelier Andrea Immer on the Fine Living Network Channel’s show “50 Wines in 50 States.”
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