MATTHEW-LORÈN LINDSEY

A trained palate showcases the best of wine

By Debbie Hall Photos by Matthew-Lorèn Lindsey

Sommelier Matthew-Lorèn Lindsey has spent the last 15 years as a wine collector and industry leader in the wine space as an importer and distributor in the Las Vegas casino market. He is the lead sommelier and wine judge for the PR%F Awards, the largest double-blind wine and spirit competition in the United States.

He serves as the Executive Sommelier and Director of Wine for the National Blended Festival, curating the wine experience for thousands of festival attendees. Additionally, he is the founder of Appellation Wine Brands, a luxury lifestyle company that creates wine brands for restaurant groups, hotels, and private companies. Matthew-Lorèn shares his passion for wine as the founder and educator of The Advanced Wine Course.com, an e-learning platform for wine enthusiasts and novists. He is the creator of advancedwinecourse.com, an online wine course. He is the Sommelier and Director of Fine Wine at West Coast Beverages (import and distribution company).

Recently Matthew-Lorèn attended the Wine Spectator Grand Tour in Las Vegas hosted at Resorts World Las Vegas. The Grand Tour walk-around tastings featured 200 wines rated 90 points or higher by Wine Spectator's editors, along with a delicious selection of food and a souvenir Riedel wineglass. Attending the Grand Tour for years, “This event showcases the most highly-rated wines out right now. It is a great experience and a privilege for me to attend and sample wines revered by Wine Spectator as some of the best wines from around the world,” explains Matthew-Lorèn.

Follow Matthew-Lorèn on his wine journey on instagram @ TheLordofWine and email him @ TheLordofWine@gmail.com.

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The coveted double-blind tasting competition

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The total package competition

Century Award

Perfect. To receive a Century Award is to be de ned as perfect. It is a 100-point perfect score, unanimously, from all judges present at the awards tasting program. Unanimous. Only a selection of these brands makes it to the prestigious level. It is the ultimate accolade and the utmost level of achievement in a spirits and wine brand. Unparalleled.

Double Gold Award

Outstanding. Spirits and wine awarded a Double Gold are beyond industry standards and celebrated with prominent elegance in their respected categories. These brands de ne nesse and make a palate dance with superiority. When you achieve this award, your brand de es gravity.

Gold Award

Great and distinguished with high praise and worthy of celebration. Our Gold award is a high merit of achievement. These are the brands that set the bar beyond standard heights and reach it — at all costs and are classi ed as some of the best brands in the arena. Hue, Taste, Texture, Power, Length, and Echo all balance to create a superb avor and moment.

Silver Award

Rated as good and recommended for the public, our Silver award recipients demonstrate a noticeable well-balanced presence between avor and complexity, taste and nish. Many of our Silver recipients can be found nationally in stores, restaurants, bars, and online.

Bronze Award

Our Bronze award recognizes these brands to be fair, well-crafted, attractive to nose, taste, and nish—worthy of recognition.