Randall Bertao, MS
Like his Portuguese ancestors who ventured out in search of new horizons, explorer Master Randall Bertao set out to discover and master the intricacies of the vine.
Born and raised in California’s Central Valley, Master Bertao grew up on his family’s dairy ranch in the town of Los Banos. One of four sons, Master Bertao was expected to work for the family business after finishing school. However, the constant explorer had other plans in mind and in 1974, Bertao set out for the city of Los Gatos to pursue a job at Mt. Charley’s restaurant where he was first exposed to the complexities of wine. Fascinated by the wine he was able to taste there, Randall began making regular trips to the Napa Valley where he pursued his new passion and continued his fascination and study of wine.
Adventurous and independent, Master Bertao takes after his grandparents who emigrated from a small island off the coast of Portugal to create their own path in California. Along with a few treasured items, they brought with them his grandmother’s homemade wine that she continued to make in her new home in California. A very early influence on Master Bertao and his first exposure to good wine, he stills has bottles of his grandmother’s final vintage from 1983.
It wasn’t until an encounter with a 1961 Chateau Lafite that Master Bertao’s interest in what makes specific wines so special really began, sparking his curiosity and passion to explore and discover the winemaking process.
In 1984, Master Bertao ventured to England where he and a friend launched restaurant 34 Surrey Street, which offered primarily American-style seafood and imported wine. After ten years of exploring London and meeting his wife there in 1988, Master Bertao returned to the United States and started working with the Los Gatos Brewing Company in 1994, AP Stumps in 2001, and Parcel 104 in 2004. He received the Wine Spectator Award at the Los Gatos Brewing Company, AP Stumps and Parcel 104.
Master Bertao heard about the Court of Master Sommeliers at the Los Gatos Brewing Company and decided to take the next step in his constant adventure with wine. Under the guidance of Master Fred Dame, he studied fervently for his exams with friend and current Master Sommelier Reggie Narito. Master Bertao passed the Master Sommelier exam in 2005 and has since worked as General Manager of the Los Altos Golf and Country Club, and is an active member of the Wine Society for the Club Managers of America Association. In this role, he leads tours of prominent California wineries and helps club managers broaden their pairing repertoires and their wine lists. Locally, as General Manager of the Los Altos Golf and Country Club, he hand selects all of the local wineries for the Annual Harvest Wine Festival in Los Altos.
Providing exceptional service to all members and guests of the Los Altos Golf & Country Club, Master Bertao uses his unique talents to assess each individuals needs considering their wine preference, previous experiences, and type of meal. His philosophy is simple: to provide guests with the feeling they have experienced something special by serving them pleasantly, efficiently, and with quality wines that complement their meal. Master Bertao loves sharing his knowledge and expertise with savvy and novice tasters alike. He currently lectures and proctors examinations for the Court of Master Sommeliers, and enjoys mentoring students as they advance through the program.