Affiliation : Vin Sauvage
Location : Las Vegas, NV, USA

 

Steve Morey unknowingly began his career in wine in 1972 as a freshman at Michigan State University. Eager to nurture his burgeoning interest in “vin ordinaire”, he assisted the owner of the town’s only fine wine shop by conducting wine tastings for the school’s diverse student groups and associations. A few years after graduating with a degree in Economics and Political Science, Steve relocated to San Francisco.

His work soon became a full-time fascination when he accepted the Cellar Master position at the venerable, Ernie’s Restaurant. Most who have ever had the privilege of dining at Ernie’s will agree that this then mainstay of San Francisco seemed to embody all the mystique of the city’s culinary presence and glory of its golden past. Steve’s ten year contribution (1983 to 1993) to the wine program consisted of maintaining a “Wine Spectator, Grand Award” winning wine list and overseeing an 80,000 bottle répertoire.

It was at Ernie’s that he gleaned inspiration from French Wine Master and Maître d’hotel, Jean Rusterholtz; his influence and “old world” refined manner still illuminates with Steve today. Rusterholtz was the definitive world class wine expert, as it is his picture that accompanies the definition of “Sommelier” in the reference encyclopedia of classical cuisine, “Larousse Gastronomique”.

Concurrent with Steve’s work at Ernie’s Restaurant, he began preparing for the internationally recognized English Court of Master Sommeliers’ diploma, as well as securing a position at The Wine Spectator coordinating the magazine’s Wine List Awards program. Steve earned his Master Sommelier diploma in 1992.

In 1993, he began working for Seagram Château & Estate Wines Company as District Sales Manager for the prominent San Francisco and Napa Valley venues and was promoted to Bordeaux and Burgundy Wines Specialist for the major markets of the Western United States in 1998. Then with the formation of the new Diageo Château & Estate Wines Company in 2001, Steve was appointed to a Wine Educator position for the Western Division while maintaining his French Estate portfolio responsibilities.

As always, seeking new challenges continued to drive him. In August 2003, he accepted a dual position at Southern Wine & Spirits of Nevada; Director of Wine Education and Bordeaux Brand Manager for the company’s expanding import and distributing relationships with premier châteaux in Bordeaux. Approximately, one year later, Steve was privileged to launch a new wine import and distribution business in Nevada; Vin Sauvage, LLC. This unique fine wine company’s mission is to present and promote the most distinctive wine portfolio in the state.

Attracting a range of exceptional suppliers while establishing a sales team that prioritizes and anticipates customer needs in a hypercompetitive market has been a most gratifying opportunity, all while investing in education, staff training, and Master Sommelier mentoring. By continuing to pay forward the apprenticeship and professional generosity he received from Jean Rusterholtz and others, Steve and Vin Sauvage have been able to lay the foundation for long-term business; one that responds and adjusts to the current, ever-evolving dynamic of Las Vegas’ mega-resort, international restaurant, and entertainment locales.