Jack Mason achieved Master Sommelier status at the very young age of 27 and one of the youngest
to do so. He is one of only 12 esteemed Master Sommeliers currently in the state of Texas and one
of 172 Master Sommeliers in North America.
Born in Biloxi, Mississippi, Mason developed a fondness for the food and beverage industry while
working in local restaurants in his hometown of College Station, Texas. Mason’s interest in wine
was piqued while taking a wine education requirement class while pursuing a culinary degree from
the Culinary Institute of America (CIA) in Hyde Park, New York. After graduating, Mason soon
left to enroll in Hospitality Management at Cornell School of Hotel Administration and became a
wine course Teaching Assistant. To further his education, he spent summers back in College Station
working within wine shops and restaurants.
Mason returned to Texas following his graduation to begin his career in Houston as a Sommelier at
the Grand Award-winning Pappas Bros. Steakhouse while simultaneously studying for and passing
the Advanced Exam of the Court of Master Sommeliers.
In 2013, Mason moved to New York City to work in various notable restaurants. He refined his
knowledge and passion of Italian wine as Sommelier of several Michael White Italian restaurants,
including Ai Fiori and Marea. The following year, Jack joined famed restaurateur Danny Meyer to
open Marta as the wine director, where he focused on wines from Italy and Champagne and
furthered the team’s beverage education. In 2015, Jack passed the Master Sommelier Examination
and was inducted into the Court of Master Sommeliers.
Mason decided it was time to return to his roots and moved back home to Texas in November 2016.
He rejoined Pappas Bros. Steakhouse in Houston as Director of Wine Operations at the Houston
and Dallas locations. Overseeing an inventory of more than 60,000 bottles of wine and close to
5,500 selections from the three restaurant’s extraordinary wine collections, he was responsible for
providing continuous wine programing, education for both the service staff and patrons and
enhancing the wine drinking experience at each location.
In the fall of 2020, Mason joined Republic National Distribution Company and grew to become a
Director of Business Development. Mason worked to bring on several suppliers to RNDC Texas,
educate specialists and the on-premise teams, grow fine-wine market share and further develop the
Bordeaux category for the network.
Mason has been featured in Forbes’s annual “30 Under 30” list of outstanding young professionals
nationwide, Zagat’s “30 Under 30” list in New York City as was named Wine & Spirits “Best New
Sommelier 2015.” He was also featured in the series “Uncorked” on the Esquire Network that
followed his journey to receiving his MS certification.
In his personal life, this Master Sommelier enjoys spending time with friends, cooking and working
on the house he shares with his wife Carly, daughter Penelope, son Beckett, son Rhys and their
Goldendoodle, Mr. Bojangles.
