According to a report in the San Francisco Chronicle, a Dallas wine expert was among six master sommeliers stripped of their prestigious titles on charges of sexual misconduct.
The Court of Master Sommeliers announced on Wednesday that Drew Hendricks, co-founder of the Dallas-based wine conference and awards competition TEXSOM, and five other Master Sommeliers will no longer be members of the elite wine group after an external investigation into the latest allegations made in October Article in the New York Times.
Details of the allegations against each of the sommeliers were not given, but the court said in its announcement that the allegations ranged from “inappropriate comments and flirting to non-consensual touching and exploiting a mentor relationship for a perceived consideration”.
Hendricks previously worked for Pioneer Wine Co. in Dallas and the Republic National Distributing Company. Pioneer representatives told the Houston Chronicle that Hendricks has not worked there since November 2020. Hendricks previously worked at the Dallas restaurants Pappas Bros. Steakhouse and the now-closed Charlie Palmer at Joule.
Hendricks was not immediately available for comment.
James Tidwell, a Dallas-based master sommelier who co-founded TEXSOM with Hendricks in 2005, says Hendricks has not had or had a stake in the organization since the New York Times article was published last year.
“When the article came out and things came out, it wasn’t involved,” says Tidwell. “Since then we have moved in directions that are more inclusive, equitable, and diverse, and I think you can see that when you attend the conference.”
Tidwell says he hired an outside company to revise the organization’s code of conduct and set up an anonymous hotline for reporting misconduct.
“We’re making changes to make a safe space for everyone, whatever the goal, but there’s obviously a better understanding now of what that means,” says Tidwell.
The other master sommeliers who will lose their titles are Fred Dame, Matt Stamp, Robert Bath, Fred Dexheimer, and Joseph Lindler. The men have 30 days to appeal the court’s decision. After these 30 days their membership expires, which excludes them from participating in judicial activities or the use of the title of master sommelier.
Only 172 people in the US hold the coveted Master Sommelier title. Of these 172 master sommeliers, only 28 are women. Those who earn the title through intensive training and passing four exams are among the best-paid personalities in the world of wine.
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