We’re excited to announce that the Chandlers Steakhouse Wine Director, Ryan Robinson, recently became an Advanced Sommelier awarded by the Court of Master Sommeliers, making him one of only 1200 in the Americas, Australia, and New Zealand, and the first from the state of Idaho to do so. The esteemed accomplishment is yet another example of our commitment to industry excellence.

Ryan Robinson came on board as Wine Director in July of this year, bringing with him over 10 years of industry experience, most notably his recent effort to achieve Advanced Sommelier status. The Advanced Sommelier test is incredibly difficult—often noted as the second hardest in the world—and required two to six hours of studying every day for nearly three years before Robinson passed in April of 2016 in Portland, Oregon after a three-day exam.

In addition to becoming an Advanced Sommelier, Robinson was recently voted Fan Favorite at the Somms Under Fire competition in Austin, Texas, where he made the final round as one of the top three sommeliers in the United States. He says this knowledge helps him better define the already amazing wine program at Chandlers. He continued, “It also allows me to offer training to the Chandlers staff, and helps us better connect with guests, finding the perfect bottle of wine to create a new dining experience.”

While Robinson’s experience brings a new level of prestige to the Chandlers Steakhouse wine program, we have a long history of both regional and national recognition for our wine list, which features over 705 selections and 36 wines by the glass. In 2016, Chandlers was awarded the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence for the fourth year in a row—and is one of only two restaurants in Idaho to hold this honor.