He will representing Hawai'i in the national finals for the best Young Sommelier being held at the National Société Mondiale du Vin Annual Meeting in Monterey, Calif. in October.

The Young Sommelier Competition is open to wine professional between 21 and 32 years of age, and is sponsored by the Chaine des Rotisseurs, a international gastronomic society founded in Paris in 1950. The competition is hosted by the American Chapter of the Court of Master Sommeliers and is based upon the three-part Sommelier Exam, covering the areas of theory (knowledge in all areas of wine and wine production, laws, viticulture and vinification, as well as spirits, beers, ales, ciders, sherry and cigars), practical, station-based service, including a performance exam that includes decanting, champagne service, food and beverage pairing, appropriate glassware choices, blind Spirit Identification of crafted beverages (by nose) and other real world tasks, and blind tasting, a timed verbal, double-blind tasting of six wines, deducting a final conclusion of vintage, varietal and region of origin.