Jesse Rodriguez
FUTO Estate
Jesse Rodriguez is part of the FUTO Estate leadership team whose emphasis is national sales and ambassadorship.
Rodriguez is an Advanced Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers. In addition, he is a Certified Wine Educator (CWE) by the Society of Wine Educators, he is a French (FWS) and Spanish (SWS) Wine Scholar through the Wine Scholar Guild out of Washington, DC. He holds his diploma from the Wine & Spirits Educational Trust (DipWSET).
Prior to FUTO, Rodriguez managed luxury resort and fine dining restaurant beverage programs across California, South Carolina, and Tennessee. Most recently Rodriguez wrote the beverage program for Southall Farm + Inn, a new luxury hotel that has been eight years in the making. Southall is located in the quaint town of Franklin.
In South Carolina, Jesse wrote the Montage Palmetto Bluff beverage program that received a Wine Spectator, Best of Award of Excellence and World of Fine Wine, 3-star award.
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During his tenure in Southern California, Rodriguez was awarded the inaugural Wine Spectator Grand Award for both Studio at Montage Laguna Beach and Addison at The Grand Del Mar. In addition, his beverage programs were the first in both Orange County and San Diego to be nominated for the James Beard Award: Outstanding Wine Service (2012 and 2014). In Northern California, Jesse was the Head Sommelier at The French Laundry where he was a part of the team that won the inaugural Michelin three-star award in 2006.
Professional decorations on the National level include:
● Best New Sommelier – Wine & Spirits magazine (2009)
● Best Sommelier and Wine List – Food & Wine magazine (2009)
● Wine Enthusiast’s Ultimate Award of Distinction and “100 Best Wine Restaurants in
America” (2010-1014)
● Fine Wine Magazine, 3 Star Award ~ Best Regional Wine List (2018)
● Two-Time Wine Spectator Inaugural Grand Award winner (2009 and 2014)
● Two-Time James Beard Semi-Finalist (2012, 2014)
● StarChefs Southern California “Rising Star – Best Sommelier” (2010)
Jesse Rodriguez is a member of the SommCon Advisory Board