Erik Segelbaum, 39

Founder/Chief Vinnovation Officer, Somlyay LLC, Washington, D.C.

Vice President, The United Sommeliers Foundation

The lobbying somm

Segelbaum has served as wine director for an all-star roster of restaurants from South Beach to Seattle. At Starr Restaurants, he championed underappreciated Madeira as a pairing option for steak. At Schwartz Brothers Restaurants, he managed an award-winning wine program with more than $4.5 million in sales per year. In addition to his own hospitality consulting service, Somlyay, Segelbaum has lobbied Congress against tariffs on European Union wines as a part of the US Wine Trade Alliance. He’s also involved with The United Sommeliers Foundation to help with housing, medical needs and childcare for sommeliers who lost jobs due to the novel coronavirus pandemic.

Instagram: @erik4wine