Named a Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old, Carlton McCoy was one of the youngest people and the second African American to earn this prestigious title. Growing up in southeast Washington, DC, Carlton McCoy’s upbringing was an unlikely springboard for his meteoric rise in the wine industry. 

He was raised by his grandmother, a prominent church pastor and well-known cook. Unlike most kids who spent their time playing sports, Carlton spent years by his grandmother’s side learning the craft of cooking. This passion would land him a full scholarship to the Culinary Institute of America. While at the school, he stood out as a super talent amongst his peers ultimately becoming the Sous Chef at The Escoffier Room under legendary Chef Xavier Leroux. After graduating from culinary school, Carlton honed his skills in revered institutions including Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, Tom Colicchio’s Craft Steak in New York, and Eric Zeibold’s CityZen at The Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC. It was at Cityzen working under Master Sommelier Andy Myersnthat he began to study wine deeply and this became his life's focus. In 2011, Carlton joined the team at The Little Nell in Aspen, CO as a sommelier. After earning the Master Sommelier title in 2013, he was promoted to Wine Director, overseeing a staff of 150 and The Little Nell’s acclaimed 20,000-bottle wine cellar. Carlton became President and CEO of Heitz Cellar in December 2018. 

Today Carlton McCoy is the CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, which is the leading portfolio of historical luxury wine estates and includes Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Burgess, Haynes Vineyard, Ink Grade, and Trailside Vineyard in Napa Valley and Château Lascombes in Bordeaux. Under his vision, these wineries craft wines of elegance and balance, while expressing a true sense of place. 

In 2023, McCoy was named Wine Enthusiast’s Social Visionary of the Year for his dedication to diversity, inclusivity, and ability to act and make change happen within the wine industry. As a winery CEO, TV host of CNN’s “Nomad”, nonprofit leader, and cultural ambassador, he’s reshaping the wine world—making it more dynamic and deeply connected with food and community. Adventurous and athletic, Carlton enjoys traveling the world in search of great food, wine and spirits and pursuing physically challenging outdoor activities including biking and running marathons. 

PARTICIPATING EVENTS:

Wine Seminar: The Timeless Chardonnay of Stony Hill with Carlton McCoy

Culinary Demo: Pasta School with Evan Funke and VSB Bologna