Napa Rose Manager Achieves Advanced Level Sommelier Status, Giving Napa Rose a Record Five Sommeliers Now One Step from Title of Master

Napa Rose restaurant Manager Joy Cushing, of Huntington Beach, California, has passed the grueling, weeklong Advanced Level Examination of the International Court of Master Sommeliers, bringing the total number of Advanced Level sommeliers working at Napa Rose to five, the most of any restaurant in the world.

Cushing’s achievement puts her one level away from the elite title of Master Sommelier. It is also a tribute to the mentoring of Napa Rose General Manager and Master Sommelier Michael Jordan who, since 2001, has coached more than 300 Disneyland Resort cast members to the status of certified sommelier.

“When we created the Disneyland Resort Sommelier Education Program in 2001, there weren’t any Advanced Level Sommeliers anywhere in Southern California.” Jordan said. “It’s a very big deal, and we raise our glass to salute Joy.”

The Advanced Level Examination was administered April 27 through May 1 at the Disneyland Resort Hotels to 60 candidates who traveled to Disneyland Resort from such fine restaurants and hotels as The French Laundry in Napa Valley; The Inn at Little Washington, Virginia; Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago and Wolfgang Puck’s Cut steak house, Beverly Hills. Examination participants were also able to attend festivities at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival, where tastings and advanced wine education classes conducted by Michael Jordan are among the special events. The Festival continues through June 7 at Disneyland Resort, with daily, complimentary demonstrations.

Jordan, general manager of the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa, designed and initiated his sommelier training program drawing on extensive research and his own vast expertise. In November 2007, Jordan earned the elite title of Master Sommelier following a rigorous examination by the Court of Master Sommeliers.

The International Court of Master Sommeliers recognizes four stages, from introductory to certified and advanced before culminating with a Master Sommelier diploma exam.
For Disney’s California Food and Wine Festival information and reservations, visit www.disneyland.com/foodandwine.