NAPA, CA – Foster’s Wine Estates has appointed Master Sommelier Fred Dame as Vice President, Luxury Sales reporting to Mike Holden, SVP Sales. Dame will head-up the selling division that will have management responsibility for a world-class portfolio of brands that includes Beringer, Penfolds, Chateau St Jean, Stags’ Leap Winery, Etude and St. Clement.

Prior to joining Foster’s, Dame has held senior management positions with Constellation, Beam Wine Estates, Allied Domecq and Seagram Chateau & Estate Wines. He is one of only 102 Americans to have passed the Master Sommelier Examination and the first to successfully pass all three parts in a single year. He is the first American to serve as President of the Court of Master Sommeliers Worldwide and he founded the organization’s American Branch.

Foster’s Senior Vice President of Sales Mike Holden commented “Few people know more about
selling fine wine than Fred. He is greatly respected in the wine business and he aligns perfectly with our luxury portfolio. We are extremely excited to have him join the Foster’s team.”

Dame served as Cellarmaster for the Sardine Factory in Monterey, California where he was credited for creating a wine list that won the Wine Spectator Grand Award. He has also been awarded Sante Magazine’s Wine Professional of the Year as well as Starwine’s Lifetime Achievement Award.

Dame will be based out of Foster’s North American headquarters in the Napa Valley.