EDDIE OSTERLAND:
America’s 1st Master Sommelier

Eddie Osterland, America’s 1st Master Sommelier is an internationally acclaimed expert in the culinary arena of food and wine. For over 25 years, he has performed his workshops on Power Entertaining with Food & Wine.

Clients use Eddie’s lifestyle coaching to strengthen better customer relationships, design annual client-appreciation events and execute corporate events that go way beyond people’s expectations. They realize how today, more than ever, you cannot afford to be naïve about food and wines—the international currency for connection.

Eddie’s educational background evolved from a degree in behavioral psychology to graduating from L’Institut d’oenologie at Université de Bordeaux with the D.U.A.D. degree. He went on to be the 1st American to pass the grueling Master Sommelier Diploma in London in 1973.  Upon returning to the US, Eddie worked as the Director of Trade Education at the International Wine Center. He was the wine editor for Restaurant Business magazine for a decade. He also authored the book Wine and the Bottom Line for the National Restaurant Association.

Over the course of his career Eddie has worked with organizations and coached leaders from some of the following companies:

• Citibank
• IBM
• General Mills
• Merrill Lynch
• UBS
• Association for Financial Professionals
• Esquire magazine
• California Chapter of American Cardiology
• Metropolitan Club Managers Association
• Food and Wines from France
• numerous law firms
• Discover Card
• SPRINT
• Qwest
• Vistage International (225 programs)
• Crystal Cruises
• National Australian Bank (annual client-appreciation event 7 years running)
• Shoprite
• Ritz Carlton
• Ford
• Discover Card
• Association for Financial Professionals

He recently returned from delivering his keynote in 5 cities in China and has been asked to participate in some of the major corporate entertaining events for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Audiences everywhere know him as funny, approachable and non-intimidating. He gives them the knowledge and skills they need to enjoy wine, and gives them confidence to entertain impressively.

Education: 

Currently there are 96 master Sommeliers in the United States.  Eddie Osterland was the first of them...a true pioneer!  B. A. Psychology, Fairleigh Dickenson University, L’Institut d’oenologie at Université de Bordeaux, University of Bordeaux France with (D.U.A.D) Diplôme Universitaire D’aptitude A la Dégustation Des Vins degree; Master Sommelier, Guild of Sommeliers, London England; Instrument rated pilot 1983.

Background & Experience:

Eddie was  Former head Sommelier at Hôtel de la Poste, Beaune France; Past Director of Trade Education for the International Wine Center in New York, where he traveled for 5 years to 25 cities each year presenting his unique multi-media style events on behalf of companies like American Express, National Restaurant Association, Heublein Inc, Foods & Wines From France and the Italian Trade Center

Publications: 

Restaurant Business, Wine and the Bottom Line; Author of the unprecedented Wine & the Bottom Line written for the National Restaurant Association; Former Wine Editor for Restaurant Business Magazine for more than a decade; Chosen by Esquire Magazine to do their "Wine Advisor Video"; Creator of "Discovering the Pleasures of Wine" audio series

Clients: 

Citibank, IBM, General Mills, Merrill Lynch, UBS, Association for Financial Professionals, Esquire magazine, California Chapter of American Cardiology, Metropolitan Club Managers Association, Food & Wines from France, numerous law firms, Discover Card, SPRINT, Qwest, Vistage International (225 programs), Crystal Cruises, National Australian Bank (annual client-appreciation event 7 years running), Shoprite, Ritz Carlton, Ford, Discover Card, and Association for Financial Professionals, National Restaurant Association, Heublein Inc., Italian Trade Center

Professional Affiliations: 

Member National Speakers Association (NSA), charter member Court of Master Sommeliers.