Master Sommelier: Alan Murray

ALAN MURRAY
Master Sommelier
Masa's Restaurant

Master Sommelier Alan Murray had his first glass of "quality wine" in the Hunter Valley, north of Sydney, Australia, where he was raised. After that glass, he spent nearly all of his vacations in Australia's diverse wine regions, tasting, and learning as much as possible. "I haven't stopped asking questions since," states Murray.

In 1998, Murray moved to San Francisco where he took a job at Rubicon restaurant in order to work with the highly esteemed Master Sommelier Larry Stone, who was running an ambitious wine program and had compiled an encyclopedic wine cellar. With Stone's encouragement, Murray began working towards his Master Sommelier diploma with the Court of Master Sommeliers. He became wine director at Masa's in 2001 and was awarded his Master Sommelier diploma in February 2005. In doing so, Murray became the first Australian to earn that distinction. Currently Alan is studying for the Master of Wine Certification.

Murray has recently been enamored with Austrian Rieslings. "They are some of the finest dry Rieslings and dry wines you will find," said Murray. One of his favorites, Prager, has "a beautiful dry style with perfect balance between power and elegance."

Masa's wine list features many small production wines from California, Burgundy, the Rhone Valley and Germany. "I like to collect delicate wines from around the globe. Chef Gregory Short's food is balanced and very elegant, so I incorporate delicate wines so as not to overpower the food," he said. "Even with a trend toward higher prices for the limited production wines, we continue to strive to offer a sincerely amazing selection of wines that I believe represent the best vintners around the globe."

For over 25 years, the sommeliers at Masa's have prided themselves on their extensive knowledge and familiarity with wines from around the world. "It is an honor to continue this tradition," said Murray. "It's about what I can do to enhance the guests' total experience. The more I put into wine, the more I have received in return."