Sommelier
Jason Judy
Certified Sommelier Jason Judy began his wine career in Monterey County as the wine director for Montrio in 1997. Next stop: Rancho Cellars and Cepage Winebar where Jason developed an extensive high end wine program featuring fine and rare wines. At this time, Jason was asked to teach wine education classes through the University of California system. Jason then moved on to a successful career in wine marketing and distribution for Southern Wine & Spirits and the Henry Wine Group. To hone his management skills, he then worked as the General Manager of a major high end boutique hotel. Jason’s decision to return to the restaurant business is the result of his desire to back in touch with the customer experience. Finding the right wine and seeing someone enjoy it is his passion. Jason’s palate is especially suited to food and wine pairings.
Inspired by working with William Scherer and Alpana Singh, Jason became the first known certified sommelier in San Luis Obispo County in 1999 after being certified by the Guild of Master Sommeliers. He is currently studying for the master sommelier exam. While Jason realizes that no one can know absolutely everything about wine, he spends much of his free time educating himself and others.
Jason has been the lead sommelier and the wine program manager at Black Cat Bistro in one way or another since the beginning of the Black Cat, seven years ago. He became the full time manager of Black Cat in early 2009.
Before he worked at the Black Cat Bistro, his cell phone rang often with random and obscure wine related questions from Chef Deborah who believes he knows more about wine than anyone else that she knows. And she knows a lot of wine people.
