ABOUT Wine Director Maximilian Kast

WHAT THEY'RE SAYING

Raleigh News & Observer
"With the supremely knowledgeable and personable sommelier Maximilian Kast at your side, you need never feel intimidated...the sommelier's suggested wine pairings were once again on the money and included a couple of surprising matches that wouldn't have occurred to me."

- Food Critic Greg Cox

Raleigh Luxury Travel Examiner
"The wine-and-food pairings were superb. We both especially liked Max’s selection for the rabbit, a Basel Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon 2005 from Pheasant Run Vineyard in Walla Walla Valley, WA."

- Kathy Newburn

ACCOLADES

'Best of Award of Excellence'
Max's wine program has continued to earn Fearrington the Wine Spectator Best of Award of Excellence, which the restaurant first received in 2004

Advanced Sommelier
In 2009, Max Kast passed the Advanced Test with the Court of Master Sommeliers, becoming the only Advanced Sommelier in the Triangle

Top/Somm 2010 Finalist
Max Kast was regional finalist in this prestigious competition, sponsored by the Guild of Sommeliers and the Court of Master Sommeliers
 

Max joined The Fearrington House in 2007 as Sommelier, and within a year was promoted to Wine Director with responsibilities for the beverage program for the entire property. He organizes and hosts Fearrington House’s popular Wine Maker Dinner series. And he also teaches popular and inexpensive Wine and Beer Classes at The Fearrington Granary Restaurant.

Max changes Fearrington House’s 800 label wine list regularly to match the seasonal changes of Executive Chef Colin Bedford’s menu. The list includes wines from all over the world, from verticals of famous Napa Valley Producers and First Growth Bordeaux, to Arvine from the Valle D’Aosta, Neuburger from the Wachau and Sparkling Vintage Pinot Noir from Slovenia.

His broader responsibilities include the beverage program for special events, the Belted Goat café, The Fearrington Granary Restaurant, and Roost, Fearrington’s beer garden. Max also facilitates wine and beer oriented teambuilding activities popular with corporate and group clients.

Max has been quoted by Wine & Spirits Magazine, Sommelier Journal, and local media like Metro Magazine.

Previously, Max was Wine Director at Triple Creek Ranch, also a Relais and Chateaux property, in Montana from 2005 to 2007. Here he increased the scope of the wine list to span over fourteen countries, and over 250 selections. The restaurant received Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence, and Wine Enthusiast’s Award of Distinction. He also organized the Vintner Series, an annual series of weekends in which winery owners and winemakers joined guests for wine dinners and a seminar.

Biography
Having grown up in a very food oriented German-American family in Michigan, Max found his love of food and wine very early on. Every Sunday was spent with his mother and father in the kitchen cooking all day, and at night for a house full of guests. Members of his family also were in management positions at local food purveyors such as American Spoon Foods, Zingermann’s Deli, and Neal’s Yard Dairy – pioneers in the local and fine food movement - offering Max experiences that influenced him to have a love of food, especially handcrafted foods.

Max studied history at the University of Montana, and it was there that he started working in restaurants. It was also where he became serious about wine. What particularly intrigued him was how every wine bottle offered a journey to another place and an introduction to new people, and how, when paired with food, it evokes happiness and shared memories among people.

Accomplishments
Since joining The Fearrington House in 2007, Max played a key role in maintaining its coveted Five Diamond award status with the American Automobile Association. Additionally, he:

• Passed the Advanced Test with the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2009 on first attempt, making him a Master's Candidate. In 2011 Max successfully passed the blind tasting and theory portions of the Master Sommelier Exam, and is studying hard in preparation for the Practical portion in 2012.

• Continues Fearrington House's run as a recipient of Wine Spectator's Best of Award of Excellence, an honor received every year since 2004.

• Was regional finalist, Top/Somm 2010 competition, sponsored by the Guild of Sommeliers and the Court of Master Sommeliers

Max has been quoted in Wines of France, the annual Restaurant Poll issues of Wine and Spirits magazine in 2009 and 2010, and Wine Spectator.