Perfect Wine Pairings With Le Bernardin's Aldo Sohm

• Meet and learn from Le Bernardin's wine director Aldo Sohm, named World's Best Sommelier in 2008.
• Taste five wines paired with exquisite small plates from the Michelin three-star team at Le Bernardin.

Aldo Sohm is the wine director of Le Bernardin. He was awarded the highly coveted title Best Sommelier in the World in 2008 by the World Sommelier Association and was the first representative of America to win this title. At Le Bernardin, Aldo oversees a wine collection consisting of 15,000 bottles made up of 900 wine selections from 12 countries, with vintages that date back to 1875. In addition, he trains the sommeliers to offer guests enticing food-and-wine pairings that range from classic to daring. Aldo joined the Le Bernardin team in May 2007 and, under his direction, the restaurant won the 2009 James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine Service. Aldo's fascination with wine began at the age of 19, after he visited an Italian vineyard with his father. At the time, Aldo was enrolled in tourism school in Saint Johann, Tirol, located near his hometown of Inzing, Austria. Following his 1989 graduation, Aldo spent the next 15 years working at restaurants throughout Austria. He was named Best Sommelier of Austria in 2002, and upheld this title for four consecutive years, a feat never before or since accomplished. In July 2004, Aldo relocated to the United States and became wine director at Wallsé, Blaue Gans and Café Sabarsky. In 2006, New York magazine voted him Best Sommelier in New York. The following year Aldo joined Le Bernardin.

Le Bernardin opened in 1986. Owned by Maguy Le Coze and chef Eric Ripert, the celebrated restaurant earned four stars from The New York Times three months after its opening, and has never dropped a star throughout four reviews. It is the only restaurant to maintain the rating for that length of time. Le Bernardin has held three stars from the Michelin Guide since the guide's 2005 New York launch, and the New York Zagat guide has recognized Le Bernardin as top rated in the category of Best Food for the last seven consecutive years. The 2011 Zagat awarded Le Bernardin a 29 food rating – the highest in New York City. Chef Eric Ripert is a regular guest judge on Bravo's Top Chef, and is the author of four cookbooks: Le Bernardin – Four Star Simplicity (1998), A Return to Cooking (2002), On the Line (2008) and Avec Eric (2010).

This is a one-day-only event, exclusive to Lot18 members, taking place at Le Bernardin on Saturday, Jan. 28, 3-4:30pm. Your name will be added to the guest list upon purchase. This opportunity is limited to only 22 Lot18 members. You will be emailed a voucher upon purchase. Printed vouchers must be presented upon arrival at Le Bernardin. Your voucher has no cash value and cannot be redeemed for cash. Your voucher can be given as a gift to others. Lot18 cannot be responsible for vouchers that are lost, damaged or stolen. No cancellations or refunds after purchase. No resale of vouchers is permitted unless such resale is permitted pursuant to applicable law. Vouchers are not redeemable for cash (in whole or in part) and have no cash value except as required by applicable law. If cash redemption is required by applicable law, you will only be entitled to cash redemption based on the amount you paid Lot18 for the voucher, not the actual or retail cost from the vendor. Use of Lot18 vouchers is subject to Lot18's Terms of Service.