Master Sommelier & Wine Director at The Breakers
Biography
As the eleventh woman in the world to earn the prestigious certification of Master Sommelier, Virginia Philip is a supreme talent in the wine industry and a pioneer among women in the profession.
As Wine Director at The Breakers Palm Beach (located in Palm Beach, FL), one of America’s most iconic luxury resorts, Philip is responsible for the continuously elevating the 140-acre property’s award-winning wine program and cocktail culture. She shares her passion and knowledge of wine, along with acute tasting skills and pairing expertise, while leading a talented team of seven sommeliers, including protégé and fellow Master Sommelier, Juan Gomez.
Since joining the company in 2000, Philip has been the force behind The Breakers’ retention of two esteemed accolades: Wine Spectator’s - Grand Award (HMF - since award’s inception in 1981) and the Best of Award of Excellence (Flagler Steakhouse - since 2014). With uncompromising devotion to quality, she has expanded the resort’s impressive wine collection to more than 55,000 bottles throughout 10 distinctive restaurants, banquet operations and in-room dining - a showcase of over 2,200 wines from 17 countries that range in price from $60 to $24,000 per bottle. Her curated lists, perfectly tailored to each of the hotel’s culinary concepts, also include a dynamic wine by-the-glass program, enticing guests to enjoy unique, creative offerings or engage one of her team of brilliant sommeliers for a personalized experience.
Since 2004, Philip has led the charge to create The Breakers’ exclusive custom blends, born from her passion for elevating the caliber of house wines. Each year she travels to Mas La Chevalière in France’s Languedoc region to produce proprietary Chardonnay, Sauvignon Blanc, Pinot Noir and Cabernet Sauvignon.
In addition to her role at The Breakers, Philip added entrepreneur to her career profile in 2011 with the debut of the Virginia Philip Wine Spirits & Academy in Palm Beach, FL, and its outpost in Delray Beach. Her namesake retail boutique features over 1,000 personal wine selections, an extensive collection of spirits, weekly education programs, as well as guest appearances from national and international winemakers.
Throughout her 23-year tenure at the resort, Philip has built a tremendous reputation as an expert while earning many of the industry’s most respected distinctions: the extraordinary accreditation of Master Sommelier (2002), the highest certification of international proficiency for which she is currently one of 29 women among 275 Master Sommeliers worldwide; “Best Sommelier in America” (2002-2006) from the American Sommelier Association; and the eminent James Beard Foundation’s nomination for “Outstanding Wine & Spirits Professional” (2012). She received her “Honorary Doctorate Degree of Oenology” in 2015 from her alma mater, Johnson & Wales University (Providence, RI); and was named 1 of 50 of the most influential women in today’s wine & spirits industry by WINWSA (Women in Wine & Spirits Association) in 2020.
Prior to The Breakers, Philip was employed as wine buyer/sommelier for A&S Holdings, a major wine retailer based in San Antonio, TX, and she held hospitality management positions at several high-profile resorts and restaurants in the U.S., including The Little Nell Hotel in Aspen, CO.
Photo Link: Virginia Philip Headshot (photo credit: LILA PHOTO)