The Sommeliers Choice Awards continues to bring together some of the most influential buyers and hospitality leaders in the industry. Joining the 2026 judging panel is Steven Minor, Corporate Beverage Director at Starwood Hotels, bringing over 25 years of experience in luxury hospitality and beverage program leadership.

Steven’s journey in hospitality began with a passion for the culinary arts, eventually leading him into front-of-house and beverage operations. He built his foundation working with some of the most respected names in luxury hospitality, including The Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne, Four Seasons Hotel Miami, and Mandarin Oriental Miami, where he developed a deep understanding of five-star service and high-performance beverage programs.

His career expanded into both luxury hotel environments and high-volume standalone venues, before joining 1 Hotel South Beach—one of the flagship properties within the Starwood portfolio. There, he led beverage operations at scale, gaining hands-on experience in managing complex, multi-outlet hospitality environments.

Today, in his corporate role, Steven oversees beverage strategy across Starwood Hotels’ global portfolio and plays a key role in new hotel openings. In the past year alone, he has contributed to launching multiple properties across international markets, bringing a global, commercially focused perspective to beverage program development and buying decisions.

About Starwood Hotels

Starwood Hotels is a global hospitality group known for its portfolio of luxury and lifestyle-driven hotel brands, including flagship properties like 1 Hotel South Beach. The company focuses on creating high-end guest experiences that blend design, sustainability, and strong food and beverage programming.

With a growing international footprint, Starwood Hotels operates across key global markets, with each property featuring multiple dining concepts, bars, and experiential venues. Beverage programs within the group play a critical role—not only in enhancing guest experience but also in driving revenue across outlets.

As Corporate Beverage Director, Steven Minor helps shape beverage strategy across these diverse properties, working closely with hotel teams to curate wine lists, develop cocktail programs, and ensure commercial success across different markets and guest profiles.

About the Sommeliers Choice Awards

The Sommeliers Choice Awards is uniquely designed to evaluate wines from an on-premise buyer’s perspective. Judges include leading sommeliers, beverage directors, and hospitality professionals who assess wines based on how they perform in real restaurant and bar settings.

Each wine is judged on:

- Quality
- Value for money
- Packaging
- Food pairability

This ensures that winning wines are not just technically sound, but also commercially relevant and ready to succeed in the on-trade channel.

With judges like Steven Minor—who oversees beverage programs across a global hotel group—brands gain exposure to professionals who actively influence purchasing decisions, wine lists, and guest experiences at scale.

Final Call: Get Your Wines in Front of Buyers Like Steven Minor

Entries are now open for the 2026 Sommeliers Choice Awards, with the final submission deadline on April 16.

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For wineries looking to grow distribution and win placements in hotels, restaurants, and bars, this is a powerful opportunity to get your wines in front of real buyers like Steven Minor and other top sommeliers and beverage directors.

By entering, you:

- Showcase your wines to influential hospitality buyers
- Gain medals and recognition that help secure listings
- Strengthen your positioning with distributors and on-trade accounts
- Access marketing tools that support sales and brand growth

If your goal is to grow your presence in the global hospitality sector, this is your moment.

Enter your wines before April 16 and get in front of buyers who are actively shaping beverage programs worldwide.

Also Read:
Multi-Unit Hospitality Group Buyers to Watch in 2026
What Makes the Sommeliers' Choice Awards Unique?
Know Your Sommelier: Tim Gaiser, Master Sommelier