{{short description|American wine professional}} {{Infobox person | name = <!-- defaults to article title when left blank --> | image = <!-- filename only, no "File:" or "Image:" prefix, and no enclosing [[brackets]] --> | alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software --> | caption = | birth_name = <!-- only use if different from name --> | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date |67|2020|10|29}}<ref name="moskinNYT29oct20">{{Cite news |last=Moskin |first=Julia |date=2020-10-29 |title=The Wine World's Most Elite Circle Has a Sexual Harassment Problem |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/dining/drinks/court-of-master-sommeliers-sexual-harassment-wine.html |access-date=2023-06-26 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2023-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531164921/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/dining/drinks/court-of-master-sommeliers-sexual-harassment-wine.html |url-status=live }}</ref><!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living people supply only the year with {{Birth year and age|YYYY}} unless the exact date is already widely published, as per [[WP:DOB]]. For people who have died, use {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}}. --> | birth_place = | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) --> | death_place = | nationality = <!-- use only when necessary per [[WP:INFONAT]] --> | other_names = | occupation = | years_active = | known_for = | notable_works = }}
'''Fred Dame''' is an American [[List of wine professionals|wine professional]].
Dame was born in California and attended [[Washington and Lee University]], earning a degree in journalism and communications.<ref name=":5" />
Dame in 1984 became a Master Sommelier, passing the exam in London before the United States had a court.<ref name=":3" /> He was the first person to pass all three parts of the Master Sommelier examination on the first attempt, which is called "winning the Krug Cup".<ref>[http://www.ilikethisgrape.com/master-sommelier-best-job-in-the-world/ Master Sommelier Fred Dame: Best Job In The World] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220525141905/https://ilikethisgrape.com/master-sommelier-best-job-in-the-world/ |date=2022-05-25 }} PAUL HODGINS, MARCH 23, 2016</ref><ref name=":5">[https://www.sandiegowineclassic.com/bio/personalities-bio-popup_Dame_Fred.html Master Sommelier Frederick L. Dame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218024140/https://www.sandiegowineclassic.com/bio/personalities-bio-popup_Dame_Fred.html |date=2018-02-18 }} San Diego Wine Classic</ref><ref>[https://blog.jordanwinery.com/2014/05/the-roast-of-master-sommelier-fred-dame/ The roast of master sommelier Fred Dame] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218090301/https://blog.jordanwinery.com/2014/05/the-roast-of-master-sommelier-fred-dame/ |date=2018-02-18 }} Jordan Winery, May 2014</ref>
In 1986 he was co-founder of the [[Court of Master Sommeliers]] in the United States and was its first president.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |date=2013-06-21 |title=Somm |url=https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/somm/umc.cmc.7jggeycbgu8au5i94gf9xsyia |access-date=2023-06-26 |website= |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name="moskinNYT29oct20">{{Cite news |last=Moskin |first=Julia |date=2020-10-29 |title=The Wine World's Most Elite Circle Has a Sexual Harassment Problem |language=en-US |work=[[The New York Times]] |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/dining/drinks/court-of-master-sommeliers-sexual-harassment-wine.html |access-date=2023-06-26 |issn=0362-4331 |archive-date=2023-05-31 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230531164921/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/10/29/dining/drinks/court-of-master-sommeliers-sexual-harassment-wine.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=Parente |first=Michelle |date=2020-01-02 |title='Godfather of American sommeliers' Fred Dame pouring Daou wines at San Diego pairing dinner |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/dining-and-drinking/story/2020-01-02/godfather-of-american-sommeliers-fred-dame-pouring-dauo-wines-at-san-diego-pairing-dinner |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=[[San Diego Union-Tribune]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-03-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230321041123/https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/entertainment/dining-and-drinking/story/2020-01-02/godfather-of-american-sommeliers-fred-dame-pouring-dauo-wines-at-san-diego-pairing-dinner |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date=2019-10-28 |title=The Reign of Fred Dame {{!}} SevenFifty Daily |url=https://beverlyhillswineclub.com/the-reign-of-fred-dame-sevenfifty-daily/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=[[Beverly Hills Wine Club]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-01-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230129013600/https://beverlyhillswineclub.com/the-reign-of-fred-dame-sevenfifty-daily/ |url-status=live }}</ref> He has been called "the godfather of the American sommelier community".<ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Southern |first=Keiran |date=2023-06-26 |title=Fred Dame, godfather of US wine, may be cast out 'for slapping women' |language=en |work=[[The Times of London]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/world/us-world/article/fred-dame-godfather-of-us-wine-cast-out-for-slapping-women-qvb27jvq2 |access-date=2023-06-26 |issn=0140-0460 |archive-date=2022-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121033136/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fred-dame-godfather-of-us-wine-cast-out-for-slapping-women-qvb27jvq2 |url-status=live }}</ref> He appeared in the 2012 documentary about American sommelier candidates, [[Somm (film)|SOMM]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |last=Mobley |first=Esther |date=2021-11-17 |title=Wine's most prestigious group moves to expel six master sommeliers after sexual misconduct investigation |url=https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/Wine-s-most-prestigious-group-expels-six-master-16629248.php |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=[[San Francisco Chronicle]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2023-02-09 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230209055925/https://www.sfchronicle.com/food/wine/article/Wine-s-most-prestigious-group-expels-six-master-16629248.php |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Chang |first=Justin |date=2013-06-21 |title=Film Review: 'Somm' |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/somm-review-1200500332/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=[[Variety (newspaper)|Variety]] |language=en-US |archive-date=2018-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180528183522/http://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/somm-review-1200500332/ |url-status=live }}</ref> In that documentary other Master Sommeliers described him as intimidating.<ref name=":3" />
In 2020, during the [[MeToo movement|Me Too movement]], Dame was accused by multiple female Master Sommeliers or former Master Sommelier candidates of sexual harassment and eventually expelled from the organization.<ref name="moskinNYT29oct20"/><ref>{{Cite web |last=Lawati |first=Ning Sang |date=2021-11-19 |title=Court of Master Sommeliers expels six members over sexual harassment |url=https://vino-joy.com/2021/11/19/court-of-master-sommeliers-expel-six-members-over-sexual-harassment/ |access-date=2023-06-26 |website=[[Vino Joy News]] |language=en-GB |archive-date=2023-05-28 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230528062827/https://vino-joy.com/2021/11/19/court-of-master-sommeliers-expel-six-members-over-sexual-harassment/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":2" /><ref name=":4" />
== References == {{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dame, Fred}} [[Category:Master Sommeliers]] [[Category:American sommeliers]] [[Category:Washington and Lee University alumni]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]]