Neil Mudano, assistant manager of Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria, has been chosen to participate in the Master Sommeliers "Introductory Sommelier Course."  Mudano, a member of the Bertolini's team for nearly nine years, held the positions of busser, food runner and server before being promoted to assistant manager.


Morton's The Steakhouse has raised the bar in the areas of beverage service and wine expertise.  In 2007, the restaurant group, which includes Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria and TREVI Italian Restaurant, began a company-wide initiative for all managers who run Morton's wine programs at their restaurants nationwide to pass the Master Sommeliers "Introductory Sommelier Course."  This is the first phase of four tiers of educating and testing conducted by the Court of Master Sommeliers.


"Our guests are very knowledgeable and educated in the areas of wine and spirits," said Tylor Field, vice president of wine and spirits for Morton's The Steakhouse.  "They expect the best from our staff in regard to our understanding of this area of our business.  At Morton's, wine and spirits make up 29 percent of our total sales, and as a recipient of the Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator Magazine for all of our restaurants, we pride ourselves on our competitive industry knowledge."


As a testament to Morton's dedication to the wine education of its employees, Field was honored with the Distinguished Service Award from the Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation, the non-profit group of the Court of Master Sommeliers, in September 2007.  With this award, he was recognized for his outstanding commitment to Morton's wine program and to the wine service industry.  Field is the eighth person in the world to receive this prestigious award.


Founded in 1969, the Court of Master Sommeliers is the premier governing body for Sommeliers and Wine Service professionals around the world.  Over the two-day intensive Introductory Sommelier Course, candidates receive instruction in production processes and attributes to a variety of spirits, beer and cigars, as well as education about the major wine growing regions of the world and methods of blind tasting.  According to the Court of Master Sommeliers, candidates who successfully complete the Introductory Sommelier Course will be adept at discussing, buying and serving a comprehensive range of alcoholic beverages with confidence and skill.


Since Morton's adopted the Court of Master Sommeliers program, more than 50 of its managers have attended and passed the Introductory Sommelier Course.


Visit Bertolini's Authentic Trattoria for lunch, dinner, cocktails and appetizers from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. from Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sundays.  Bertolini's offers a daily happy hour in the bar and on the patio from 3:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.  For more information about Bertolini's, call  (702) 869-1540  or visit www.bertolinis.net.