Other
Rob Bigelow
Master Sommelier
- Discipline
- Other
i. Biography
His work has centered on wine programs and education, with an emphasis on buying decisions and staff training. That kind of labor sits out of sight, but it shapes what lands on the table and how a team moves through service.
Coming Up
At University of San Francisco, Rob Bigelow built the academic base that would support a career spanning restaurants, casinos, wholesale, and education. His path moved from the Pacific Northwest to Las Vegas with a clear throughline: tasting as a skill, but also listening, organizing, teaching, and reading a wine list as part of a restaurant’s identity. The progression through Canlis Restaurant in Seattle, Bellagio in Las Vegas, and a prominent Las Vegas wholesaler in Las Vegas shows how wine work can widen without losing its technical core. As wine and Spirits Director at Canlis Restaurant, sommelier at Bellagio, Wine Director at Bellagio, and later Corporate Director of Education at a prominent Las Vegas wholesaler, Bigelow worked at the point where selection, staff knowledge, and guest experience meet. That continued at Breakthru Beverage Group in Nevada (2008–2009) as Director of Fine Wine Sales, and then at Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas as director of wine. Since 2013, Rob Bigelow has served as Senior Director of Wine Education and On-Premise Development of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates. The role draws together education, program development, and fine wine, with the practical aim of making wine easier to manage, teach, and use in service.
Where They Are Now
Bigelow’s current work sits in Wine Education and the building of large wine programs. It is the kind of position that depends on disciplined choices made before service begins: what gets bought, how it is explained, and what a staff needs in order to pour with confidence. Across restaurants, casinos, wholesale, and education, his career has been about scale and detail at once.
Honors
Rob Bigelow’s honors include Wine Spectator Grand Award (1997).
Profile updated July 2026
FAQ
Asked of Rob
What is Rob Bigelow's current role?
As of 2026, Rob Bigelow is Senior Director of Wine Education and On-Premise Development of Ste. Michelle Wine Estates.
Where did Rob Bigelow train or study?
Rob Bigelow trained at University of San Francisco.
What recognition has Rob Bigelow received?
Wine Spectator Grand Award (1997).
