Catherine Fallis

Master Sommelier Catherine Fallis invites you to share in the celebration of life through her unique expression of joy – sabering a bottle of champagne.

In times of triumph, Napolean's gallant soldiers opened champagne with a strong blow from their swords. Today, Catherine continues this dramatic tradition, delighting guests with her thrilling, festive, and safe technique. A hush falls over the crowd as she dons her gloves and draws her saber. She inhales deeply, preparing for the task before her. She lifts the bottle high, and, with a few strokes, sends the cork soaring into the air. Glasses are filled, and your joyous occasion is off to a great start.

Catherine Fallis is the first person in the world to have earned both the Master Sommelier diploma from the International Court of Master Sommeliers and the Advanced Certified Wine Professional title from the Culinary Institute of America.

She is an adjunct instructor at the Culinary Institute of America and the Professional Culinary Institute, a frequent speaker, event host, and educator for corporations, consumers, and the trade, and is one of a handful of female professional sabreurs in the world – she opens champagne with a sword in a dazzling 3-minute theatrical performance.

Founder and President of planet grape® LLC, a company committed to bringing a passion for wine, food, and good living into the lives of everyday people, Catherine is creator of the grape goddess® guides to good living, a range of lifestyle guidebooks, seminars, tv, and educational programs on wine, food, and travel, including Wine, Champagne & Sparkling Wine, and Erotic Foods, and of the Six Week Wine Expert, Lessons from a grape goddess®.

She has worked with Chef Alain Sailhac at Le Cirque, Leona Helmsley at the Helmsley Palace Hotel, and Kevin Zraly at Windows on the World. From Manhattan to Honolulu, Aspen to Los Angeles and San Francisco, Catherine has shared her wine expertise with hundreds of novices and collectors including Heather Locklear, Vanna White, Ivana and Ivanka Trump, Nicolas Cage, Brad Pitt, Kevin Costner, Robert Redford, Antonio Sabato Jr., Richie Sambora, Chris Botti, and Diana Krall.