Check the membership. 13 are east of the mississippi, and of those 3 are with kysela(a dc area importer), 4 or so are in FL and appeared the same year.

i did not see the names parker, tanzer, johnson, Robinson on the list.

i have never been to a tasting in which kysela has participated. i do know him. he must have a great palate, as he has generated an excellent portfolio of imports from what at the time were nowhere places(like Languedoc).

he is also one of the major importers of Argentinean wines.

i do not know whom else is a member.

i do not think that anyone has a lock on the title MASTER SOM., and there are a lot of groups bestowing it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Master_of_Wine

this is an impressive list of people. anyone in the trade has heard of half of them.

i did not see the names