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Recognised as one of the leading authorities on wine, spirits and dining, Richard is credited with creating some of the most influential wine and spirit brands.
Recognised as one of the leading authorities on wine, spirits and dining, Richard is credited with creating some of the most influential wine and spirit brands. Before becoming a Master Sommelier, Richard first took notice of wine while taking a sabbatical in Italy in 1992. By 1996, he was sommelier at Janos in Tucson and built up the wine program before moving in 2000, to take the sommelier position at Montagna at the Little Nell in Aspen, where he built the WineSpectator Grand Award winning wine list. During this time, Richard garnered a second M.S. and the “Krug Cup” by passing the Court of Master Sommelier’s Master’s Exam on the very first attempt - becoming only the 9th person to do so and one of only 150 Master Sommeliers recognised in the world today.
Today Betts also partners with Dennis Scholl in their Betts & Scholl label, which produces wines from Australia and France's Rhône Valley. He also assists fellow sommelier Bobby Stuckey and chef Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson, both of Boulder, Colo.'s Frasca restaurant, with their own wine label, La Scarpetta, which produces and imports Italian wines.
Richard is a panellist at the ‘Selling Australian wine in the USA – what matters’ business session.
