Inaugural BUSA Benefit

Founded by Kansas City-based Master of Wine and Master Sommelier Doug Frost, the Best USA Sommelier Association (BUSA) exists to support and promote the role of the sommelier in the United States, conducting a biennial competition — the first of which will be held at Hermann Farm in January — to choose the best sommelier in the USA, who will go on to compete to for the title of best sommelier in the world.

To celebrate and support the work of the Best USA Sommelier Association, an inaugural benefit will be held at Hermann Farm on Sat., Nov. 13, 2021.

The event will take place in the farm’s 12,000 square foot stone barn, a unique space that plays a pivotal role in fulfilling Hermann Farm’s mission to support excellence in regional food and agriculture through events, classes and workshops. The barn is a new addition to Hermann Farm, a historic 200-acre farm museum that was once the home, vineyard and plant nursery of George Husmann, who is considered to be the father of Missouri viticulture. Guests of the BUSA benefit that evening will be the first to experience dining in the newly christened space and have the opportunity to meet the barn’s resident Shire horses.

To kick off the evening, guests will enjoy hors d’oeuvres and cocktails made with Black Shire spirits which are distilled on site, and wines personally selected by Frost. A four-course meal prepared by Bernie Lee, chef/owner of Akar, will follow, each course paired with wine chosen by Frost. During the event, exceptional and singular wine lots will be auctioned, and Frost will chat with Hermann Farm curator Cat Neville about BUSA’s founding and his vision for the organization. The dinner will be interactive and full of surprises, and will, weather permitting, conclude with Black Shire Bourbon by a bonfire on the farm.

The BUSA benefit will be staffed by an all-star, all-female crew of sommeliers, including Patricia Wamhoff, Shannon Behnen, Denise Mueller, Angela Ortmann, Kelli McMullen and Cherie Moery-Metzka.