Our First Michelin-Starred Sommelier!

In February 2025, Fleur de Sel became the first Michelin-starred restaurant in Serbia to feature a sommelier trained at the Wine School of Philadelphia. That sommelier is Dušan Vranić—now the Head Sommelier and General Manager of Fleur de Sel, located within the Šapat Wine Estate in the Fruška Gora hills. With that star, Dušan becomes the first alumnus of the Wine School to reach such a milestone. But his path to international acclaim began, quietly enough, in a classroom in Philadelphia.

Dušan earned his Core Sommelier pin at the Wine School in 2018, just two years after arriving in the U.S. Initially drawn to America for its open spaces and sports culture, he found himself unexpectedly captivated by wine. He enrolled as a student at the Wine School of Philadelphia, where he quickly stood out. Alana Zerbe, the school’s Director of Wine Education, soon brought him on as an assistant instructor and became his mentor—shaping his approach to wine education and service over the next several years.

That foundation—hands-on training, rigorous education, and direct mentorship—would serve him well as he built a career in some of New York’s most prestigious restaurants. He held wine leadership roles at places like Riverpark, The Clocktower, and Milos. Along the way, he organized charity dinners with the likes of Noma and curated wine lists for high-profile clientele, from athletes to actors. But eventually, he chose to return to Serbia to lead the food and wine program at Šapat.

The result? A restaurant that earned a Michelin star within just a few years—thanks, in part, to a wine list that has already won awards from Wine Spectator and Vino & Fino magazine. The Michelin Guide itself praised the wine selection at Fleur de Sel and highlighted the estate’s own bottlings, which Dušan proudly curates.

His story is a reminder that great wine professionals are built through more than just theory. They’re made in the classroom, in the cellar, and in the company of mentors who care. And sometimes, that journey starts in Philadelphia and ends with a star.