Michael Kraemer, an Advanced Sommelier student at the Wine School of Philadelphia, has been named the 2023 Sommelier Student of the Year Award winner. The award, which recognizes dedication to the wine or restaurant trade, is given annually to a student who demonstrates a high level of achievement in academic and creative efforts, diligence, leadership, and professionalism.
The Selection Process
The award selection process begins with a week-long nomination period during which wine instructors nominate their top students. The nominees are then voted on using a ranked-choice system to determine the winner.
All students enrolled in an academic wine course, including the Core Sommelier program, are eligible for the award. The Wine School of Philadelphia offers four semesters of wine education annually, including an accelerated sommelier program in the summer.
Michael Kraemer, Sommelier Student of the Year
According to the school, Kraemer’s achievements over the past year have been remarkable. In addition to completing his coursework for his Advanced Sommelier pin, he served as an Assistant Winemaker in the Advanced Winemaking program, proving to be an incredible asset to his instructor.
Kraemer’s roots are in the restaurant trade, where he started working at his uncle’s deli on Long Island at 13. While studying for a Philosophy degree at Stonybrook, he pivoted into fine dining to help pay for his tuition. He has been a figure in the Philadelphia food scene for over a decade, and his move into wine was a byproduct of the COVID-19 lockdowns.
“In a classroom full of CEOs, scientists, and restaurateurs, Mike stood apart. He is a front-of-the-classroom student with a thirst for knowledge. You’d think he was a classic New York curmudgeon when you first meet him. But that is far from the truth: he’s everyone respects him,” said one of his instructors.
Kraemer plans to open a Gastropub and teach wine classes. He splits his time between taking wine classes and working at Alpen Rose, a Michael Schulson Steakhouse in Philadelphia.
About the Wine School
The Wine School of Philadelphia also offers certification programs through the National Wine School (NWS), which has offices in Los Angeles, California, and Burlington, Vermont. According to SOMM, NWS is one of the top three sommelier schools in the United States.