Sommelier Alexander LaPratt of Atrium Dumbo - Biography

Detroit native Alexander LaPratt discovered his passion for wine as a not-quite-legal 19 years old, working at hometown bistro Morels. While there, LaPratt had the opportunity to work with the influential Master Sommelier Madeline Triffon, who ran the restaurant’s wine program and acted as LaPratt’s first mentor.

Michael Mina wine director Rajat Parr was another mentor to LaPratt, and he eventually convinced the young somm-wannabe to follow his passion to a career and the West Coast. With a natural aptitude, LaPratt not only earned his Advanced Sommelier certificate, but was also the first ever cellar sommelier at Thomas Keller’s iconic The French Laundry.

LaPratt made an impact on the East Coast as well, joining Daniel Boulud’s Dinex Group and working as head sommelier at DB Bistro Moderne. The role was influential. Not only was LaPratt overseeing his own wine list—with a love for the classics that emphasized both pleasure and affordability—but he met future partners Leslie Affre and Chef Laurent Kalkotour. LaPratt would open a TriBeCa restaurant and work at both Le Bernardin and Jean Georges before finally teaming up with Affre and Kalkotour to open restaurant-cocktail bar Atrium in Brooklyn in July 2013.

Ownership (and success) aren’t the only things under LaPratt’s belt. In April 2011, he was awarded “Best Sommelier in America” at the American Sommelier Association competition and finished second in the Chaine des Rotisseurs Best Young Sommelier National Finals a month later. Most recently, and not surprisingly, LaPratt earned his certification as a Master Sommelier.