Sommelier Scott Carney of The International Culinary Center - Biography

Bostonian Scott Carney’s interest in wine was uncorked while he was a student attending Connecticut College. After graduating he segued into a position as a sommelier at the Bay Tower Room in the financial district. His interest in wine quickly evolved into passion, and Carney progressed to the Harvest Restaurant in Harvard Square, where he served as the sommelier and began his career in restaurant management. Recognizing a need to further his business skills, Carney enrolled at the Stern School of Business at New York University, and after a stage in France, graduated with an MBA in finance.

Not long after earning his second degree, Carney crossed paths with Alfred Portale, then the new chef of Gotham Bar & Grill in New York City. Carney joined the company as business manager and spent the next 10 years overseeing operations as the restaurant, which earned three consecutive three-star reviews from The New York Times. It was during his tenure at Gotham that Carney began studying to become a master sommelier, a title he earned in 1991.

Since leaving Gotham Bar & Grill, Carney has worked in operations, beverage, and finance with a number of Manhattan’s leading restaurants and restaurant groups. He joined The International Culinary Center in 2011 as director of wine education. In June 2012, he took control of restaurant operations at The Center’s L’Ecole, and in fall 2012, he was named dean of wine studies for both the New York and California campuses.