Hugo Bensimon, AS

Wine Director

Advanced Sommelier Hugo Bensimon serves as the Wine Director of Grill 23 & Bar in Boston’s Back Bay neighborhood where he is responsible for managing over 1,900 selections of wine varietals at the Wine Spectator Grand Award-winning restaurant.

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In January of 2016, Bensimon sat for the Court of Master Sommeliers Level 1 Introductory Exam and passed. Soon after, he ascended to the level of Certified Sommelier. Bensimon moved to Boston in July of 2016 and joined the wine team at Grill 23 & Bar. A year later he earned his Advanced Sommelier certification with the Court of Master Sommeliers as well as the 2017 Rudd Scholarship for achieving the highest score of his class. This provided him with the opportunity to join two other 2017 Rudd Scholars and Master Sommelier exam candidates at the Rudd Round Table held annually in Napa Valley. Here, he also earned the Johnston Medal for the highest-overall score of the 2017 Exam.

In January of 2020, Hugo was promoted to Wine Director of Grill 23 under Himmel Hospitality Group Beverage Director and Master Sommelier Brahm Callahan.

Currently, Hugo is preparing for his Masters Diploma from the Court of Master Sommeliers. When he’s not studying, he enjoys traveling the world with his wife Emma, particularly snowboarding in Aspen.