Who is Geoff Kruth? Netflix star of ‘Somm’ resigns after disturbing sexual misconduct allegations by 11 women
In a string of shocking allegations, Geoff Kruth has been accused of sexual harassment and sexual assault. The founder and president of GuildSomm — a wine educational organization for top sommeliers — put down his papers after 11 women claimed he sexually harassed them in an explosive New York Times article titled “The Wine World's Most Elite Circle Has A Sexual Harassment Problem” published on Thursday, October 29, 2020.
As per the report, which was reiterated by several other outlets like Daily Mail and San Francisco Chronicle, women alleged that Kruth “slid his hands into their panties, coerced them into sex and greeted them naked in his hotel room after an invite to taste some 'special bottles'.” Denying any impropriety, Kruth's attorney told the Times that the sexual liaisons were consensual. The article highlights a culture of sexism and sexual misconduct within the elite world of wine professionals and indicates to the prestigious Court of Master Sommeliers, which confers the coveted title of master sommelier. As per the Daily Mail, only 155 people have clinched that title and among those, 131 are men.
Following the Times article and Kruth's resignation, Court of Master Sommeliers Chairman Devon Broglie said in an official statement that Kruth's group GuildSomm is not affiliated with the Court. "Racism, sexism, or any other form of discrimination has no place within the Court of Master Sommeliers, Americas, nor the hospitality industry as a whole," he said, adding, "This Board applauds the courage of those who have spoken up, as it shines a light on an area where we can hold our members more accountable to the mission of excellence in hospitality to which we aspire."
Who is Geoff Kruth?
A bio from Star Chefs reads, "Graduating from Sonoma State University with a degree in computer science, Geoff Kruth moved to Silicon Valley to pursue a career in the ever-burgeoning tech industry." The 45-year-old turned his passion into a career switch and enrolled at the International Culinary Center (then the French Culinary Institute) in New York.
He soon became the assistant wine director at Balthazar in Manhattan, and through the guidance of mentors like Fred Dame and Chris Goodhart, Kruth rose quickly, and earned the title Master Sommelier in 2008. The president of GuildSomm.com — a non-profit organization of more than 10,000 wine professionals — he is known for starring in Netflix's 2012 documentary SOMM. He also produced the film 'SOMM: Into the Bottle' and Esquire TV’s 'Uncorked'. He also hosts the GuildSomm audio podcast.
The Star Chefs bio also reveals that he has been the wine consultant for the Kapalua Wine and Food Festival in Hawaii for several years. Naming him as the chief operating officer for the nonprofit Guild of Sommeliers, it says "Kruth helped found the annual “Top Somm” competition, furthering the Guild’s mission of advancing wine culture a fun, professional edge."
What are the allegations?
In the Times article, a series of disturbing allegations against Kruth was highlighted. Jane Lopes, 35, a wine importer in New York, said Kruth suddenly slid his fingers inside her panties and kissed her breast as they said good night after a 2013 dinner. Daily Mail reports: "Christina Chilcoat, 35, a sommelier in Jacksonville, Florida, said that in 2015 Kruth opened the door to his New Orleans hotel room naked, having invited her and a friend to taste some 'special bottles' after his master class on Champagne."
Rachel van Til, 30, who was a wine director at a restaurant near Detroit in 2015, said Kruth sent her a guide to oral sex positions on Facebook and asked her which was her favorite. She replied back then, "I know better than to be that level of frank with my professional connections."
Ivy Anderson, a sommelier in Charleston, South Carolina, said she was 22 when Kruth invited her to dinner and to stay in a Manhattan hotel with him and other Court members. As per the report, she says she was shocked to find just one room with a single bed. Once there, Kruth told her he and his wife had an open relationship. With no other option at hand, she told the Times that she thought at the time, "I can't reject this person. It's freezing cold, I know no one in New York, and he's going to throw me out in the street."
Victoria James, who became the country's youngest sommelier at a Michelin-starred restaurant at age 21, said that Kruth had lured her into sex after she won a place on a tasting trip to Switzerland led by Kruth in 2014. "I thought it would appease him and he would go away," she said. "The sad thing is that you get used to being beholden to men in this industry... I felt like I didn't have a choice." A year later, Kruth contacted her again and offered a recommendation letter in exchange for sex at an event in Texas. After she did so, she got off the waiting list for an exam she needed.
Referring to the sexual encounters described in the article, Kruth's lawyer told the Times that they were consensual and many women remained on good terms with him.
As per the report, Kruth said he was invited to James’s and Lopes’s subsequent weddings. Moreover, he added he did not give any special treatment to women with whom he had sexual contact.
The Court of Master Sommeliers added that a formal process to report ethical issues and concerns has been created. "We were disheartened to hear that candidates and students in our community felt powerless to speak up, and we are making strides to address this power dynamic and offer a safe way to report misconduct without fear of retribution," Broglie said.