Named a Master Sommelier in 2013 at just 28 years old, Carlton McCoy was one of the youngest people to earn this prestigious title. Growing up in southeast Washington, DC, Carlton McCoy’s upbringing was an unlikely springboard for his meteoric rise in the wine industry. After graduation in 2006, Carlton honed his skills in revered institutions including Thomas Keller’s Per Se, Marcus Samuelsson’s Aquavit, Tom Colicchio’s Craft Steak in New York, and Eric Zeibold’s CityZen at The Mandarin Oriental in Washington, DC. ​

In 2011, Carlton joined the team at The Little Nell in Aspen, CO. After earning the Master Sommelier title in 2013, he was promoted to Wine Director, overseeing a staff of 150 and The Little Nell’s acclaimed 20,000-bottle wine cellar. Carlton became President and CEO of Heitz Cellar in December 2018. ​

Today, McCoy is the CEO of Lawrence Wine Estates, which is the leading portfolio of historical fine wine estates and includes Heitz Cellar, Stony Hill, Burgess, Haynes Vineyard, Ink Grade, and Brendel in Napa Valley, Château Lascombes in Bordeaux, and Demeine Estates. Under his vision, these wineries craft wines of elegance and balance, while expressing a true sense of place. ​