Laura Fiorvanti, the owner of Corkbuzz, has been named Sommelier of the Year by Wine Enthusiast magazine. Fiorvanti owns three locations of Corkbuzz, two in New York City, as well as a location in SouthPark.

Wine Enthusiast‘s annual awards — now in its 20th year — celebrate the people and businesses influencing the wine and spirits industry. Fiorvanti — whom the magazine calls a “wine prodigy” — is as passionate about education as she is about wine. That’s something that becomes evident during an evening at Corkbuzz, as we wrote recently in our review of the restaurant and wine bar.

“No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care,” she told the magazine.

Fiorvanti received her Master Sommelier certification in 2009, becoming one of the few females in an already small contingent of people who have earned the title. It’s clear she is often passing down knowledge to her staff at Corkbuzz, which offers classes, blind tastings, and one-on-one tasting sessions to help the city become more well-versed in wine.

We’re lucky to have Fiorvanti here. Read the full article announcing the award here. —Kristen Wile