Eric Renaud
Senior Sommelier, Bern's Steakhouse
bshsommelier@bernssteakhouse.com


For Eric Renaud, the senior sommelier at internationally acclaimed Bern’s Steak House, a passion for wine created an entirely new career path.  Previously an F-16 fighter jet mechanic, Eric Renaud had developed a passion for wine during his seven years of travel in Europe with the military.

While stationed at Macdill Air Force base in Tampa, Florida, Eric began working part time at Bern's as a wine steward.  After leaving the military for a permanent spot at the restaurant and devoting several years of studying and tasting wine, he was promoted to sommelier in 1998.  

Eric has been Senior Sommelier for the past 5 years and leads Bern's two other sommeliers as a table consultant for Bern's dinner guests.  Additionally, Eric is responsible for inventory, cataloging, and computerizing Bern's famous 6,500+ label list, which is no small feat.  In addition to the working cellar, Eric maintains the wine inventory in all of the three adjacent warehouses.

Renaud has become a recognizable face of Bern's Steak House and has offered his expertise to the Wall Street Journal, the WSJ online, Wine Spectator, Food and Wine, Tampa Tribune, and Fine magazine.  Additionally, he has also contributed to wine books/cookbooks and has appeared in TV spots that have profiled Bern's and the wine program.   

Renaud continues to hone his wine skills with travel to wineries in Napa, Europe, Australia and South Africa.  He devotes many hours to the study of old wines and wineries to gain better understanding of the vast collection of wines that Bern’s offers its guests.  

Sharing Bern Laxer's philosophy that everyone should have the opportunity to drink great wine, Eric's expertise is knowing that though expensive wine should be great, great wine doesn't need to be expensive and he excels in choosing the greatest wine at the best price.