Originally from Upstate NY, the 4th of 6 children born to two teachers, Thomas Dorman's parents made sure he was exposed to experiences like museums in NYC, travel up and down the east coast, and a steady course of athletics. His love for food and wine was ignited by large family gatherings where meals became the most fun part of the party as he learned to help in the kitchen and pour chardonnay for Aunts & Uncles. He began working in restaurants and bars and learned a love for the world of beverage. He paid his way through college by bartending and waiting tables and earned a degree in accounting from SUNY Tech in Utica, NY.

Vowing to swear off the restaurant business after graduation, the reality of a 9-5 job was a sobering experience. Thomas moved to Vail, CO, and began working in the accounting dept for the resort but soon realized it was impossible to survive on an hourly wage. A part-time job at a local restaurant turned into a full-time job. A chance meeting with a friend turned into an opportunity to move to the Outer Banks of N. Carolina, where he met a like-minded individual who had sworn off restaurants but kept going back despite a degree in Bio-Chemistry. She encouraged him that, "It's ok to love restaurants." She fostered his desire to learn by providing mixed cases of the world's wines, loaned him books, and taught him the basics of wine and wine service.

He then returned to CO, where he found a robust wine community, worked his way up through various restaurants and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers Level I & II within two years in Aspen, CO. In a pursuit to achieve the next level through the Court, he moved to Napa, where he landed at Oenotri and worked in the wine department for seven years as Wine Director for the last four years.

Surrounded by a fantastic group of peers, he was able to immerse himself in the wine community and attend as many tastings and classes as possible, passing the Court's Advanced Exam in 2017. During which time, he administered the Napa tasting group at La Toque for over five years, where many of the trade's best came to hone their skills and prepare for exams. Currently, the Sommelier at Miller & Lux is a new Tyler Florence steakhouse located in the Chase Center. He continues to develop staff education and make the wine experience informative, friendly, and courteous.

Stay tuned- Thomas will be featured on The Somm Set throughout November 2021!