James Beard Nominee Cristie Norman on Building a Las Vegas Wine Program & Large Format Icons

In this episode of the Vint Podcast, we sit down with Cristie Norman, the lead sommelier at Delilah in the Wynn Las Vegas and a 2024 James Beard Award nominee. Cristie shares how she built one of the most exciting luxury wine programs in Las Vegas, with a focus on large format Bordeaux, Champagne, and rare back-vintage bottles. She also discusses her early journey in wine, her role in co-founding the United Sommeliers Foundation, and the culture shift she experienced moving from LA to Vegas.Cristie offers a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to serve high-roller guests in a modern supper club setting—where six-liter bottles of Opus One and vintage Dom Pérignon are the norm. She walks us through how her team manages a massive inventory, executes top-level bottle service, and delivers a wine experience that balances club energy with world-class hospitality. Cristie also shares her top tips for decanting, preserving wine, and sourcing the best wines from birth-year vintages.Chapters:00:00 Introduction to the Vint Wine Podcast01:19 Upcoming Bordeaux Trip and Wine Tasting Insights04:52 2024 Bordeaux Vintage and Market Trends07:30 Challenges and Dynamics of En Primeur System10:03 Introducing Guest: Cristie Norman14:27 Crristie Norman's Journey and Achievements17:56 Inside Delilah: A Modern Supper Club Experience31:42 Architectural Wonders and Wine Culture in Las Vegas32:51 Challenges of the Culinary Union35:39 Building a Motivated Wine Team38:19 Efficient Wine Service Techniques41:05 Managing Large Wine Formats49:33 Wine Preservation Tips and Tools53:29 Vintage Wine Recommendations and Final ThoughtsThe Vint Wine Podcast is hosted and produced by Billy Galanko. For more content follow Billy on Instagram @BillyGalanko_wine_nerd and for partnerships and collaborations please email [email protected]!