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Sensi at Bellagio
Las Vegas

• Sensi at Bellagio
• Michael Mina at Bellagio
• Aqua at Bellagio
• Osteria del Circo at Bellagio

Master Sommelier Joe Phillips moved from Boston to Las Vegas in 1996, searching for a job at one of the many new schools to teach Middle School band. Timing is everything. All the music positions were filled, so he took a job in an Italian restaurant at the MGM Grand Resort. He worked with two incredible chefs from Sardinia and with one of the best Italian wine lists in Las Vegas. He quickly discovered just how good food and wine could be.

In 2008 he became one of 159 people worldwide to have ever earned the designation of Master Sommelier.

From the MGM Grand, Joe took a position as a food server at the Cantonese restaurant Jasmine at the Bellagio resort in 1998. At Jasmine, '82 first growth Bordeaux flowed like water, and he felt as if his veins were flowing with fine wine. He attended every wine class being offered in Las Vegas and passed the Introductory Course from the Court of Master Sommeliers in 2001. He moved on to Bellagio's Sommelier team the day after he passed the exam, and worked as a Sommelier at Osteria del Circo and Aqua, both at the Bellagio for the next few years. In 2003, Joe became the wine director for and passed the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced Sommelier exam in 2004. Currently Joe serves as the wine director for Sensi at Bellagio. His wine list at Sensi received a Best of Award of Excellence from Wine Spectator for 2005. Ten years ago he did not think he would be passionate about anything other than music. He is happy to have been proven wrong.