William Howard

William Howard is a sommelier and wine professional with more than a decade of experience in the industry. Raised in Port Huron, Michigan, he began his wine journey in 2012 as a server, where he first tested with the Court of Master Sommeliers. From 2013 to 2015, Howard worked with the Zack Bruell Restaurant Group in Cleveland, Ohio, before serving as wine director at Rococo Steak in St. Petersburg, Florida, for nearly 10 years, through October 2025.

As part of the Bern’s Steak House sommelier team, Howard uses his expertise to guide guests through acclaimed wine offerings and recommend thoughtful pairings.

Outside of his professional roles, he continues to engage with his passion for wine through writing, having contributed to “St. Pete Life Magazine” from 2019 to 2023 and been published in “Wine Spectator” in 2020. In his free time, he enjoys traveling to wine-growing regions around the world and spending time with his wife, Shannon, and their two children.