Joshua Dunson
Ocean Prime Las Vegas at 63 CityCenter | Las Vegas, NV
April 2026
Joshua Dunson always wanted to be part of the hospitality industry as a chef. But it wasn't until his front of house professor, Vincenzo Lauria, at The Culinary Institute of America, Hyde Park demonstrated what it meant to be a world-class sommelier—grace and charisma—that Dunson knew he wanted to take the wine route. After earning his associate's degree in culinary arts, Dunson pursued a bachelor's degree with an advanced wine studies concentration, which brought him to the The Culinary Institute of America Greystone campus in Napa, California, where his experience was honed working alongside peers and Chef Larry Forgione at the student-led Conservatory restaurant. Waking up to the smell of wine in the morning cemented his desire to become a sommelier.
After graduating, he joined Cameron Mitchell Restaurants, starting as a server at The Guild House in Columbus, Ohio, where he used his wine knowledge to help train other employees. He went on to help open Ocean Prime Chicago, and other concepts within the company, before returning to Columbus to work at their corporate office as Beverage Operations Manager for Ocean Prime. During this time, a trip to the Andes in South America allowed Dunson to connect with farmers, winemakers, and the natural ecology that produces incredible wines and fortified Dunson's commitment to the wine industry.
In 2023, Dunson joined the opening team at Ocean Prime Las Vegas at 63 CityCenter as a sommelier, and has led their wine program ever since—curating over eighty-percent of the list. Dunson approaches wine by meeting guests where they are and by building a program that balances market-demand with more niche producers. He loves to help guests develop their own palate and become confident in their own taste. He shares this knowledge and excitement with his staff through weekly tastings and training programs. Dunson, who consults for the The Art of Richard MacDonald at the Bellagio, hopes to one day blend his passions for wine and art.
