Sommelier Roundtable: Reasons to Be Optimistic in 2021 As we long for a better year than last, seven somms from Restaurant Award winners share what they’re hopeful for, from dining out’s revival to social change Even in an industry that was hit hard last year, restaurant pros are finding reasons to feel good about 2021. (Getty Images/MesquitaFMS) Jan 13, 2021 At the start of a new year, there’s a natural desire to feel hopeful. It’s understandable to be more wary this time around, after 2020’s seemingly never-ending series of unexpected downturns. But even sommeliers, whose industry has been hit particularly hard by the coronavirus crisis, see reasons to feel encouraged about the coming months.