Affiliation : Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants and Fifth Floor Restaurant
Location : San Francisco, CA, USA

 

I have always had an interest in beverages. Growing up in Seattle and coming of age in the beginning of the Starbucks boom first drew me to work in coffee shops. The history that informs the culture of coffee and tea is intriguing. I studied them thoroughly and considered opening my own café. Going to France for the first time in 1997 opened my eyes to a new drink obsession: wine.

In California I was drawn to restaurants with big wine programs. It was while working at Jardiniere that I realized that the only way to drink more wonderful wines was to work with them. I came to the Fifth Floor Restaurant in 2000 as a server and Assistant Sommelier to my mentor, Raj Parr. We received the Wine Spectator Grand Award for our wine list the following year. I took over as wine director in 2004 and passed my Advanced Sommelier Exam in 2005. The Fifth Floor now has a world-class wine program that includes a selection of 1400 labels, comprehensive wine education and a wine savvy staff of future sommeliers.

In 2008 I took the Master Sommelier exam and passed all three portions of it on my first try, earning the prestigious Remi Krug Cup. In October of 2008 I took on a role with Kimpton Hotels and Restaurants as the corporate Wine Director; in addition to running the wine program for the Fifth Floor. I do speaking engagements, wine classes and consulting when that is not enough to keep me busy.

These days I am studying beer; usually in my backyard with the help of good friends.