It was a family trip to Italy at the age of nine that unknowingly steered Maddy toward a future in wine. She felt a deep connection to the place, the people and the style of life. From that moment on, Maddy was on a mission to learn Italian, not knowing it would serve her in the way it serves her now.
Maddy received a BA from Cornell University, where she studied Hotel Management and Italian simultaneously. Studying abroad in Bologna during her junior year, Maddy learned that through wine she could not only get to know the culture, the language and the food, but also connect with the people in a deep and meaningful way.
Maddy’s professional career began in 2013 with Lyra Wine, a California-based importer of artisanal Italian wines. Her love for wine grew as she learned about a plethora of regions, grapes and wine styles. She then took on a brand ambassador role with Minerality Wines, representing the wines of both Roberto Voerzio and Bibi Graetz. After a 6-month stint staging at various wineries in Piedmont and Sicily, Maddy decided to move to Aspen, Colorado, to pursue both her wine career and love for the mountains.
Within a short period of time, the Aspen wine community became family, offering an incredible support system. Maddy passed her advanced exam on her second attempt in 2019, becoming a Rudd Scholar for achieving the top score. She passed MS theory in 2021, and in 2022, passed tasting and practical.
When she is away from the restaurant floor, you’ll find her skiing down Aspen mountain, frolicking through the vineyards of Italy and singing her heart out at impromptu Italian karaoke sessions. She is a classically-trained musician – her dad was an opera singer growing up, so music has always been an integral part of her life. Maddy studied piano through college and still cherishes every opportunity to play a Mozart sonata.
In 2017, she started her own film production company called Winomad Productions. They produce films focused on Italy’s lesser-known wine regions, sharing the stories behind the bottles.
As a Master Sommelier, Maddy’s aim is to support other females in the industry and make wine more approachable, more fun, and more relatable.
Where are you working currently and how has being a MS supported you in your current role?
I serve as the Wine Director at Casa Tua, with locations in Aspen, Miami, and New York. Achieving the MS designation has significantly broadened my professional network. Access to this incredible community of service industry professionals has become an invaluable resource for my career.
What made you want to become an MS?
Initially, it was a desire to pursue a wine education at the highest level. I absolutely loved learning about wine and I loved blind tasting. I found that it helped me feel confident and become stronger on the floor. The more I pursued the exams, the more my wine network grew, and the more friends and connections I gained along the way. Ultimately, I went for the red pin because of the support from my amazing circle of friends and mentors.
What advice do you give those who are pursuing certification?
Figure out your why.
My “why” was that I wanted to learn to trust myself. I used visualization and meditation techniques to practice this. I passed when I realized that getting through was about my own journey. I felt gratitude for the incredible friends I had made along the way, the life I had created in pursuing the title and for the person I had grown to become. This mindset shift was so powerful that, in a way, I felt as though I had passed the exam even before entering the examination room. I frequently visualized the sensation of passing and practiced embodying what it felt like to be a Master Sommelier.
Ultimately, I got to a point in which the title itself was not a necessity for my sense of fulfillment. I remember thinking to myself the week leading up to the exam, “passing would be the cherry on top of the cake.” I didn’t need the title to feel complete.
What is your desert island wine, or what wines/beverages are you currently excited about?
Passito di Pantelleria. I find the exotic, smoky, citrusy aromas of zibibbo to be totally captivating. Moreover, it’s a wine that can transport you to Sicily with just a sip. If grapes can be said to have a vibe, zibibbo has an extremely blissful and jubilant one.
And of course what I believe to be the world’s greatest grape – Nebbiolo. I love its ability to express nuances of site, its mesmerizing aromas and overall seamless lift and balance.
