Partner and Wine Director of OK Omens, Owner of Post Familiar Wine

Trust your vision. Don’t be scared to do something you believe in, even when it seems crazy.

Working at Castagna has been the most impactful of my jobs. Monique Siu is a legend, and she’s given me almost complete freedom to build the program that I wanted. She has also taught me about the importance of family and community. When you are running a small restaurant, it has to be more than just a workplace. It’s a place for people to share ideas, to learn, and to have fun.

I look for a strong work ethic and an enthusiasm to learn when hiring. We are a small team, and everyone needs to be on board for the machine to function correctly. There is no room for divas. For example, everyone on the Front of House team at Ok Omens is a busser, a bartender, a server, a host, and a food runner. You have to be willing to do it all.

As a sommelier, it is important to keep learning and to keep tasting. You have to keep your mind open to new ideas, new regions, new styles. The world of wine is changing so quickly, and it’s way more fun to embrace those changes than to try to fight against them. And I think it’s really important not to take yourself too seriously. After all, it’s just wine, and it’s supposed to be fun!

I’m inspired by continuing to share the world of wine that I love; a world full of small family growers and producers, who are making real wine. I want people to realize the difference between a large industrial winery and one that produces wine with intentionality and integrity. There is something special about drinking a bottle of wine and realizing that you are directly supporting the livelihood of a small farmer or winemaker.