MY PASSIONS + PERSONALITY.
A LITTLE BIT ABOUT MYSELF
Having lived and worked in Chicago, IL for many years, my wife and I made the forced pilgrimage (blame it on COVID!) in March of 2020 back to her hometown of Lincoln, NE. We’ve been here ever since, where we continue to enjoy our love of food and wine. As a former sommelier at The Purple Pig in Chicago, I’ve had to re-invent myself in 2020 and subsequently started Reyes Wine Consulting. This is a dream I’ve had for many years, and fortunately for me, I’ve had the opportunity for the past year to teach both beginner & expert drinkers about the joys of wine.
I LOVE TO PLAY GOLF
If it wasn’t for golf, I wouldn’t have had the fortune to meet many of the people who attend my weekly virtual wine classes. The Featured Pairing Food + Wine Society was born from The Refuge - the online community of No Laying Up, while also providing the intersection of golf & wine that so many of us share around the world. I’ve only been playing golf for a few years now, but I’ve quickly learned that I love golf just as much as I love wine.
I LOVE TO SKI
Skiing has always been a huge part of my life. While there have been “down” years because of my hectic career with wine and the restaurant business, skiing has always been there for me - especially in the past few years. It is a rediscovered passion, and one that runs parallel to the hallowed passion I have for food & wine.
WHAT I’VE DONE & WHAT I CAN DO FOR YOU
I am an Advanced Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers and Wine Educator from Chicago, IL. I’ve always been eager to learn about wine and share my knowledge with fellow friends, students and co-workers.
My true passion has always revolved around food and wine. I was fortunate enough to secure a position as part of the wine team at Charlie Trotter’s in Chicago. Known for having one of the best wine programs in the world, I remained dedicated with my education and was fortunate to be part of the sommelier team and program that achieved critical acclaim and recognition.
Throughout my career in wine, I have been involved with the wine programs at some of the great Chicago restaurants, including:
Charlie Trotter’s - A Legendary Restaurant Known for Having One of the Greatest Wine Programs in History
Alinea Restaurant - One of the Top 50 Restaurants in the World
Sepia Restaurant - James Beard Award’s multi-year semifinalist for Outstanding Wine Program
Grace - 3-Michelin Stars
The Purple Pig - Wine Enthusiast Magazine Top 100 Restaurants in the United States for Wine