Ashleigh Smith Email & Phone Number

I grew up immersed in the world of hospitality, living in hotels across Australia due to my father’s 20+ years with the global brand, Accor Hotel Group, in management and leadership roles. Watching the industry evolve firsthand sparked my early interest in hospitality.During high school, I attended the prestigious McDonald Performing Arts College, where I majored in Classical Ballet and Dance History. However, after an injury cut my dance career short, I found my way back to hospitality—despite some initial resistance.For the last 10 years, I’ve held various management and leadership roles in restaurant settings. My passion for wine blossomed while working as Assistant Manager at the two-hatted regional restaurant, Biota. It was there that I truly fell in love with the Australian wine industry and fine dining. My journey continued with the two-hatted Pilu Group at their restaurant, Acquafresca By Pilu, where I developed a deep appreciation for Sardinian wine and further honed my management skills.The next chapter took me to Canada, where I joined the opening team of Smokey Bear YEG as General Manager and Sommelier. During my time there, I was fortunate enough to be published by various media outlets for my expertise in natural wines, with a particular focus on Australian varieties. Within its first three months of opening, Smokey Bear YEG was named a Top 10 restaurant of the Prairies.I also run my own business, “Crazy Wine Lady,” where I curate wine lists for restaurants and hotels.COVID-19 brought me back to Australia in 2020, and since then, I’ve continued to immerse myself in the ever-evolving Australian wine industry. Currently, I am the Sommelier and Restaurant Manager at QT Canberra, where I’ve had the honor of winning Best Wine List at the AHA Awards for two consecutive years.This year, my wine list at Capitol Bar & Grill retained 3 wine glasses (first awarded in 2023) at the Australian Wine List of The Year Awards and made QT history for being the first QT property to ever win two category awards: Best Wine List in the ACT and Best Listing of ACT Wines.I am also studying with Leadership Management Australia through the EVT “Leap” program and am on a development plan to become a Food and Beverage Director. I’m excited for the future and looking forward to continuing to grow within the industry.