I left my corporate job to follow my passion for wine and have never looked back. I completed WSET Level 3 with distinction and am a certified sommelier. I've worked at top Chicago restaurants including the James Beard award-winning Lula Cafe as Beverage Director, and three Michelin star Alinea as a sommelier. In 2017, I moved to Aotearoa New Zealand to pursue my Master's in Wine Science from the University of Auckland and fulfill my dream of becoming a winemaker. I now have my own, small, wine brand, Responsible Hedonist, and you can get our wines here: https://responsiblehedonist.co.nz/wine/ I've always been interested in conservation and reducing my environmental impact in my personal life. However, after working vintage in Sonoma during the 2019 wildfires, I decided to focus my time and energy on doing what I can to help the wine industry reduce its environmental impact. The impacts of 2023's rain events on the North Island of Aotearoa New Zealand have only reaffirmed this commitment for me. Please contact me via email, as I am not on Linkedin very often.