Featured Guests
Christie Dufault is a member of the wine faculty at the Culinary Institute of America in the Napa Valley. Previously, Christie worked as the wine director for Restaurant Gary Danko in San Francisco, where she was featured on the Food Network and earned the Grand Award from the Wine Spectator. As the head sommelier at Quince, Christie was awarded “Best Wine Director 2007” by San Francisco Magazine. In 2009, Christie helped open RN74 Restaurant where she remains a part-time sommelier. Christie is also a guest lecturer at the San Francisco Wine School and is a regular contributor to Sommelier Journal.
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A Master Sommelier since 1997, Jay was tapped to be the opening Director of Wine for The Bellagio Resort in Las Vegas. Currently he leads the Fine Wine division for Southern Wine & Spirits Nevada as Vice President – Fine Wine. Often featured in national print and broadcast media as well as many wine and food events, Jay currently serves as Vice President of The Guild of Sommeliers Education Foundation and is a member of the Court of Master Sommeliers, where he is actively involved with the organization’s education and examination efforts.
Jay grew up in Atlanta, Georgia dreaming about playing guitar in a rock band (which he did) and flying jets (which he did not), and got into the wine business by accident - just like the rest of us.
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Jordan Mackay is the James Beard Award-winning wine and spirits writer for San Francisco magazine. His writing on food, wine, spirits, and beer has also appeared in the New York Times, Los Angeles Times, San Francisco Chronicle, Decanter, Wine and Spirits, Food & Wine, Gourmet and others. His first book, Passion for Pinot, was published in 2009, and his second, Secrets of the Sommeliers, was released in October 2010, winning a James Beard award in 2011.
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Though food was Rajat Parr’s first love, wine became his great passion. Luckily, Parr works in the best of both worlds as wine director for Mina Group and its signature restaurant, MICHAEL MINA, where he presides over a list that comprises wines from all over the world, including an in-depth list from Burgundy. Parr also presides over the RN74 wine list, a Wine Spectator 2010 Grand Award of Excellence winner. “At Mina Group, I have the opportunity and challenge to find wines that can match the wide range of flavors presented within each restaurant, and even within a single dish at one restaurant,” says Parr. “In building multiple cellars, I have put an emphasis on mature wines which have the depth to fully complement the cuisine. Nothing is more pleasing than finding the perfect pairing.”
