Christopher Iglesias
Sommelier
Summary
Customer-centric professional with extensive experience interacting with customers to recommend customized food and wine pairings to enhance dining experience:
- Proven success discussing wine selections with customers, including tasting notes, providing regional and varietal information, and collaborating with executive chef to determine wine pairings for specials and tasting menus.
- Expert in maintaining wine/beverage selections in cellar and calibrate system reporting, including removing and adding inventory/products as needed.
- Ability to earn recognition from management, peers, and customers for outstanding achievements in customer service and commitment to top-flight quality.
- Skilled in utilizing strong communication, networking, presentation, relationship building, and problem-solving skills to generate and increase sales along with ensuring complete customer satisfaction.
- Excellent interpersonal skills; ability to get along with diverse personalities while exhibiting versatility, adaptability, and professional attitude within multicultural environments.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Sommelier
Casa Lever ✯✯✯
New York, NY
02.2019 - 09.2022
- Identify customer tastes and preferences to recommend wines from our list including Grappa, single malt, bourbon, whiskey.
- Collaborated with chefs as well as upper management in updating the wine cellar and maintaining a 700+ label wine list.
- Conducted wine training sessions and programs to improve workforce's wine knowledge, productivity, and efficiency.
- Handled questions and concerns skillfully and redirected customers toward higher profit items to increase revenue.
Head Sommelier
Le Coq Rico ✯✯✯
New York, NY
09.2017 - 01.2019
- Trained service staff on wines, spirits and cocktails to maximize revenue and maintain stellar reputation for service.
- Coordinated wine selection and restocking for cellar with over 400 bottle selections.
- Oversaw successful bar service and operations to handle as many 250 guests per day.
Head Sommelier
Junoon ✯✯✯
New York, NY
01.2014 - 05.2017
- Identify customer tastes and preferences to suggest variety of drinks, including wine, single malt, bourbon, whiskey, and tequila.
- Facilitated chefs as well as the wine director in creating and updating wine lists while organizing wine cellar and maintaining a 500+ label wine list.
- Conducted wine training sessions and programs to improve workforce's wine knowledge, productivity, and efficiency.
Sommelier
Fresco By Scotto Restaurant ✯✯✯
New York, NY
01.2012 - 12.2013
- Worked as a floor sommelier with guests and earned consistent repeat and referral business.
- Handled questions and concerns skillfully and redirected customers toward higher profit items to increase per-ticket revenue.
Event Captain
Feast &Fetes By Chef Daniel Boulud
New York, NY
01.2005 - 12.2011
- Managed administrative logistics of events planning.
- Oversaw preparation and management of events.
- Coordinated catering services.
- Hired and cross-trained staff members for various event-specific functions and assessed employees' understanding of associated processes and procedures.
Director of Operations
Payard ✯✯✯
New York, NY
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Oversaw day-to-day production activities in accordance with business objectives for all Payard locations internationally.
- Worked collaboratively with functional leaders to implement new procedures and corrective actions to improve quality.
- Defined, implemented and revised operational policies and guidelines.
- Monitored office workflow and administrative processes to keep operations running smoothly.
Captain
Daniel ✯✯✯✯
New York, NY
05.1993 - 01.2002
- Worked as a captain managing a team of servers runners and bussers
- Resolved customer issues and special requests involving food or beverage quality and service.
- Responded to customer complaints, addressing concerns and distress with amicable interactions.
Captain
The Quilted Giraffe ✯✯✯✯
New York, NY
01.1989 - 01.1993
- Worked as a dining room captain and as stand in sommelier as needed.
- Trained food and beverage service personnel, confirming staff to provide recommendations and answer questions.
- Maintained highest standards for beverage quality and service.
Education
High School Diploma -
Riverside Military Academy
Gainesville, GANo Degree - Hotel, Motel, And Restaurant Management
Cornell University
Ithaca, NYAdvanced Sommelier Studies
Court of Master Sommeliers
London UK09.2032
Advanced Sommelier Studies
WSET
Manhattan, NY2023
Skills
- Wine, Spirits and related services
- Master Salesman
- Leadership
- Educator
- Inventory Control
- Event Planning
- English US
- Castilian Spanish
- Conversational Italian
- Conversational French
Timeline
Lead Sommelier
Casa Lever ✯✯✯
02.2019 - 09.2022
Head Sommelier
Le Coq Rico ✯✯✯
09.2017 - 01.2019
Head Sommelier
Junoon ✯✯✯
01.2014 - 05.2017
Sommelier
Fresco By Scotto Restaurant ✯✯✯
01.2012 - 12.2013
Event Captain
Feast &Fetes By Chef Daniel Boulud
01.2005 - 12.2011
Director of Operations
Payard ✯✯✯
01.2002 - 01.2005
Captain
Daniel ✯✯✯✯
05.1993 - 01.2002
Captain
The Quilted Giraffe ✯✯✯✯
01.1989 - 01.1993
High School Diploma -
Riverside Military Academy
No Degree - Hotel, Motel, And Restaurant Management
Cornell University
Advanced Sommelier Studies
Court of Master Sommeliers
Advanced Sommelier Studies
WSET
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