Regine has traveled around the globe to share her wine and beverage expertise, and has been listed as one of 40 African-American Tastemakers in Black Food & Beverage. She received her Level II certification from the International Sommelier Guild and is an Executive Bourbon Steward with the Stave and Thief Society. Inspired to bridge the gap, Regine started Shall We Wine: a wine, spirits, and beer tasting company based in Chicago. While in this role, Regine noticed how the barrier of "wine speak" formed a disconnect between wine professionals and consumers. Bitten by the wine bug early on, she began her career in the beverage industry as a salesperson for a wine distributor. Regine fell in love with wine during a college study abroad trip to Besançon, France. A lifelong collector, Bret enjoys peppering his wine lists with affordable obscurities he finds at auctions, giving his patrons a chance to enjoy something rare and off the beaten path. His world travels, working harvests and visiting wineries, distilleries, and breweries throughout Georgia, Slovenia, Australia, France, Italy, Spain, Argentina, and across the US have led to thoughtful curation of his wine programs focusing on lesser-known regions. From there, Bret joined One Off Hospitality Group as the opening Wine Director for Nico Osteria and Publican Anker. Bret's beverage career kicked off with the Goddess Restaurant Group where he served for a decade as Wine Director at Feast, Cru Wine Bar, Teatro Zinzanni, and Goddess and Grocer.
He continued working in kitchens at various restaurants before moving to the front of house where he found his passion for all things fermented and distilled. Vinny enjoys sherry, vermouth, and all thing pink and spritzy, and is passionate about functional sustainability, light flavors, and session-able drinking.īret officially began his hospitality career at age 16 as a fry cook at I-80's World's Largest Truck Stop in Walcott, Iowa. Most recently, as a reaction to the Covid-19 pandemic, he founded HELLO, cocktails, a ready-to-drink cocktail company with a focus on designing thoughtful, shelf-stable beverages. Adding to his resumé, Vinny was a global finalist in the 2017 Lustau Solera Standout competition and the winner of the 2018 Old Forrester Old Fashioned Face Off. Vinny joined the opening bar team at Bad Hunter in 2016 and during his tenure as bar manager (2017-2020 when the beloved restaurant sadly closed) was responsible for the development of the award-winning, uber-creative, low-ABV cocktail menu-the first of its kind in Chicago. He decided to pursue a career in hospitality and has worked behind the stick at some of Chicago's most iconic cocktail bars, including Barrelhouse Flat and Queen Mary Tavern. As most do, he quickly fell in love with the city, and in turn, the restaurant scene. Vinny came to Chicago in 2017 to study music. Charles says that he is constantly learning from the people around him and greatly values the time he spends with colleagues and other panelists. He brings with him a methodical approach to tasting and takes into consideration all the unique complexities of each spirit. Charles has served as a spirits panelist with BTI for over 5 years. Charles was named American Bartender of the Year in 2013 at the Spirited Awards during Tales of the cocktail, was crowned the Global Bartending Champion in Diageo's World Class Competition in 2014, was nominated in 20 for the James Beard Award in Outstanding Wine, Beer, or Spirits Professional, was deemed one of Bon Appetit's 10 Most Influential Bartenders as well as one of Wine Enthusiast's Top Spirit and Wine Professionals, and has contributed his talents to numerous high-profile events including: Oprah's 25th Anniversary Party, the 2015 Grammy Awards, the 2016 Academy Awards, and the Kentucky Derby.
Charles has been in the spirits world for over 20 years, working in nearly every type of establishment that makes its business selling spirits and cocktails, and receiving numerous awards and recognitions along the way.
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