Meet James! Your Co-op Sommelier

A native of the Pacific Northwest, James grew up between Woodinville and Olympia, and by the tender age of 15, working as a dishwasher, found himself eyes-deep in restaurant culture. By the age of 24, he’d landed his first gig as a floor somm and spent the next 20 years managing beverage programs and building wine lists – ultimately becoming a Certified Sommelier with the Court of Master Sommeliers.

While European wines remain his passion and his focus, James is most interested in low intervention wines – regardless of where they’re from – that resonate with a sense of place, that tell a story about the interplay between the land, the fruit and the winemaker.

As a sommelier, knowledge, education and service come deeply intertwined, and he sees himself as an educator and matchmaker – a professional committed to using his knowledge to link a customer with a beverage that matches their taste, interests, menu and budget.

Driven by a passion for food, wine and culture, James has traveled and tasted in Spain, Portugal, Argentina, British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Texas, North Africa and the Middle East. When he’s not tasting or talking about wine, you’ll find him in his backyard working his mojo on a Texas offset smoker with his Czech Shepherds Scout and Beau, chasing trout and flounder with his kids and fly rods, or daydreaming about traipsing through Italy’s Piedmont with his wife, hunting for the perfect Nebbiolo.

You can read his blog posts on the Food Coop’s website: https://www.foodcoop.coop/blog