About BC Wine Nerd
Who is BC Wine Nerd?
The brainchild of Andre "Dre".
Working in hospitality since 1998 has taken me across the country, allowing me to settle in Kelowna, BC. But my wine journey started when I worked with my first sommelier in Alberta - James K. He showed me just the tip of the iceberg of wine knowledge, and ever since then, it's been my passion. That led me to enroll in sommelier courses, where I achieved my Level 2. ​
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With this new knowledge and working at the Banff Center, I was allowed to share my newly formed passion for wine. Presenting and discussing wine and food pairing at a series of Chef's Table events. A group of up to 24 people would sit at tables set up in a professional production kitchen as the Chef and his culinary team made and served a three-course dinner right before their eyes. This initial spark led to my Instagram page, where I pair BC wines with homemade gluten-free meals…My wife has Celiacs Disease, and from my experience working with some gifted chefs, I wanted to show her that gluten-free at home can still be restaurant calibre.
Then an opportunity arrived that positioned me perfectly to dive into the wine industry. I was to manage the Terrace restaurant at the illustrious Mission Hill Family Estate Winery. This restaurant was voted one of the top 5 winery restaurants in the world. This opportunity cemented a move to Kelowna.
Moving to Kelowna and being surrounded by glorious wineries opened up many new avenues to expand my learning. I’ve since completed Level 2 training with Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) through Fine Vintages** - a great wine education school offering online courses. Through them, I’ve also received the following certifications,
-Levels 1 & 2 in Wines
-Canadian Wine Scholar
-Level 1 Spirits
-Food & Wine Pairing
So how did BC Wine Nerd come into existence? I absolutely love and respect the art of winemaking. Everyone around me enjoys listening to me when I'm sharing wine knowledge. Passion and genuine love for Canada's immense potential on the international wine stage radiate from me when discussing wine and the industry. Let's share that with a larger audience. I'm a wine nerd living in British Columbia...BC Wine Nerd.
So with all that, let's continue on this wine journey together that started all those years ago with that inspirational sommelier I first met, Mr. James K.
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Cheers 🥂
**Wine Courses
As I noted above, I've taken many courses through Fine Vintage. This is a school that Maser Sommelier James Cluer created. They offer wine education (mostly in-class and some online), luxurious wine trips, and industry classifieds. Because I've been a long-time student with them, I enrolled in their Ambassador program. If you click on the link below or scan the QR code, you will get 10% off your course - to be transparent; I receive a bonus for anyone who uses the link.
