Wine Some, Lose Some: Good News and Bad on the Sommelier Beat

Mariel Wega of a.kitchen and a.bar: Best New Sommeliers

Mariel Wega, the wine director of a.kitchen and a.bar has been named one of the Best New Sommeliers of 2016 by Wine & Spirits magazine. This is just the latest accolade for Wega and a.kitchen/a.bar as they were also named one of America’s 100 Best Wine Restaurants by Wine Enthusiast magazine earlier this year.

But a bit of a bummer comes from across Rittenhouse Square. Justin Timsit of the Rittenhouse Hotel, who was named New York’s best sommelier in April, despite being employed here in Philadelphia, is leaving the hotel for New York City.

According to Michael Klein, Timsit will begin at New York’s Gramercy Tavern in mid-October. In the meantime, Timsit will be studying for his final exam from the Court of Master Sommeliers.

Keep an eye out for Wega’s specials like Magnu Mondays at a.kitchen where large format wine bottles are featured as well as #WineCru, which brings experts from around the world to a.kitchen and a.bar to chat about wines and pairings.

Congrats to Wega and good luck to Timsit. Two great pros.

a.kitchen [Foobooz]