With a love for wine & food that was birthed during his time as a culinary arts major at Johnson & Wales University, Brion has ambitiously sought to leave his mark on the hospitality industry. He cut his teeth working in kitchens before transitioning to front of house operations with the encouragement of his mentor, the late Catherine Rabb, to pursue more in the world of wine. A universe that didn’t have too many professionals who looked like him.

“The Certified Wino” began simply as a blog to ramble about wine and serve as a creative outlet while studying for wine certifications. It quickly morphed into something more when passion to curate event experiences around wine emerged. That passion has taken him from managing large-scale beverage programs at boutique hotels to consulting on wine programs at local concepts in the Charlotte, NC market.

This renaissance man blends mediums like fashion and music to further the conversations on wine, food & hospitality. Whether it’s through a deep dive on his blog or a clever pop-tasting event, filling your glass with memorable experiences is always his goal.