Somm's List

Bill Mochoruk

Passionate about food and wine! I love having individuals get excited about these two things in life as much as myself which is the world of wine and food....it's fun and exciting to educate individuals about the world of food, wine and travelling to these awesome destinations!
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Court of Master Sommeliers. Level 2 Certified Sommelier
Fine Vintages Limited. Toronto, ON. Certified Sommelier
George Brown College. Toronto, ON. Wine Specialist Certification
Niagara College. Niagara on the Lake, ON. Winemaking
EXPERIENCE
Backhouse Restaurant. Niagara on the Lake. Senior Sommelier / Beverage Director
Univins Wines and Spirits. Toronto, ON. Territory Manager Toronto Core / Sommelier
Vineland Estates Winery. Vineland, ON. Estate Sommelier
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Wine Service- Restaurant
Wine Service- Bar or Wine Bar
Wine and Food Pairing
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
Wine List Creation
Inventory Management
Wine Educator
Viticulture
VIP Winery Tours
Wine Club Educational Seminar Instructor
Passionate about food and wine! I love having individuals get excited about these two things in life as much as myself which is the world of wine and food....it's fun and exciting to educate individuals about the world of food, wine and travelling to these awesome destinations!
MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
The first wine course that I ever took was in Toronto..............I never knew how great a bottle of wine was until I started to learn how to break down the components of a wine and look at that glass in so many different ways.......from the visual, to the olfactory, to finally wonderful tastes on the palate...........a life changing moment that has given me immense direction and focus and, its so great with food!! :-)
WHAT I'M DRINKING NOW
  • 2014 Jean-Marc Brocard Vau de Vey 1er Cru Chablis.......dynamite!
  • 2014 Kuentz-Bas - Ginsberg Alsatian Grand Cru Riesling
  • 2016 Versante Nord Bianco Terrre Siciliane from Eduardo Torres Acosta - Looks super old but tastes super fresh...available at the resto
  • Cuvee Emma from the Charentais - An Organic Merlot that I just brought into the resto....awesome!
FAVORITE FOOD & WINE PAIRINGS
  • Daikon Radish, mushroom broth with Nama-Nama Junmai Sake - Available on our tasting menu at Backhouse restaurant
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
AWARDS & ACCOLADES
  • 2011 A.A Psychology
  • Certified Wine Specialist, George Brown College
  • Winemaking Diploma, Niagara College
  • Certified Sommelier, Fine Vintages Limited
  • Certified Sommelier, The Court of Master Sommeliers
CLIENTS
  • Niagara College
  • Vineland Estates Winery
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Bill Mochoruk
Bill Mochoruk
Niagara on the Lake
Canada

Backhouse Restaurant
Senior Sommelier / Beverage Director

As I came into the Sommelier side of things a little later in life, I am glad that this was the case as I would not have been disciplined enough at a younger age to take the world of wine as serious as I do today. , 

Having come from the transportation and steel industries, happiness and personal growth professionally were not words that I would have used at that point until I took my first formal wine class about 20 years ago.........that changed my focus, career goals and ignited a passion that hasn't subsided.

After leaving the two above industries, I was lucky enough to have met my future friend and GM at Univins in Toronto, Canada through a mutual friend who was also a major wine mentor of mine. After accepting the Territory Manager's position at Univins, my life changed for the better and each day after that has been a truly blessed one. It has led me to a dream position of Senior Sommelier and Beverage Director at one of Canada's most celebrated restaurants.......Backhouse in Niagara on the Lake, Canada. I am fortunate to be associated with a world class restaurant, colleagues that I truly enjoy working with every day while living in beautiful Canadian Wine Country.

To keep my wine skills sharp, I commute to Toronto on a weekly basis and attend  The Sommelier Factory which is run by friend and colleague, Master Sommelier Bruce Wallner. Bruce, along with his Sommelier team of Sam Melanson and Emily MacLean provide a comfortable environment to learn and network with other Sommelier's in the area, while helping us to reach our personal and professional goals of the Advanced and Master Sommelier levels within The Court of Master Sommelier's. Without this amazing network, I would not be where I am today and I am grateful for the friendship and opportunities that are presented to not only myself but the Somm community in general in Toronto. 

I am looking forward to the next chapter on this lifelong journey!