Blake Leja
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Society of Wine Educators . Certified Wine Educator (CWE)
Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits
Court of Master Sommeliers . Level 3 Advanced Sommelier
Wine and Spirit Education Trust. Level 2 Award in Wines and Spirits
Court of Master Sommeliers . Level 3 Advanced Sommelier
EXPERIENCE
Pensiero Ristorante. Evanston, IL. Sommelier
Signature Fine Wine. Chicago, IL. Wine Distributor
Prosecco Ristorante. Chicago, IL. Sommelier
Signature Fine Wine. Chicago, IL. Wine Distributor
Prosecco Ristorante. Chicago, IL. Sommelier
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Wine and Food Pairing
Wine Educator
MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
I was at a local restaurant with my father in Crystal Lake, IL and he bought a half bottle of 1996 Ridge Montebello, that was all she wrote! Share
I left the United States Army Infantry in 2005, I went to school and started to work for a distributor in between semesters at school, caught onto the wine bug and never looked back, I worked in a few restaurants while working at a distributor, running wine Italian wine programs. I currently work for Signature Fine Wine the fine wine and craft spirit division of Southern Wine and Spirits of Illinois, I currently a studying for my Masters diploma with the Court of Master Sommeliers Americas. I love wine and will never know everything about it, Cheers!