Gary Russell
No matter who you are, I can create a dining experience that you will never forget! Who I know myself to be is someone who will meet and exceed your expectations.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sommelier Choice Awards: I will be judging a wine event in San Francisco on May 19-21 2019
EXPERIENCE
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes. Orlando, FL. Wine Steward
DoveCote Brasserie. Orlando, FL. Server
K Restaurant & Wine Bar. College Park, FL. Server
DoveCote Brasserie. Orlando, FL. Server
K Restaurant & Wine Bar. College Park, FL. Server
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Wine and Food Pairing
Wine List Creation
Wine Judge
Wine List Creation
Wine Judge
Wine Educator
Wine Service- Restaurant
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
Wine Service- Restaurant
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
No matter who you are, I can create a dining experience that you will never forget! Who I know myself to be is someone who will meet and exceed your expectations.
MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
It was working for Chef Kevin Fonzo at K Restaurant & Wine Bar in 2012 that was my introduction to the world of wine. The menu there changed daily and my eyes were opened to the romantic and essential relationship between food & wine. I had never bee exposed to a restaurant of that caliber, and began exploring who I would have to become as a service professional to apply to the top restaurants in the U.S. Studying wine quickly revealed itself to be the pathway to leveling-up! GALLERY
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Gary Russell
Gary.Russell@ritzcarlton.com
(321) 438-0463
Orlando, FL
United States
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
Wine Steward
Gary.Russell@ritzcarlton.com
(321) 438-0463
Orlando, FL
United States
The Ritz-Carlton Orlando Grande Lakes
Wine Steward
It's amazing how someone's passion can affect, and infect, everyone around them. That's how I came to discover my love for wine, I had been working in restaurant service for 10 years, all the while, hoping that I would discover my passion somewhere outside of a restaurant. But as fortune would have it, in August of 2012 I landed a job at K Restaurant & Wine Bar. While working for corporate restaurants I had always viewed wine sales as a chore, just another "quota" to be met. Working at K forever changed that perception. The head Chef, and owner, Kevin Fonzo has the passion that I mentioned in the introduction of this story. He is one of the most passionate, genuine, loyal, generous, caring professionals that I've ever met, or had the pleasure of working for. He has incredible talent in the kitchen, and even more important to this narrative, loves wine.
Over the course of my first year at K, I started believing that I was capable of so much more in my serving abilities, and in my life. I started looking at ways I could "up my game" when it came to creating an amazing dining experience for our guests. Wine Pairings!! That was it! I started drinking, and studying wine with great enthusiasm. This quote from wine critic Luigi "Gino" Veronelli (1926-2004) pretty much summed it up for how I was feeling. "The flavor of a food almost always reveals the quality of a wine and exalts it. In turn, the quality of a wine complements the pleasure of a food and spiritualizes it.".
Taking the Introductory Sommelier Exam seemed like the logical choice. So, I registered, and passed on Halloween 2014. I began broadening the scope of my studies. A month before I took that exam, Chef Fonzo took a few of us from the restaurant to Napa & Sonoma. I had never been there before, and it really opened my eyes as to what was possible in the world of wine, and my own desires to travel the globe. Wine has filled the gaps in every aspect of the life that I've set out to create. I then passed my Certified Exam in December of 2016, and in September of 2017 landed my dream-job as Sommelier for The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes. In June of 2018 I attended the Advanced Course in Dallas. 2018 has been the most wonderful and explosive year of my life. I have begun studying French. I went to Pinot Camp in the Willamette Valley, the Pinot Not Forum in the Russian River Valley, W2U in Walla Walla, Mission SB in Santa Barbara and Paso Wine S'cool in Paso Robles.. all inside of five months!! What an awesome ride. Considering I didn't even drink wine seven years ago, this has been an unexpected miracle and one hell of a ride. What's now possible is becoming a Master Sommelier, working as a wine consultant, traveling the world and aspiring to be the Wine Director for Marriott International Luxury Brands (MILUX). La vie est belle!
Over the course of my first year at K, I started believing that I was capable of so much more in my serving abilities, and in my life. I started looking at ways I could "up my game" when it came to creating an amazing dining experience for our guests. Wine Pairings!! That was it! I started drinking, and studying wine with great enthusiasm. This quote from wine critic Luigi "Gino" Veronelli (1926-2004) pretty much summed it up for how I was feeling. "The flavor of a food almost always reveals the quality of a wine and exalts it. In turn, the quality of a wine complements the pleasure of a food and spiritualizes it.".
Taking the Introductory Sommelier Exam seemed like the logical choice. So, I registered, and passed on Halloween 2014. I began broadening the scope of my studies. A month before I took that exam, Chef Fonzo took a few of us from the restaurant to Napa & Sonoma. I had never been there before, and it really opened my eyes as to what was possible in the world of wine, and my own desires to travel the globe. Wine has filled the gaps in every aspect of the life that I've set out to create. I then passed my Certified Exam in December of 2016, and in September of 2017 landed my dream-job as Sommelier for The Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes. In June of 2018 I attended the Advanced Course in Dallas. 2018 has been the most wonderful and explosive year of my life. I have begun studying French. I went to Pinot Camp in the Willamette Valley, the Pinot Not Forum in the Russian River Valley, W2U in Walla Walla, Mission SB in Santa Barbara and Paso Wine S'cool in Paso Robles.. all inside of five months!! What an awesome ride. Considering I didn't even drink wine seven years ago, this has been an unexpected miracle and one hell of a ride. What's now possible is becoming a Master Sommelier, working as a wine consultant, traveling the world and aspiring to be the Wine Director for Marriott International Luxury Brands (MILUX). La vie est belle!