Somm's List

Kerry Jo Rizzo DWS

KJ is a Wine & Sake sommelier, writer and educator in the SF Bay Area. Virtual & In-person events booking now! Visit www.kerryjorizzo.com for contact info.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sake Day 2025: Say HELLO to Sake Day! This is the original and largest "Nihonshu No Hi" or Sake Day Celebration outside of Japan! Let us guide you to the best sakes made in Japan and in the United States. Taste over 200 different types of sake. Let us educate you with sake education stations and let us entertain you with a party that is dedicated to all things sake! Purchase Tickets at www.sakeday.com
EDUCATION & CERTIFICATIONS
Sake School of America. Los Angeles, CA. J.S.A. Sake Diploma
SSI Sake Service Institute. Kita-ku, Tokyo. International Kikisake-Shi
Sake Sommelier Association. London, England. Certified Sake Educator
Sake Education Council. Chicago, IL. Certified Sake Professional
Sake Scholar. Toronto, Ont. by James Beard Award Winner Michael Tremblay
Court of Master Sommeliers. Level 2 Certified Sommelier
Wine & Spirit Education Trust. Berkeley, CA. Level 3 Award in Sake
Wine & Spirit Education Trust. New York, NY. Level 4 - Diploma in Wine & Spirits
EXPERIENCE
Sip Somm. San Francisco, CA. Sommelier Event Services
True Sake. San Francisco, CA. Sake Specialist
Fifth Taste. SF Bay Area. WSET Certified Sake Educator
Odyssey Wine Academy. Healdsburg, CA. Wine and Sake Educator
Sake Times. Tokyo, Japan. Columnist - 'Sake vs. Wine!'
Sake Tips!. Tokyo, Japan. Contributing Writer
Hôtel Biron. San Francisco, CA. Wine Director/GM
Foreign Cinema. San Francisco, CA. Wine Director
IWSC. London, England. Wine Judge
Sequoia Sake. San Francisco, CA. Production Volunteer
DaVero Farms & Winery. Healdsburg, CA. Harvest Intern
Coi. San Francisco, CA. Sommelier
Hotel Fauchère - Relais & Châteaux. Milford, PA. Beverage Director
The Settler's Inn. Hawley, PA. Head Sommelier/Innkeeper
Italian Wine Merchants. New York, NY. Assistant Events Manager/Sommelier
Salute!. New York, NY. Captain
SKILLS & EXPERTISE
Regional Expertise: Italy
Regional Expertise: Japan
Inventory Management
Wine Judge
Wine Service- Bar or Wine Bar
Wine Service- Management
Wine Sourcing and Purchasing
Wine and Food Pairing
Wine & Sake Educator
Sake Writer
KJ is a Wine & Sake sommelier, writer and educator in the SF Bay Area. Virtual & In-person events booking now! Visit www.kerryjorizzo.com for contact info.
MY LIGHT BULB MOMENT
1st light bulb: German Riesling. 2nd light bulb: 1882 Cossart Verdelho Madeira. 3rd light bulb: Dassai 39 Junmai Daiginjo.
MEMBERSHIPS & AFFILIATIONS
PRESS
True Sake, Dec. 2024 - 'Taste with KJ' Sparkling Sake for the Holidays
True Sake, Nov. 2024 - 'Taste with KJ' Autumn Sweets: A Dance with Red Rice Sake
True Sake, Oct. 2024 - 'Taste with KJ' Azumaichi: The Great Sake Peacemaker
True Sake, Sept. 2024 - 'Taste with KJ' Kawatsuru ‘Olive’ Takes on Red Sauce Italian
True Sake, August 2024 -'Taste with KJ' Take a Hike... with Sake!
True Sake, July 2024 - 'Taste with KJ' Koshu Sake Takes On Pâté and Ankimo
True Sake, June 2024 - 'Taste with KJ' Dry Ginjos with North American Oysters
True Sake, May 2024 - 'Taste with KJ' Pairing Sake with Greek Cuisine and Lebanese Baba Ganoush
Sake Street, May 2024 - New Tales of Off-flavors: Global Perspective on Sake’s Off-flavors (Part 4-2)
Sake Times, June 2022 - An Insider’s Guide to the IWC Sake Competition
Sake Times, May 2022 - Spring’s Best Sake and Wine Pairings
Sake Times, April 2022 - Sake and Wine Vessels Can Be Shared
Sake Times, March 2022 - How to Get Your Sake Fix on the Go When Visiting Japan
Sake Times, Feb 2022 - SAKE 101: Pressing
Sake Times, Jan. 2022 - Why Sake is the Drink of Choice for Winter
Sake Times, Nov. 2021 - Autumn Showdown – Beaujolais vs. Hiyaoroshi
Sake Times, Oct. 2021 - Sake Pairing with American Takeout
Sake Times, June 2021 - Aged Sake is Hot Right Now, but How Does It Compare to Vintage Wine?
Sake Times, Aug 2021 - Best in Class: A Primer on the World’s Premier Sake Certification Courses
Sake Times, April 2021 - Classic Wine Pairings Meet Sake!
Sake Tips, August 2020 - Insights at NRIB
Sake Tips, Feb. 2020 - Sake 2020 – A Wine Director’s Perspective
Sake Tips, Jan. 2020 - Brewery Spotlight: Kenbishi Sake Brewing Co. Ltd.
Sake Tips, Dec. 2018 - Sake Swaps – A Festive Guide for Winter!
Sommelier Journal, February 2013, South African Syrahs (Featured Panelist)
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Kerry Jo Rizzo DWS