Joanne DiGeso
Wine Educator, Judge, Writer, Seminar Presenter, Creator SommWine

I've spent much of my wine life working in swanky places such as the Four Seasons in Whistler and two of the top 50 restaurants of Canada. These include working as a sommelier for Hawksworth Restaurant in Vancouver and as the wine director of the largest cellar in Western North America, the Bearfoot Bistro.
In 2018, I started my wine business called SommWine where I now teach certified Wine and Spirit Education Trust courses, host private and public wine tastings and act as a wine judge and wine seminar moderator.
Who am I? Think zen master meets the female version of Dionysus the Greek god of grape harvests, winemaking, religious ecstasy and ritual madness. As a metaphorical flame thrower, I'll break down your barriers to learning.
And if you would like to learn more about wine, you can read wine articles under my blog above. Or check out the next online wine courses or subscribe to my newsletter for updates!
My classes have 2 rules; No oenophobes allowed and no prisoners taken.
Experience
2021
Wine Growers BC Educator for BC Wine Ambassador Program
executed online BC wine courses
Vancouver International Wine Festival
Wine Writer
wrote sections on aged rare wines from Napa Valley, Champagne, Bordeaux and Italian wines for online auction
2020 - Present
Hosting Private and Virtual Wine Tastings
Whistler, Vancouver BC
2018 - Present
Wine writer, researcher
check out samples of my writing here
2018 - Present
Wine and Spirit Education Trust Approved Program Provider for SommWine
teaching Levels 1-3; Whistler, BC
Recurring since 2015
Wine Judge
+ Seminar Presenter
Cornucopia; Whistler
2016 / 2017
Panel Moderator
Top Drop; Whistler + Vancouver
2012- 2016
Bearfoot Bistro; wine director + sommelier
Voted Top 50 Restaurants in Canada; Whistler
2016/17
Hawksworth Restaurant; sommelier
Voted Top 50 Restaurants in Canada; Vancouver
2009 - 2012
Four Season's Resort; sommelier + server
Whistler
AWards
VinItaly International Academy Scholarship 2017
Les Dames D’Escoffier Scholarship 2016
British Columbia Hospitality Scholarship 2015
Whistler’s Top Sommelier 2010
Education
2018
Certified Educator Program; New York
2017 completed
DipWSET
Levels 1-4; The Art Institute of Vancouver
2017
VinItaly International Wine Academy
Certified Italian Wine Ambassador; Verona, Italy
2012
International Sommelier Guild Advanced Certification
previously...
University of British Columbia
Undergraduate Degree; Sociology
Skills
About
With many years experience working at swank restaurants. I’m currently focused on writing an online wine program. You can contact me to prepare wine seminars for staff training or create a wine tasting for your friends.
I call Whistler – the famous ski resort – home.