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Show Notes
What starts as a story inspired by a grandfather's World War II experience with champagne turns into a full-circle journey through fine dining, wine education, and app development. In this episode of Wine Behind the Scenes, Laurel Simmons is joined by Jeff Gillis, a certified sommelier, adjunct professor, and former food and beverage director at luxury hotels in Beverly Hills and Napa Valley. Jeff shares how his upbringing shaped his love of wine and why curating wine lists at five-star hotels prepared him for teaching and innovating. He talks about building his app, Wine Likes, a gamified platform designed to help wine lovers connect, learn, and discover new bottles. Whether you're in hospitality, a wine student, or just someone who's tired of wine apps that don't get you, this conversation blends tradition and tech with heart and a healthy splash of fun. What You'll Learn:
- How WWII and a European-style home influenced Jeff's love of wine
- What it's really like to run wine programs at world-class hotels
- The power of educating future wine pros with science and storytelling
- Why supporting local winemakers is a long-term win
- What led Jeff to create a social wine app, and how it works
- The real challenges of transitioning from hospitality to tech
- A surprising 'wonky wine term' that might make you giggle