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Wine Tasting, in Collaboration with Denver Wine Merchant
November 11, 2022 @ 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm MST
The Denver Press Club is excited to host the co-owners and resident sommeliers at Denver Wine Merchant for an evening of wine tasting accompanied by light cheese plates.
Sally Stewart is a Houston native born in Pennsylvania. Growing up with home cooked meals, she developed a passion for food and beverage. She worked in restaurants since age 16 holding positions from line cook to sommelier. After graduating from the University of Houston, life took her out west. There she met Steven and continued her path in wine.
In 2015 Sally and Steven set up a seasonal guest house in Casablanca, Chile, where they hosted travelers from nine countries. A stay included private winery tours and Sally’s cooking with wine pairings.
After moving back stateside, they spent time in Portland, Oregon and then ended up in Telluride, Colorado. In Telluride, besides skiing nearly everday, they worked full time as sommeliers for the resort.
In 2016 She and Steven moved to New York City. In her four years NYC, she was a sommelier at Babbo and Cut by Wolfgang Puck, and in 2018 she passed the Advanced Sommelier exam. In 2019 she was diagnosed with ALS, a progressive and terminal nerve disease. There was no better time than ever to pursue her dream of owning a wine shop, and when COVID hit New York City the decision to move to their favorite state became clear. In July 2020, Sally and Steven moved to Denver to conquer their dream of owning the best wine shop the Front Range has ever seen.
Steven Washuta is a Florida native born in California. While studying engineering a semester in France opened his palate to the wonders of grapes. In 2010 he graduated with a two year degree in Enology and Viticulture from Walla Walla Community College; a small hands-on school which produces and sells their own wine. After a few years in a California cellar he moved to the restaurant side of wine, working first in San Francisco and then New York City as a sommelier.
In New York he ran the wine program for Felidia and then created the beverage program for the new restaurant Portale in 2019. In 2018 he passed the Master Sommelier exam, making him one of fewer than 200 with the title in the USA. The unexpected changes of 2020 brought him to Denver with Sally to realize the dream of running their own small wine store.
Learn more about Denver Wine Merchant at denverwinemerchant.com or follow them on Instagram @denverwinemerchant.