ANDREW GREEN ~ WINE AND SPIRITS DIRECTOR

Born and bred in the Midwest, Green was brought up in a home where celebrations revolved around elaborate family meals. It was these family events that spawned an interest in food and wine and all of the rituals that accompany the dining experience.

After graduating with a degree in Business Administration, Green joined his father in Sacramento and went to work for the River City Brewing Company where food and wine education was a focus. It was here that Andrew established a greater appreciation for wine and a keen interest in pursuing a career in the restaurant industry.

In 1997 Andrew went to work at Tra Vigne, a well-established Italian restaurant in the Napa Valley where he met David Stevens, Wine and Beverage Director and learned the ABC’s of managing a restaurant beverage program. In 1999 Green was offered the position of Wine Director at Moose’s in San Francisco. That year he also arranged to work the harvest with Michael Haven of Havens Cellars, gaining some practical experience in winemaking.

At Moose’s, Green was able to apply the knowledge he had acquired to manage a successful beverage program that was both profitable and impressive in scope. In addition, Andrew embarked on an intensive study course with a group of fellow wine enthusiasts to prepare for the Court of Master Sommelier’s Advanced Certificate exam. In 2002, Green passed the three segments of the exam: tasting, service and theory. He then set his sights on the Masters Exam, a goal that Green continues to work towards. At this time, Green was introduced to Tim Stannard. Armed with a talented young chef as his partner, Stannard was looking for a beverage director who shared his vision of a successful restaurant with an ongoing educational program for its staff.

At The Village Pub, Green created a beverage program that complimented the restaurant’s sophisticated interior and Chef Sullivan’s gutsy, French-inspired contemporary cuisine. Just eight months after The Village Pub opened, the restaurant received the Wine Spectator’s Best of Award of Excellence, quite an accomplishment for Green and his team of wine enthusiasts. Today, Green continues to pursue his wine studies and hopes to inspire more individuals to do the same.