HOSPITALITY
Maki Pottenger, Bourbon Steak at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess A veteran of CORE Kitchen & Wine Bar at the Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Resort and the JW Marriott Camelback Inn Resort & Spa, Maki Pottenger first joined the awardwinning Mina Group’s Bourbon Steak at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess in 2015. Bowled over by her talent, Mina would pull her to a San Francisco property soon after, but Arizona never stopped calling her home. By 2018, Bourbon Steak Scottsdale was able to beckon her back, first as the floor sommelier before offering her the coveted role of lead sommelier in 2019. Today, as the Wine Director for the entire resort, the Court of Master Sommeliers certified Pottenger oversees more than 3,500 bottles and 900 total labels at the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence winner. Peggy Fiandaca, LDV Winery Fun fact: before founding the acclaimed LDV Winery in 2008, Peggy Fiandaca was an urban planner in Arizona for more than 30 years and the first-ever woman recognized as an Arizona Planning Pioneer by the Arizona Planning Association. Today, Fiancaca grows 13 acres of grapes in Southern Arizona and works as the brand’s chief winemaker with her husband, Curt Dunham. LDV has made its name by offering hand-crafted, estate-grown and produced Rhone-varieties that reflect the unique vineyard characteristics. Currently, Fiandaca produces 3,0004,000 cases of wine per year and leads the LDV Winery Tasting Room in Old Town Scottsdale, which offers tastings as well as current varietals by the bottle, glass or to go.
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AB | July - August 2022
Valerie Wood After marrying in 2001, Valerie and Daniel Wood’s corporate careers took them from California to Chicago and then Tokyo. But perhaps their biggest move was when they decided to put down roots in the small town of Cornville. Within a week of relocating to the rural northern Arizona city, all their senses came alive in the fresh air and the star-filled nights. And though they initially planned to retire from work altogether, around 2013 they decided to enroll in Yavapai College’s first-ever Viticulture and Enology program at the Southwest Wine Center. Through the program, of which they are among the first graduating class, the Woods helped plant 13, 000 acres of vines while developing a business plan for their own brand. Enter Heart Wood Cellars in 2015. Each of their first five vintages won gold or silver medals at the San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition. Paola Embry, Wrigley Mansion Chilean-born Paola Embry is an accomplished sommelier who earned the Certificat de Merite from Le Comite National des Vins de France and a Degree of Honor from Les Amis du Vin International Wine Society. Currently, she serves in a dual role as chief executive officer and wine director for the Wrigley Mansion where she is known for creating the Wrigley Mansion Wine Festival, a four-day event that just completed its second year, as well as earning the property its latest “Best of” Wine Spectator award and Geordie’s its first Wine Enthusiast “America’s Best 100 Wine Restaurants” designation. A sought-after specialist on the national level, Embry has served on the advisory board of Santé Magazine and has authored acclaimed pieces for Wine Enthusiast.