Wine and Drinks College Manitoba

WINE&DRINKS WESTERN CANADA’S PREMIER WINE AND DRINKS EDUCATION FACILITY OFFERS WINE, BEER, AND SPIRITS COURSES FOR EVERYONE FROM THE HOBBYIST TO THE PROFESSIONAL.

COLLEGE MANITOBA

Ricki-Lee Podolecki, DipWSET, Educator and Buyer

Ricki-Lee Podolecki left Winnipeg a few years ago with WSET 2 credentials from Wine & Drinks College and returned in early 2020 with an enviable resume in hospitality, wine country tourism, winery work, restaurant management, and the WSET Diploma. She has now taken her place in the management team as a buyer for Jones & Company Wine Merchants and an Educator for WDCM.

Ricki-Lee has spent much of her career to date in Canada’s beautiful Okanagan, gaining invaluable experience at a number of destinations, including CheckMate Winery, Quails’ Gate, The Mark Anthony Group, and Burrowing Owl. While her main focus was restaurant management and winery hospitality, Ricki-Lee’s energy and commitment found her helping at harvest, in barrel rooms, and tasting with prestigious winemakers. During this time, she also completed the WSET Level 3 Award in Wines and the WSET Diploma in Wines. She is one of only a handful of Manitobans to hold the Diploma.

She brings this wealth of experience to Jones & Company and to WDCM. As a valued member of our buying team, she has a particular focus on our Canadian portfolio. Like other Jones & Company wine professionals, Ricki-Lee can recommend great wine from any corner of the world.

Manon Paquin, General Manager

We are proud to welcome Manon Paquin, who began responsibilities as our General Manager in October 2020. Manon has more than 15 years of experience in management, team building, and hospitality. She has worked for much of her career with Joey Restaurants, a great partner of Jones & Company. A few years ago, Manon also took on the challenge of opening a new concept in a new city, launching The Local in Ottawa to great success. She returned to Winnipeg to head Joey Kenaston and managed that location for several years.

Manon has joined Jones & Company, looking for a new challenge and a new adventure. She is looking forward to meeting all of our fantastic customers and friends. Manon loves wine, she loves teamwork, and she loves people.

Please join us in welcoming Manon, her husband Stephen, and their son Huxley to the Jones & Company family.

Jones & Company’s Virtual Wine Tastings

All tastings include an invitation to a virtual guided tasting with one of our wine experts. Sign up under “Events” at www.joneswines.com.

Explore Canada: February 26 & March 19 Take a tour with two Canadian wines and a cider. The cool and refreshing cider comes from our Niagara region, and the red and white wines are from the beautiful Okanagan Valley. Come help us explore our own backyard! Cost: $75.00

Tour Italy: March 5 & 26 Enjoy wines from all over Italy. From the northern regions of Veneto and Emilia-Romagna, we will explore a Prosecco and the classic white of Italy: Trebbiano. We travel to the southernmost region of Sicily for a bold and flavourful red Nero d’Avola. Cost: $60.00

Natural Wines: March 12 & April 1 From grape to bottle, natural wines are quickly gaining in popularity. Try some of our favourites and learn what it means to be a natural wine with stunning white, rosé, and red from around the world. Cost: $75.00