Joe Zapata has diverse experience in every phase of the beverage industry. Joe’s career began in wine retail at top independent fine wine retailer K&L Wine Merchants. From K&L, he moved on to pioneering online wine retailer wine.com where he was a member of a wine buying team that helped to shape the landscape of Internet wine sales. Beyond wine retail, Joe’s additional career highlights include wholesale distribution and supplier sales at Wine Warehouse, one of California’s largest wine distributors and iconic Paul Hobbs Wines as well as running the beverage program for Forbes Five-Star Solage (Auberge Resorts Collection) and its Michelin starred restaurant, Solbar. In his current role as beverage director, he oversees wine and bar programs for the entire property.

Joe has achieved some of the most respected credentials in the industry including Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, Certified Specialist of Spirits (CSS) and Certified Wine Educator (CWE) with the Society of Wine Educators.