Sake & Wine!
KJ is a wine & sake sommelier in the San Francisco Bay Area. Starting in fine dining establishments as a teenager, she has over two decades of experience in the hospitality industry. In addition to wine, her specialty is Japanese sake and she provides virtual & in-person educational events for clients in Northern California and beyond. She pays homage to True Sake, the first sake store in America where she worked for 4 years. She is also a writer for publications such as the Sake Times International, Sake Street and writes a quarterly column called, “Taste with KJ” for the True Sake newsletter. Although she started in service, her greatest passion is teaching. She was appointed as a Certified Sake Educator for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust & the Sake Sommelier Association in early 2020 and teaches classes with Odyssey Wine Academy in Healdsburg, CA, Fifth Taste in the Bay Area and is an instructor for the Sake Scholar Course created by James Beard award winner Michael Tremblay.
At the beginning of 2021, she created a Youtube channel called ‘Sip Somm Sake & Wine Tasting,’ which focuses on guided wine and sake content. Sip Somm has now evolved into a business providing personalized sommelier event services.
KJ is a holder of the following qualifications: SSC Certified Sake Scholar, J.S.A. Sake Diploma International #305, SSA Certified Sake Sommelier, SSI International Kikisake-shi, SEC Certified Sake Professional, CMS Certified Sommelier, WSET Level 3 Award in Sake with Distinction, WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wine & Spirits.
Beverage Consultations & Tasting Events
*Prices on Request
If you would like to set up a consultation meeting for a tutoring session, tasting event or staff beverage training, please email kerry.jo.rizzo1@gmail.com or fill out the form below. I look forward to collaborating with you!