{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Tasting Notes Toronto by Insider Wine","title":"Christian Perreault Hamel – Winning Best Sommelier of Ontario and Building Harbour 60’s 3,600 SKU Wine List","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":4677,"description":"In this episode, I sit down with Christian Perreault Hamel, Best Sommelier of Ontario, Wine Director at Harbour 60, and owner of Pelican Wine Imports. At Harbour 60, Christian oversees one of the largest restaurant wine programs in Canada, with roughly 3,600 SKUs and about 25,000 bottles. We talk about what it takes to manage a wine list of that size while still providing personalized service.\nChristian shares his path from the arts into hospitality, learning wine in Montreal, deepening his passion in France, and working in Massachusetts before returning to Canada. He reflects on his formative years at Au Pied de Cochon in Montreal and his move to Toronto during COVID, where he became GM of Pompette before stepping into the role of Wine Director at Harbour 60.\nWe also discuss the challenges of balancing profitability with hospitality, his pursuit of the Master Sommelier diploma, building a wine agency with Pelican Wine Imports, and the lessons he has learned along the way.\nFinally, Christian offers candid advice for young professionals who want to build a career in wine and hospitality.\nIf you want an inside look at what it takes to run one of Canada’s most ambitious wine programs and build a life in wine, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.\nChristian Perreault-Hamel – Winning Best Sommelier of Ontario, Harbour 60’s Award-Winning Wine List, and Keeping Hospitality Fun\n00:00 – Introduction\n01:48 – From Art to Wine Bars\n04:30 – France & WSET Training\n05:34 – US Wine Experience\n07:08 – Montreal to Toronto Move\n11:51 – Joining Pompette During COVID\n16:10 – Pompette Growth & Awards\n18:17 – Port Tongs & Service Theatrics\n20:54 – Joining Harbour 60\n24:13 – Building a Global Wine List\n29:11 – Flood Reset & Buying Strategy\n33:43 – Managing 25,000 Bottles\n35:33 – What Guests Really Order\n39:20 – Canadian Wine Trends\n40:53 – Harbour 60 Beverage Mix\n43:04 – Profitability vs Hospitality\n48:12 – Smart Markups & Guest Value\n51:05 – Sommelier Competitions\n01:01:15 –...","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/qu6sl5IgAAe55ng9ARpyYSW-PPfIZ_6b8pSn9asQ7QY/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS81ZTNh/NGU4YjQ5YmQ5ODk4/NTdiOGYwNGZhNDM1/ZjZmZi5qcGc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}