Michele Edington

A passionate educator and innovator, Michele is a Certified Sommelier through the Court of Master Sommeliers, a WSET Diploma student (Advanced level), a Certified Sake Advisor from the Sake School of America, an Executive Bourbon Steward from the Stave and Thief Society, and a Certified Specialist of Wine from the Society of Wine Educators. But her love for beverages isn’t just about credentials—it’s about connecting people to flavors, stories, and experiences.

Her career has taken her through a variety of roles, from Beverage Director at the Fearless Restaurant Group, managing programs across 10 locations, to her time as a Sommelier at Jean-Georges Philadelphia. She has also held positions as Beverage Director at Savona, Manager at Barclay Prime, and General Manager of a restaurant in South Carolina during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michele’s journey began at The Culinary Institute of America, where she graduated after serving as Teaching Assistant for the Wines class under Professor Weiss. Before that, she studied Genetics at Rutgers University, combining her scientific curiosity with her culinary passions.

Michele’s professional achievements are complemented by her personal projects and creative endeavors. She runs multiple blogs and websites, including EnergyDrinkRatings.com, where she dives into the science and flavor profiles of energy drinks, as well as her personal site, where she shares insights on baking, gardening, and sustainable living. She is also the author of Pairing Paws vol 1 & 2, showcasing her creative approach to blending beverages with the unexpected.

In 2017, Michele was named one of Philadelphia Magazine’s New Faces of Wine, but her interests have evolved to embrace a broader spectrum of beverages and lifestyle content. From writing about how to make wine approachable to evaluating energy drinks for their focus-enhancing properties, Michele’s curiosity drives her to explore all corners of the beverage world.

When she’s not working at luxury hotels or writing her next blog post, Michele can often be found experimenting with new recipes, researching ingredients, creating new websites, or gardening. Whether she’s pairing wines with emotions, coding a game called Blockchain Botany to teach others how to use Cryptocurrency, reviewing the latest energy drink, or teaching others to grow heirloom tomatoes, Michele’s mission is the same: to make the complex world of beverages and food fun, approachable, and endlessly inspiring.