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Laurie O’Sullivan - a Niagara native - has been the head sommelier for Toca, the Ritz Carlton’s signature restaurant in Toronto, and is currently working towards her Advanced Sommelier designation. A curator for Gargoyle Inc., a Canadian monthly wine subscription service, she is also the manager of the Dymon Wine Cellar, a state-of-the-art facility in Etobicoke. Laurie has been a wine judge for Intervin/Vines Magazine since 2011.
Emily Pearce began her wine journey in Toronto and is now a Master Sommelier candidate with the Court of Master Sommeliers, as well as a Master of Wine candidate with the Institute of Masters of Wine in the UK. As a contributing writer for Sotheby's Wine Encyclopedia and Decanter Magazine Online, Emily leverages her knowledge to promote the Canadian wine scene to the world. She is a respected International wine judge for the International Wine Challenge in the UK, most recently winning Best Associate Judge. As a winner of the Best Ontario Sommelier, and Best Taster in Ontario, she represented the province in the national competition. She is the founder and president of Femmes du Vin. Emily is especially focused on mentoring women in the hospitality community.
Nabilah Rawji is the Wine Director of the Shangri-La Hotel, Toronto and is accredited through the Court of Master Sommeliers. In 2019 she was one of four Canadians to achieve the Court of Master Sommeliers Advanced designation.
