A conversation with sommelier Derrick C. Westbrook

Our guest this week is sommelier Derrick C. Westbrook, a co-owner of Juice @ 1340 who has directed wine programs at NEXT and Elizabeth. He was recognized by Wine Enthusiast magazine as a 40 Under 40 Tastemaker and was the first African-American in the wine industry to grace the publication’s cover. We had a fabulous conversation about his journey to wine, his musical approach to wine and wine education, and how he introduces wines to his customers.

Each week we get together for a production meeting. This is also a great opportunity to try out some wines. This week we had two very different wines that came in at very different price points. Still, we enjoyed both immensely!

• The Curator 2021 (South African white blend by A.A. Badenhorst) $13 at Augusta Food & Wine

• Carl Ehrhard “Frau Ehrhard Naturlich” 2017 (low-intervention, slight skin-contact, German Riesling) from Independent Spirits. $30.

Lainie also reported on a tasting of ISH non-alcoholic wines and spirits offered at Birch Road in Roscoe Village.

ISH products are available locally at:

• Bendición Dry Bar
• Foxtrot

You can also get 10% off your first order at ISH’s US website with code MINDFUL10.