Our next judge, who I was lucky to work with at @walnutstcafe , is @eddiesade
Etinosa Emokpae is a Pennsylvania sales representative for Skurnik Wine & Spirits and a Philadelphia-based wine professional originally from The Bronx, New York. Her foundation in wine was shaped through her work at Maialino and Lafayette in New York City, where she developed a lasting appreciation for wine, hospitality, and the stories behind each bottle. In 2016, she relocated to Philadelphia, where she became an integral part of the city’s restaurant and beverage community.
She subsequently served as Beverage Director at Walnut Street Café and later as Wine Director at Friday Saturday Sunday, where she helped develop thoughtful and compelling beverage programs. In 2019, she was recognized as one of SevenFifty’s Rising Stars in Philadelphia. She has also served as a wine judge for TEXSOM Awards, reflecting her broader engagement with the wine industry and commitment to professional excellence. Etinosa is a WSET Diploma candidate, continuing to deepen her expertise while fostering meaningful connections between producers, buyers, and guests.
Still processing and recovering but @honchopgh was incredible. Amazing to be in a space where I could dance my ass off and feel reaffirmed as a queer Black woman. Thank you @cataloguekids for inviting me in. Forever grateful.
Still processing (and recovering from😂) an amazing four days @vinitalyofficial . Thanks very much to @annachristina722@bonnary@wineenthusiast for this incredible opportunity! Thank you to all the producers for sharing your time and passion with us!
Special shout out to @alexandraneverov for being my travel buddy and partner in crime 😂! 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
Scenes from an epic @skurnikwines French Tasting yesterday! Thank you to the vignerons who traveled to our neck of the woods to share their passion, humor and vision of viticulture as it should be! Thanks to @lecaveaubar for always having our backs and executing everything with grace and style. And thanks to all who braved the cold to come out and join us yesterday. We appreciate it more than you could know! And special thanks to the whole team @vernickphilly for hosting us in the best way possible. 🙏🏿🙏🏿🙏🏿
