In The Drink

Bobby began his distinguished career working in restaurants in Arizona until he moved to Colorado in 1995 to join the staff of The Little Nell restaurant in Aspen as a sommelier. During his five-year tenure, the restaurant received numerous awards for wine and service, including the Gourmet’s “Best Wine Service” Award, Mobile Travel Guide’s Five Star Hotel and Restaurant Rating, Wine Spectator’s Grand Award, and a nomination from The James Beard Foundation for “Best Wine Service”. In 2000, Bobby joined world-renowned chef Thomas Keller at The French Laundry in Yountville, California. Within his first year, Bobby received The James Beard Foundation’s “Outstanding Wine Service” Award and San Francisco Magazine recognized him as “Wine Director of the Year”. He also met his future business partner, chef de partie Lachlan Mackinnon-Patterson. Before leaving The French Laundry in May 2003, the restaurant received The James Beard Foundation’s award for “Outstanding Restaurant Service”. In their pursuit and vision of