VANCOUVER — The Volpe family of restaurants – Osteria Savio Volpe, Caffè La Tana and Pepino’s Spaghetti House – has appointed Kristi Linneboe as wine director. Bringing more than 10 years of hospitality experience to the role, Linneboe is responsible for the curation and education of the wine programs at all three restaurants. She will also be opening wines tableside.
A graduate of Simon Fraser University with a degree in Communications and International Relations, Linneboe dove into her first wine buying role at Maenam Restaurant. She was also wine director at L’Abattoir and sommelier at Como Taperia and Elisa Steak.
With three harvests now under her belt – Tantalus Vineyards in the Okanagan Valley, Brooks Winery in Oregan’s Willamette Valley and Domaine Fumey-Chatelain in Arbois, France – Linneboe has gained a first-hand understanding of viticulture and winemaking. She also volunteers and contributes to the British Columbia Hospitality Foundation (BCHF), Top Drop Vancouver, Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers (CAPS), Vancouver International Wine Festival (VIWF) and BC Wine Institute (BCWI), as well as tasting groups, mentorship programs and year-round wine events.
“I’m so excited to be joining the Savio family,” says Linneboe. “My biggest inspirations in the wine world are the people, the stories, and the farming practices behind each bottle. Wine, food and knowledge are all meant to be shared. I’m looking forward to learning from each other as well as our guests, as we deep-dive into the wonderful world of wine together.”
