Iris Rowlee is a Court of Masters certified Sommelier, a Vinitaly International Academy Italian Wine Ambassador, and a 3iC Certified Educator. She served as the elected 2019 West Coast Ambassador for Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore DOCG, has been a participant in the Barolo based Collisioni Wine Education Board with Dr. Ian d’Agata and is a Knight of the Ordine dei Cavalieri del Tartufo e dei Vini di Alba.
Iris has traveled throughout the Americas, Europe, Southeast Asia, India and Australia studying the local cuisine, wine and spirits. She believes continuing education is key to growth and takes joy in sharing her knowledge and passion with others through orchestrating wine programs in San Francisco restaurants.
Her interest in the finer points of wine blossomed during the time she was manager at Francis Ford Coppola’s historic Cafe Zoetrope. She has gone on to oversee the wine programs at A16, Cotogna, Perbacco and most recently at the Michelin starred Octavia and sister restaurant Frances.
She has been a contributing writer for wine and spirits articles both locally and abroad and has been a guest Sommelier on local San Francisco ABC and NBC news programs. One of her proudest accomplishments was when, as acting Sommelier at A16, the restaurant received the James Beard award for Best Wine program in the Nation in 2015. Follow her on Instagram @iriserowlee