Somm-antic Drift
Miranda Elliot is a sommelier with over 10 years of experience working for a wide range of Chicago restaurants, such as Moto Restaurant and Les Nomades, and also for wine distributors, including Connoisseur Wines and Martine’s Wines. She recently launched her own wine school, Elliot Wine School, which offers beverage classes and events, Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) certifications, Sake Sommelier Association courses and certification, private events, and consulting. Her school aims to be a supportive and inclusive environment for all people to learn about wine, whether wine novices, wine professionals, or somewhere in between. In addition to beverage education courses, Miranda offers community-building events in which participants discuss how to create a more inclusive and equitable wine world. Through Elliot Wine School’s monthly LGBTQ+ Wine Brunch, LGBTQ+ wine professionals and LGBTQ+ people interested in joining the wine industry gather together virtually to share stories and lend support. Miranda has also hosted open discussions on topics including Wine Ethics and Interrogating Professionalism in the Wine Industry, in which participants challenged problematic ethical issues and professional standards that disadvantage and harm BIPOC, LGBTQ+, female, disabled, and other marginalized people within the wine industry.