Sabato Sagaria

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Welcome to #SommChat everyone! Tell your friends to join us to learn from Master #Sommelier Sabato Sagaria, @sabato3 , President of @bartacolife !

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : We’d like to introduce you to Master #Sommelier Sabato Sagaria @sabato3 #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : We're about ready to dive in w/questions, so shout out to Sabato Sagaria @sabato3 to say hello & so he knows you're here! #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Don't forget that EVERY tweet during this chat should include the #SommChat hashtag in order for everyone to see it!

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : As we ask our Qs, you can ask Sabato your Q’s as well! He'll do his best to answer all Q’s in the order they come #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : With so many participants lots of great Q's are asked! Even if u don’t ask 1--give a S/O 2@keepercoll and @sabato3 2 let us know u are here! #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Let's start talking #wine and #hospitality with Master #Sommelier Sabato Sagaria @sabato3 #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #Sommchat #Somm What inspired you to become a master #Sommelier after graduating from #Hospitality @Cornell ?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : The quest to learn more, better myself and those around me in the process. Plus, learning about wine is fun especially when you can drink what/while you are studying! #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @sabato3 What advice do you have for any future aspiring Master #Sommeliers and what advice would you have for a #Somm wanting to get into restaurant operations?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : Aspiring MS's...Teach as you learn. It's not only about memorization, it's how you apply/share the knowledge you learn along the way. The more people you are surrounded by that are studying wine, the more it pushes and inspires you to study and the more you retain. #SommChat

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : Somm's that want to grow into restarunt operations...Master your day job but get involved in all aspects of the restaurant along the way...P&L's, Culinary, Leadership, Hospitality. Ask questions. Curiosity is often rewarded with inclusion and mentorship. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : @Sabato3 we heard from @AdamPlotkin that you are the Master of #Morels - please tell the audience why Adam says this - of course @CaravelleChamp would say why does Adam say a lot of things ? #SommChat

Adam Plotkin @AdamPlotkin : Travelling today so missed all the fun! I say what you are all thinking, but just won't say! ;-)

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : Let's just say just as it is important to know the profiles of various grapes, it is also important to understand ALL various types of mushrooms that guests enquire about. DM @adamplokin, I think he can lead a master class for you now;) #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @sabato3 When did the become president of @bartacolife and is there any position/s you had before, that most contributed, to you leading the helm? If so, how did that position help prepare you 4 this role?

Rita Jammet @CaravelleChamp : Hi @Sabato3 or should I say Hola! Which tequila (type) do you like best with tacos? #SommChat @keepercoll

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : great question @CaravelleChamp #SommChat

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : I have become a fan of joven tequila in margaritas. It helps round out the cocktail without overpowering it with excess oak of an anejo. We feature @LibelulaTequila which is a blend we helped create @bartacolife #SommChat.

Rita Jammet @CaravelleChamp : Sounds delicioso! How about your favorite wines to pair with tacos? #SommChat

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : When I'm not drinking your champagne with tacos, I'll settle for a juicy red like #Beaujolais with our pork belly tacos.

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : When ppl think of #tequila they think of #margaritas what other great drinks do you offer @bartacolife that ppl should look 4 @Sabato3 #SommChat

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : Our @bartacolife Beverage Director @gretchthom has created a great menu with lots of agave based cocktails. One of my favorites is Smoke on the Water which is a great gateway #Mezcal cocktail. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @sabato3 Can you tell us a little bit about how the @bartacolife chain started?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : @bartacolife started in Port Chester NY in 2010 and was inspired by the beach lifestyle and the coastal cuisine of South America, Mexico, Southern California. We treat it like our own beach house and welcome guest in just as you would in your own home. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @sabato3 is the #tequila blend @LibelulaTequila available for retail or wholesale purchase or just available to @bartacolife

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : Our @LibelulaTequila is available at retail. Swing by @bartacolife and we can help show you some new ways use it at home;) #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @Sabato3 What is the @bartacolife #culture like and what do you look 4 in candidates you hire? How would someone find out about positions available?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : Check out our @bartacolife website for career opportunities. We are always looking for great people!

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : …The @bartacolife culture is about creating experiences in which people leave better than they came. That includes guests, employees, vendors, our community and surrounding ourselves with people passionate to do the same. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @Sabato3 how many locations of @bartacolife do you have now and can you share upcoming plans? how do you choose locations for growth?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : We just opened @bartacolife #21 and will be heading south to #Aventura Fl. this fall. As we grow, we are looking for communities that are growing and are hungry/thirsty to try a new experience. #SommChat

Sandy Wasserman CS @SandyWasserman : Good morning @Sabato3 How did you get your start in the #wine biz and who are your mentors? Thanks #sommchat

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : I have @CornellSHA to thank 4 introducing me to wine. @PeterTimmins2 and #RodStoner @The_Greenbrier helped me understand the restaurant business. #JayFletcher fostered an amazing culture for aspiring MS's. And I couldn't forget @dhmeyer who shared his wisdom on hospitality.

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : with the love of #tacos in #Austin it sounds like @Sabato3 needs to visit us in #Austin to open a @bartacolife here - what do you think @CaravelleChamp? #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @sabato3 How are do your #Brazilian inspired tacos differ from #tacos from other places around the world?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : The tacos aren't Brazilian per se but instead we use the tortilla as a canvas and draw inspiration from cultures and cuisine from South America and around the globe. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @sabato3 How do you think your leadership roles in The Inn at Little Washington (@InnatLittleWash), The Four Seasons Resort Palm Beach (@FSPalmBeach), and the historic Greenbrier Hotel (@The_Greenbrier) prepared you for where you are now?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : The common thread is #Hospitality and finding ways to take great care of people. Whether it is to serve someone a 3 star meal or a taco and a beer, creating meaningful experiences is what got me into this business and is what gets me out of bed each morning. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm what does a day/week in your work life look like and what do you do to balance your life outside of work @Sabato3 What would you say are typical hours of work per week?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : There isn't a standard/typical week. Most of my time is centered around our people how we are finding the right people not only for today but to prepare them for tomorrow. Finding ways to innovate on our guest experience and also looking at how and where we grow as a company...

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm #sabato3 what would you say are the biggest challenges in working on the operations side of #resto world & biggest rewards ?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : For me, the biggest challenge is also the biggest reward. It is the impact and reach that you can have with your employees and guests. I can't be everywhere so it is learning how to empower others and give them the tools to work towards a common vision. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Q fr #SommChat #Somm @Sabato3 does sourcing ingredients fall under your decision-making & how does current wave of farm-to-table, organic, etc affect philosophy @bartacolife?

Sabato Sagaria @Sabato3 : It is definitely on my mind and is an extremely relevant topic for all restaurateurs regardless of our size. @bartacolife are always looking for ways that we can provide delicious and healthy food for people and to find ways to do it consistently in all markets. #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : we have learned so much from @Sabato3 on #SommChat today about #hospitality, @bartacolife and more - next thing on our to-do list is find a #bartaco location and go there STAT!

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Time to wrap up! Hope you enjoyed this hour of #wine talk with Master #Sommelier Sabato Sagaria @sabato3 president of @bartacolife #WineWednesday #SommChat

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : It was great to have Master #Sommelier Sabato Sagaria @sabato3 President of @bartacolife join us today for #SommChat. We hope everyone learned as much as we did! #WineWednesday

Keeper Coll @KeeperColl : Please join us in thanking Master #Sommelier Sabato Sagaria @sabato3 for his time on #SommChat