Daniela Ortiz

An artist who has cut her teeth in wine through the fine dining world.

Originally from Detroit, Daniela moved to Chicago for college to study art and fashion. She worked as an educator and technician at The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, always keeping a bartending or waiter gig to help pay the bills. While working at Spago, she fell in love with food and wine and began to switch focus. In 2005, the deal was sealed after passing the Court of Master Sommeliers’ Introductory Exam, she was hooked on wine and hospitality as a career.

Now an industry veteran, she came up through the ranks working in restaurants such as NAHA and Crofton on Wells, deep in the farm to table movement. She has worked most front of house positions including wine steward and private events director at James Beard and Michelin recognized restaurants in Chicago and Santa Fe.

As of 2012, she has taken her background in education, her natural sense of hospitality and passion for all things food and beverage here to New York. After working in Brooklyn favorites, TALDE and Battersby, Daniela is now working with Domenico Valentino Wine Merchants, representing family producers from across Italy.

In her free time she can be found painting, drawing and drinking wines from the Veneto in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn.

Daniela Ortiz