Danielle Vance
Certified Sommelier specializing in fine dining cellar curation, tasting pairings, and staff education
Calgary
Professional Summary
Certified Sommelier with extensive floor experience in upscale Canadian dining environments, combining deep viticultural knowledge with attentive guest hospitality. Skilled in curating profitable international wine programs, developing multi-course tasting pairings, and mentoring floor staff on service standards and sensory evaluation.
Professional Experience
Boreal Hearth & Cellar
Calgary, AB
Head Sommelier
Sep 2021 – Present
- Direct an evolving 420-label international wine program tailored to contemporary Canadian tasting menus, sustaining a 27% beverage cost margin.
- Collaborate weekly with the executive chef to formulate bespoke wine and beverage pairings across five- and eight-course seasonal menus.
- Supervise cellar logistics and inventory control valued at $160,000, managing temperature monitoring, vendor allocations, and cellar rotations.
- Lead weekly pre-shift tasting seminars and palate development sessions for front-of-house staff, boosting premium bottle sales by 19%.
Silverpine Dining Room
Calgary, AB
Sommelier
Oct 2016 – Aug 2021
- Delivered dedicated tableside wine service for an 85-seat dining room, guiding guests on regional styles, vintages, and cellar selections.
- Maintained inventory records for over 250 references using restaurant cellar management software, minimizing shrinkage and dead stock.
- Negotiated quarterly purchasing arrangements with provincial liquor agents and importers to secure rare allocations and favorable pricing.
Bow River Brasserie
Calgary, AB
Wine Steward & Floor Captain
Mar 2012 – Sep 2016
- Supported the lead sommelier in daily bottle requisitions, cellar restocking, and glassware maintenance across dinner services.
- Assisted in cellar organization and bi-weekly inventory counts for a French-focused list of 180 labels.
- Conducted guided table pairings for nightly chef specials, strengthening guest satisfaction and repeat reservations.
Education
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT)
Diploma · Hospitality Management · Calgary, AB · Honours · Sep 2004 – Apr 2006
Completed rigorous practical coursework in food and beverage operations, banquet service, cellar principles, and hospitality accounting.
Key Wine Projects
Cellar List Modernization & Domestic Producer Initiative
Nov 2022 – Apr 2023
- Restructured the dining room beverage catalogue by style and terroir rather than strictly by country, reducing guest ordering hesitation and table turn lag.
- Integrated local Okanagan Valley and Niagara low-intervention producers into the core glass list, enhancing domestic feature sales by 24%.
Core Competencies
Wine List Curation
Food & Wine Pairing
Cellar Management
Inventory Management
Staff Beverage Training
Beverage Cost Control (COGS)
Fine Dining Service
Supplier & Importer Relations
Vintage & Terroir Evaluation
Menu Engineering
Languages
English
C2
French
B2
Certifications & Credentials
Certified Sommelier Examination
Court of Master Sommeliers Americas · Sep 2017
WSET Level 3 Award in Wines
Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) · May 2014
ProServe Liquor Staff Training Certification
Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis · Apr 2024
Community & Industry Service
Alberta Culinary Arts & Wine Showcase
Calgary, AB · May 2022 – May 2024
- Guest Wine Educator & Logistics Volunteer
- Facilitated back-of-house wine tasting flights, bottle service logistics, and guest check-in for the non-profit wine tasting festival.
- Assisted guest winemakers from Western Canada with uncorking, temperature moderation, and masterclass glassware setup.